2.
Just before 11 AM I drove in to Shreveport. I found my way to the hotel on 70th street and parked my car. The sun was already high on the sky and the temperature was in the low 70's. I leaned my back against the car, soaking up the heat. I didn't see much of the sun, doing what I did.
"No, I have to head to Bon Temps first! You're gonna have to go, this is important!" I opened one eye at the sound of the deep voice. A man, dressed in worn jeans, cowboy boots, green t-shirt and a dusty, brown jacket came from around the hotel, talking angrily in to his phone. The only thing on him that made me keep my eyes on him was his thick mane of dark brown hair and his dark, perfectly trimmed facial hair, giving his face a sharp, sexy edge. His eyes were so dark I could've sworn they were black. He looked annoyed, listening to the voice at the other end of his cell phone.
"Fine!" He snapped and he growled as he hung up, walking fast up to the van parked next to mine. He didn't seem to notice me at all.
"Herveaux, I presume?" I asked. Now why the hell did I just do that? He spun around, glaring at me.
"What do you want?" His voice was dark and tight with anger. I raised my hands and shook my head, grinning.
"Sorry dude, just trying to take your mind off whatever's got you fuming." I nodded towards the white letters on the side of the black van.
"Herveaux contracting. I took it you were Herveaux." I said with a crooked smile at the slightly stunned look on the tall man's face. Slowly a smile started tugging at his lips.
"I'm sorry. Just having a bad day." He came up to me and reached out his hand. A big, rugged hand.
"Alcide Herveaux." He said with his deep voice. I smiled and took his hand firmly.
"Ashlyn Rivet." I said and noticed a slight shiver tingle at the bottom of my spine.
"You're new in town?" Alcide asked and leaned his back against his van.
"Yeah. Probably just passing through." I said, shrugging my shoulders.
"Oh? Not sure?" Alcide raised an eyebrow.
"Well, we'll see if anything catches my fancy here." I said and eyed him. He was already catching my interest. Too bad he wasn't a vamp. His grin made me hate my problem even more. He pulled out his wallet and fished out a card.
"I live in Jackson, but I do some work in Shreveport. Give me a call if you need a city guide." He said and handed it to me.
"I will." I said and slipped the card in to the back pocket of my jeans.
"See you around, Ashlyn Rivet." Alcide said and opened the door to his van.
"See you around, Alcide Herveaux." I said, tasting his name. It tasted like a hot, dark eyed, muscled man I would love to play rough-and-tumble with.
"Oh, get a grip Ash!" I mumbled to myself, turning away from the disappearing van. I grabbed my bag out of the passenger seat and headed inside. I pampered myself with a suite on the 4th floor. My card was constantly fed with monthly amounts from Frederick. I may be spoiled, but without his help I would be stranded somewhere in the world with very small chances for suviving. But now I at least had money for gas, shelter, food and…fun.
"Welcome to Shreveport, Miss Rivet. Here are some brochures for different places and activities in town. Enjoy your stay." The bright eyed girl behind the girl handed me a tiny plastic bag with the hotel logo embedded on it.
"Thanks, I'll do my best." I said and headed to the elevators.
I dove straight in to the massive bed as soon as I'd kicked off my shoes and tossed my clothes on the floor. I was still safe for at least 12 hours so I slept soundly like a baby through most of the day.
I woke up just before sundown and decided to hit the gym in the basement. One needed to keep a certain level of body strength when your life involved vampires in such degree as mine did. After fetching clothes out from my suitcase which I kept in my truck I showered and changed in to a brown leather corset with safety pin, small metal chains and buckle-details. Over the years I'd learned that many vampires have a thing for the rough, edgy and sharp. I matched it with a pair of low-riding, skinny jeans slightly torn over my thighs and a pair of dark brown, open toe stilettos. Yes, for the most part I did feel like a whore. The price to pay. I left as much skin bare as possible. For the instant…let's call it high, I just needed to touch skin with a vampire. But for the longer run I had to go further than that. A lot further. I twisted my hair and pinned it loosely with a black clip in my neck, letting the ponytail hang over my shoulder. I painted my eyes dark to make my bright blue eyes pop.
"Okay…let's see what we can find…" I sighed and sat down on the bed, pouring the content of the little plastic bag out on it. I flipped through the many brochures. Parks, restaurants, amusement parks, movies theaters and a whole collection of different bars and clubs. My attention was quickly turned to a small folder with a red-colored name printed on it. I picked it up, knowing immediately that this had to be my kind of place.
"Fangtasia." I said and grinned. You had to be dumb or blind not to realize what that place carried. I tucked the piece of paper down my black 'Lips' clutch bag and headed out the door. It was 9 PM and well passed sundown and I felt it was about time to find me some vamps.
My trusty truck and even more trusty GPS led me to Fangtasia nightclub located far from the main street and in a definitely darker area of Shreveport though the mall was just on the other side. I parked my truck on the far side of the parking lot and made my way to the entrance. The red light from the massive sign bounced of the black pavement. The line along the red velvet ropes was already growing and I heard the dark, seductive music seeping out of the open door. I got in line, opening my senses for any vampire around me. But all I felt or saw were hard core fangbangers, dressed up for the occasion in worse habits than what I had on. I was under-dressed!
"Well hello there." A female voice purred as I came up to the door. My skin tingled happily. Vampire. I looked up, meeting a pair of blue eyes, harshly lined with black. Her blonde hair was perfectly arranged on her perfect shoulders and a pair of full, red lips smiled at me. Her black, leather dress was ridiculous. And by ridiculous, I mean ridiculously hot. She placed her hands on her sides, looking me up.
"I haven't seen you around before. You certainly don't look like our regular fangbanger." She said smoothly.
"I'm not one by choice. How much to get in?" I asked plainly, knowing I would catch her interest even more by playing uninterested. Her perfectly plucked eyebrow arched.
"For you, lovely; free." She said and slowly gestured with her hand for me to enter. I gave her a long, hot look before walking inside. My condition had taught me to not be picky. I'd gladly go lips-on-lips with that goddess.
They surely had gone all out with the interior. The walls were painted red and lined with framed pictures of famous people with fangs. The lights were dimmed and tables were scattered around and there were a few booths along the walls. The bar counter was the only thing that seemed plain and normal, with black and red high stools and even a tip jar. The shelves behind the bar were filled with liquor-bottles of every kind. I pulled out of one the stools in front of the bar.
"What can I get you?" The vampire behind the bar asked, looking at me with black eyes. I smiled, unconsciously leaning forward.
"Hmmm…how about something with a little kick." I said, smiling at him. The bartender leaned against the counter, his muscled arms tightening.
"How about a Screaming Orgasm?" He said and I grinned.
"You're going to have to try harder than that then." I answered, making him laugh.
"How about you make me a Zombie? You know it?" I said, biting my lip at the strong body peaking out through the tight-fitted black vest.
"Know it? Honey, I perfected it." He said with a crooked smile and started mixing it. I grinned and turned in my chair, looking over the slowly filling club. My attention was drawn past the stripper pole in the middle of the room and to a low stage on the other side. A light was placed just over a massive chair – or throne if you like and on that throne sat what I guessed had to be a god. He sat like a king and watched the stripper on the pole with very modest interest. He looked bored.
"Honey, you shouldn't be staring like that at him." I turned, meeting the bartenders gaze and crooked smile.
"Why?" I asked, taking the drink and sipping slowly from the black straw.
"That's Eric Northman, owner of this place. And not the kind of guy you should get involved with." He said, obviously amused by my curiosity.
"Not the kind of guy or not the kind of vampire?" I asked, intrigued. The bartender grinned even wider.
"Not the kind of guy, but most definitely not the kind of vampire. Eric is the sheriff of Area 5 and is all business. He doesn't take to humans very well."
"And yet he runs a nightclub, aimed at tourists and fangbangers? Awe, I'm having a hard time believing you." I said, chuckling. The bartender shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay, lovely one, it's your life."
"I've been around a lot. I know how to handle you guys." I said, leaving him intrigued and interested, but I stepped down from the stool and walked over to a table, giving me perfect view of this Northman. Hell, when I needed to get my groove on with a vampire I would surely go for that.
Now how to get his attention…