CHAPTER TWO The Vampire

Just as the dinner rush started to settle in, the phone rang behind the bar. "Merlotte's," I said by way of greeting.

"Hey, Sam. Is Sookie working tonight?" Tara, Sookie's best friend, asked.

"Hey, Tara. Yeah, she's right here." I looked up at Sookie with a smirk as I went to hand her the phone over the bar.

"I'm sorry, Sam. She knows not to call me at work," Sookie apologized. It didn't really bother me, though. Sookie never got calls. Besides, Sookie was my best waitress.

"It's alright. You don't abuse the privilege like some people." I pointed the last words at Arlene as she walked by with a full tray out to her tables.

"I heard that," Arlene said.

"Well, I wish you would hear that," I said as I paced her back down the length of the bar.

"I got kids, Sam!" Arlene snapped then went back to ignoring me. Her kids called all the time, sometime 3 or 4 times a night, while she was working. She was my second best waitress but fewer phone call breaks would have been appreciated.

I could hear Tara and Sookie's call. Tara had quit yet another job. Sookie tried to tease her about it but Tara deflected, like always, even going as far as to tell Sookie that her boss wasn't an asshole and that 'Sam is totally in love with you'. I guess my feelings weren't that much of a secret after all. Sookie scolded her with a shocked voice and snuck a peek at me. I barely caught her eye before she blushed and looked away. Soon, Tara was on her way to Merlotte's to drink away her irritation over the lost job.

Ten minutes later, she claimed her stool on the corner of the bar. She was near where the waitresses picked out their orders so she could steal a moment here and there while Sookie waited for drinks. She gave me a nod and spent the next hour mumbling into her margarita about life's unfairness.

Tara's personality is all snarky bitterness most days. Which is an improvement to the days when it escalates to outright rage. The only time she isn't showing everyone her disdain for the world is when she's under Sookie's influence. Sookie can turn her attitude around like no one else. Those two girls have looked after each other since they were little. Tara protected Sookie when everyone picked on her for being a 'freak'. And Sookie's family (her Gran, Adele, and brother, Jason) loved and sheltered Tara when her mother would drink too much, which was always. Sook's Gran practically raised Tara.

Jason stood between Tara and Tara's mother, Lettie Mae, more than once. He also stood between both girls and anyone who tried to pick on them all through school. The older Jason got, the more of a deterrent that became. No one wanted to mess with the star quarterback who was beloved by the whole town. Tara has had a crush on Jason since they were kids. But to him, she's like a sister, a serious drawback for her since he's slept with nearly every other female in the parish.

Despite being dumb as a box of rocks, Jason is the town playboy. Not only is he a pretty boy and a jock, he has the same compelling appeal that Sookie does. The only reason Sookie isn't as popular as her brother is because of her gift. For Sookie, every leering thought is a turn off. For her prospective suitors, she maybe smokin' hot but just acted far too weird to be worth the trouble.

The evening continued about like normal. I looked to Sookie several times hoping to see some indication that Tara's comment had made an impact or at least made an opening for me. Unfortunately, it seemed nothing had changed.

Sookie had caught herself listening to her customers' thoughts a few times and had to cover it up with her perky smile and attentive waitressing skills. At one point, she got caught up with the other staff who were making lewd jokes around the kitchen window but quickly ran away in horrified embarrassment.

Innocent was the word for Sookie. Despite hearing all kinds of explicit details from people's minds from a young age, she had almost no personal experience with intimacy that I could tell. She still looked extra flustered as she came by the bar to pick up her orders and chat with Tara. I felt compelled to be near her. I wanted so much for her to turn to me with her problems. I leaned in consolingly as she complained about her night. "Anything I can do to improve this one for ya?" I said with a nervous chuckle.

I think my feelings came on a little too strong. She stared at me, slack jawed for a moment before looking away uncomfortably. Disappointed and feeling like a fool, I backed off slowly.

And that's when it happened.

Sookie's head perked up and she turned toward the door. We watched as our newest customer entered and strolled over to take a seat in Sookie's section by the window. He was dark haired and brooding. She stared in his direction for a few seconds and I knew she had already figured it out. I didn't even have a chance to prevent the moment I had been fearing.

"I think Merlotte's just got its first Vampire!" she crowed as she spun around to face Tara and I with the biggest, most sincere smile I had seen on her face in ages.

"I think you're right," I confirmed cautiously. I desperately wanted to stop her. She gushed about how she'd been waiting for this and then was already on her way over to him with her order pad and a bounce in her step. I was so panicked I couldn't get control of myself. I stood there, gripping the bar, choking on my own fear and tried to remember that this was a big moment for her. She didn't know of anyone else who was different like she was and a Vampire surely qualified as different.

She blushed like a fan-girl meeting her celebrity idol as she tried to get his order.

Taking a deep breath, I adopted a casual stance behind the bar but didn't take my eyes off the Vamp. He obviously noticed my unintentional glare. When he commented on it to Sookie, she glanced at me before reassuring her customer that I was 'supportive of Vampire rights'. He smirked back. I'm sure he was aware I was not feeling very supportive of him being in my bar. He ordered a glass of wine for show, since I didn't carry any synthetic blood. Unfortunately, their conversation caught the attention of Mack and Denise Rattray, which burst Sookie's happy bubble. They leaned over the booth to introduce themselves and so she came back my way to place his order.

The Ratts, as they were un-affectionately known, were the nastiest, white-trash couple around. They were mean and lewd and always made Sookie feel like 'taking a scalding shower with a Brillo pad' after hearing their thoughts. Sookie had described that exact sensation more than once. She refused to give me much detail, but she obviously couldn't stand them. That was saying something since Sookie put up with a lot of uncomfortable thoughts from everyone she met. I really hoped that one day they would say something out loud so that I could catch them and ban them from the bar. As long as it stayed in their heads, I wouldn't do anything as it would only expose Sookie to more public scorn.

The Ratts joined the Vamp's table and turned on all their oily charm. He didn't seem to encourage them but he didn't tell them to go pound sand either as I would have if Denise had wrapped herself around me that way. Sookie didn't like it. In her few moments conversation with the Vampire she had decided that he was 'nice'. She was too naive for her own good. Tara seemed to share my opinion.

"You don't know how many people he's sucked the blood out of over the last however many centuries he's been alive!" They had been debating back and forth for a few minutes.

"But the synthetic blood's got everything they need!," Sookie insisted. That was about all the delusion I was going to take from her.

"Are you willing to give up all your favorite foods and spend the rest of your life drinking Slim-Fast?" I accused her. She could only shrug in concession. Like any self respecting southern woman, she had to admit Southern cooking was an institution. There was a difference between 'sustenance' and 'food'. I hoped I had her thinking clearly again.

Twenty minutes later, I was pleased to see the Vampire leave with the Ratts. The relief did not last long as almost as soon as I felt myself relax, Sookie came flying around from the back hallway frantically trying to beg Tara's help. "They are going to drain him and sell his blood! We have to stop them!"

"No, we do not! We don't have to get anywhere near that Vampire!" Tara insisted, arms crossed and not budging.

Sookie tried guilt, "Tara, I'm very disappointed in your small-mindedness."

That was a low blow and irrelevant besides so I butt in, "Sookie, that Vampire can take care of himself. I promise you," I told her.

Turning back to the now empty booth in the dining area Sookie flailed her arms in panic as she realized he was already gone. "Crap!" she huffed and pulling off her apron, ran out the front door.

I was not about to let Sookie walk into this alone but I had a better idea how I could help.

"Tara, you know how to tend bar?" I asked her while untying my apron.

She backed away from me with her arms up, "Nope! No way!"

"Fake it," I tossed my apron into her hands.

After securing Tara as a reluctant bartender, I went the opposite direction from Sookie and slipped out the back door. Since I live in a trailer near the back of the bar, I ran around to an old stump behind it and peeled out of my clothes. It's inconvenient tearing or getting tangled up in my clothes when I shift so it's easier to strip. I tossed the clothes on the stump and leapt into the trees just at the edge of the parking lot listening and smelling for the Ratts, the Vamp and Sookie. They were at the far end of the lot in a popular make-out spot. I could now see it had other uses.

The vampire was on the ground with Denise leaning over it, but she stared at Sookie & Mack. I got there just in time to watch Sookie hurl a length of chain at Mack and see it inexplicably wrap around his throat and tighten.

How the hell did she do that?!

Mack dropped his knife and Sookie leapt for it before Denise could grab it. Sookie held it up confidently, like she intended to use it and could.

Denise was her usual gutter-mouthed self as she tried to get Sookie to leave by belittling her. "This ain't your business, you stupid cunt!"

Woman had no idea who she was dealing with. My girl may be innocent but she was definitely not timid.

"Now, see, that just proves how low-rent you really are," Sookie said. It should have sounded snide, but instead felt like fact.

"You have any idea who you're messing with? You don't want to be on my bad side."

With a steady hand and a locked gaze, Sookie replied, "I'm not so sure you even have another side, you no-account, backwoods trash." After a moment of stunned silence, Denise scoffed and turned to snatch up the blood bags.

"Uh-uh. Do not even think about taking that blood."

Denise looked shocked that 'Crazy-Sookie' could ever be so bold. She turned away from the blood and drew herself up to stare Sookie down.

"I will kill you for this."

Still standing steady and calmly pointing the knife, Sookie said, "Get out. Now."

Grabbing up her purse, and still fuming, Denise stalked back through the parking lot. Still choking, Mack hobbled after her when she threatened to leave him behind. I was torn between watching to make sure the Ratts actually left and staying with Sookie who was now concerned with the Vamp and his 'pain'. His blood was being siphoned off into donor bags and he was held down with silver.

Strangely enough, the chains 'holding him down' were nothing more than long silver necklaces. There wasn't much weight to them at all. I know silver leached the strength from Vamps but it seemed a little ridiculous that he couldn't defend himself from such a small thing. And I couldn't see anything holding down his legs.

Maybe I should invest in silver door knobs for my bar.

Sookie freed him from his 'confines' and watched in amazement as he healed almost instantly. I realized I had become distracted from the other threat. The sound of a revving engine brought me back into focus. Before I could sound the alarm, Sookie was hauling the Vamp under the trees away from Denise as she tried to run Sookie and the dead meat over on her way out of the lot. Now that he was freed from the silver, Sookie started to fret over the Vamp. She proceeded to 'bless his heart' and fawn over him. To hear her wasting her sweet disposition on him, made me ill. I would be just fine if the dead guy had gotten deader as long as my girl was ok.

That's right. MY GIRL.

I shifted into one of my usual animals, the neighborhood Collie, and rushed over to Sookie. I stood in front of her, barking at him and making it clear she was not alone.

The Vamp of course knew who and what I was and the message was received. He smirked since he also knew that Sookie did not know it was me. It didn't matter. I was here and he was being watched. With another protective bark and a lick to Sookie's cheek, I sped off to continue my protection from the trees. The Vamp would be aware he was being monitored. Sookie tried to help him undo the tourniquet but he flinched back from her and eyed her warily. I snickered to myself. Shunning her kindness would not win him points.

She called him on being ungrateful for her help. He muttered a none too convincing 'Thank you' and went about removing the IV from his arm. Sookie quieted herself to focus her gift, closing her eyes and focusing. I'd seen her do this before. I was surprised she had to concentrate so obviously though. He should have been easy to read since they were alone.

She suddenly burst out in shock, "I can't hear you!"

"Thank you," he snidely repeated.

"No, no, no," She quickly knelt down in front of him and reached up to cup his face in her hands. "I can hear you but... Oh my stars!"

Her behavior was shocking to both of us. Most Supes don't take to being touched by strangers, and as far as I know, most Vamps don't like to be touched by anyone unless its about sex or blood. I think he was shocked by her sudden intense interest in him. I was too but mostly I was concerned by what she had just said. She could not read the mind of this Vamp. Maybe she couldn't read any Vampire. I know I was difficult to read but to not read someone at all... Would she be happy for the quiet or distrustful of the silence?

"Aren't you afraid to be out here alone with a hungry vampire?" the Vampire asked her.

"No," she answered softly.

Though the Vamp knew she was not actually alone, I too was curious as to why she didn't seem more afraid. Surely she knew how dangerous this was. "Vampires often turn on those who trust them, you know?" he continued. "We don't have human values, like you."

Unfortunately, it seemed she was more offended than afraid. As she backed away she sassed him.

"A lot of humans turn on those who trust them, too." She took out the long silver strands that had been used by the drainers to restrain him and wove them loosely around her neck. "I'm not a total fool." She sat down on the stump across from him and primly crossed her legs.

He leaned forward and leered at all the lovely skin uncovered by her short shorts.

"Oh, but you have other very juicy arteries. There is one in the groin that is a particular favorite of mine."

"Hey! You just shut your nasty mouth, mister! You might be a vampire, but when you talk to me, you talk to me like the lady that I am!"

He scoffed but realizing that lewd suggestions did nothing but shut her down, the vampire tried a different tactic.

He glanced over at the blood bags still sitting next to him. He then asked if she wanted to either take or drink some of the blood that was drained from him. He told her that it made Humans feel more healthy and would improve her sex life.

Those were only a few of the characteristics of Vampire Blood, or 'V' which was the common term for its use as a drug. Vamps used it to control humans, to influence their emotions like obsession and lust.

Thankfully, she didn't want any of that. She spoke quite frankly, "I'm as healthy as a horse and I have no sex life to speak of, so you can just keep it." He smirked at her admission of innocence and continued his campaign. He told her she could sell it, but she was repulsed by the very idea of taking the blood for any reason. Not repulsed about drinking blood, though probably that too, but repulsed that she might be seen to profit from, or as payment for, helping him. Like the Ratts, this Vamp had no idea what made this girl tick.

Then suddenly, he got interested. He vamp-sped several feet closer, right in her face. "What are you?" he asked practically nose to nose with her. I smelled a small wave of panic from her for a moment and I growled just enough for him to hear. Undeterred, he did not back off. He wanted to know what she was. And, really, how could he not be curious? I was curious too. The way he was staring at her, I think he even tried to glamour her. She didn't seem to be influenced, thankfully. She told him she was a waitress and that her name was Sookie Stackhouse. Trying to maintain her southern-bred manners while feeling intimidated she asked him his name.

His husky reply, "Bill," did not have the desired effect. Her face broke into a ridiculous grin.

"Bill? I thought it might be Antoine or Basil or... or," she giggled, "or, like, Landford, maybe... but... Bill? … Vampire Bill! Oh, my!"

'Vampire Bill' managed to break his own spell over her with his completely unromantic name. Thank God! She was entirely amused. He looked deflated but not angry and he pulled away from her.

Aware that she had embarrassed him, Sookie changed the subject. "So... silver, huh? I thought that only affected werewolves." Bill arched a brow. She quickly became flustered, afraid she was sounding naive. "I... I... I'm not implying that werewolves exist. I mean, that's just what you always see in the movies." If only she knew...

Bill asked for her discretion as though they were confidants, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't share this information with anyone. We don't like for our weaknesses to be made public knowledge." Honestly, it wasn't that much of a secret, but Vampire Spokesperson Nan Flanagan certainly wasn't advertising it.

Sookie said her goodbyes and as soon as I was sure that he really was leaving, I raced through the trees to my clothes and hurried into them. I ran around to the front to stand looking anxiously for Sookie's return. I only just made it. If she hadn't been strolling dazedly she would have been back first. She didn't seem to notice my shirt was untucked. At least my shirt snaps were done up evenly.

She looked too pleased with herself and I got her typical sass, "I'm fine. And, for your information, not all vampires can take care of themselves." She had no idea how things might have gone differently. I was too relieved to correct her right now.

The rest of the night was amazingly normal by comparison. The bar crowd thinned out and I helped the staff close up. Sookie took off first then Arlene. I saw Dawn was about done and the guys were wrapping up in the back.

Tara was still behind at the bar though I had been back for over an hour. She did well, far as I can tell. "Thanks for helping me out tonight, Tara."

"How much you gonna pay me?" She was all sweet smiles so I looked at her a little skeptically.

"Uh... twenty bucks?"

She took a teasing tone, "Sam," she whined, "how do you expect me to work here for twenty bucks a night?"

Ha! No wonder she'd been so sugary. "I don't expect you to work here and you only covered tonight for what, an hour at the most?" I pulled out the twenty and handed it to her.

"Yeah, but Sam, if I did work here..."

"It'd only be a matter of time before you went off on somebody. I don't wanna drive my customers away."

Normal, defensive Tara jumped right back in, "I only go off on stupid people!"

"Most of my customers are stupid people." Backwoods, redneck bar. It's just a fact.

Tara deflated again. "Yeah, but..." Then she played the one card she knew would sway me, used the one person she knows I care more about than my bar, especially after tonight. "I can help you keep an eye on Sookie. You see the way she was looking at that vampire? That is just trouble looking for a place to happen. She means too much to both of us to let anything happen to her."

Tara is whip smart and fiercely loyal. If only her mouth didn't rule her, I'd happily hire her. She had a valid point, though. I had a feeling I'd need all the help I can get keeping Sookie out of trouble if that Vamp or any other Supes started hanging around Bon Temp.

She got me.

So against my better judgment, I hired Tara as my new bartender.

Greeting Jason as he stopped in looking for Sookie, I head on back to my office. Tara had given me an idea. It might be a terrible idea. Or it might be exactly the right thing to do. I picked up the phone to make the official call.

"Fangtasia, the bar with bite. What do you want?" Sheriff Northman's business front left something to be desired.

"May I speak with the Sheriff, please?" I did not want to be doing this, but since it seemed like the best option, I wanted to get it over with.