Dead Serious

Chapter 3

The ride to Shreveport was pretty silent. Eric was deep in thought and I was running over all the reasons that I shouldn't be here in this red corvette, speeding down the Louisiana freeway.

Of course, there were the obvious reasons; I had a job and a house to keep. I had a roommate that would notice and likely be worried about my absence (I made a mental note to call Amelia in the morning). I wasn't even sure that Eric and I were in any situation to be playing house, either. I hoped he wasn't thinking I'd be walking around barefoot, fixing suppers and doing the laundry.

It wasn't that I didn't want those things in life. I had dreamed, like all little girls, that one day I'd be married to a handsome man and I'd be a Mama that cooked; cleaned and baked cookies. The more time I spent with Eric the less likely that future seemed. If I was being honest with myself, I did want those things with Eric; but reality was always a hard slap in the face. This would have no fairy tale ending. Not to mention the fact that I was only playing house because there was a strong likelihood that someone was trying to kill me. Attempted murder had been a strong running theme in my life, especially since I started keeping company with the supes.

When we came off the freeway and into a more residential looking area, I took the time to take in my surroundings. The streets were well kept in the suburban neighborhood we were driving through. The houses were all very old but some had been added to over the years, like my old house. It gave off the feeling of a normal American, working-class neighborhood.

When we turned onto Sunny Lane I almost laughed out loud. Oh, the irony that Eric Northman, vampire to be reckoned with, would live off of Sunny Lane! The houses became more and more sparse and were situated further back from the road. Another left turn onto Breezy Drive and there were no houses to speak of for at least a quarter of a mile. Louisiana forest spread out around us. Finally a large clearing appeared in the wildlife and there, about a football field away from the road, down a long gravel drive, was our destination.

The house we pulled up to wasn't exactly what I'd expected. You assume someone who drives around in a cherry red corvette would surely make his home in a palatial mansion. Eric seemed to be full of surprises. It was just an old Victorian style house. Don't get me wrong, it was gorgeous but it wasn't what I'd expected.

The lawn was well manicured as I walked across it. Surely, he hired gardeners and such to do that in the day. I stood in front of the house to admire it for a moment while Eric took my bag out of the tiny little corvette trunk. The house was all brown and gray with white and cream trim, two stories with an attic and a single Victorian style turret that extended into the night sky. The porch wrapped around the right side of the house and the lattice looked like it'd recently been freshly painted. There were two comfortable looking wicker lounges on the porch that were just the sort of place I'd love to sit and read in the morning.

"You like it?" I heard a whisper from very close behind. I jumped about a foot in the air. I really hated it when they snuck up on you and the vampires I knew seemed to love doing it.

"Yes, it's really pretty and very traditional."

"I like traditional, sometimes," he laughed lightly. "Let me show you the inside quickly then we'll have to get to Fangtasia. Pam has called to inquire twice." Eric said the last bit as though it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He led the way up the stairs and onto the porch. I was trailing behind him, still taking in the surprising scenery. He opened the large double doors to a long foyer with high ceilings, traditional in Victorian style homes. There was a staircase made of polished oak that led up to the second story to the left. The hall extended into a large open area which Eric led me into. To the left was what I assumed was a family room at one time.

It was decorated in a traditional style. There was a big brown leather couch and two matching leather easy chairs. A big blue rug that looked expensive sat between the couch and the entertainment center. His television, mounted on the wall, was bigger than any I'd ever seen and I took a moment to stare at it blankly. Beneath it, also mounted to the wall on small shelves, he had lots of gadgets and electronics that I'd surely never figure out how to use. The room screamed masculine.

To the right there was a very modern kitchen. I looked with envy at the stainless steel refrigerator and countertops. He had a ton of appliances though I was sure the only one he ever used would be the microwave to heat up the occasional Trueblood. Eric was no fan of the synthetic stuff and I think he only drank it when he couldn't find a willing donor.

Behind the kitchen was a circular sun room with lots of windows and a little dining area. I thought it was cute and homey. There were potted plants along the walls, all leaning toward the giant windows where the afternoon sun would shine brightest. I felt a little lump in my chest when I realized that Eric would never get to see his plants soak in that sunlight.

"Wow," I said in awe. "You have a beautiful home."

"Thank you," he said with a grin. "There isn't any food in the refrigerator but I'll have someone stock it tonight." He put his arm around my shoulder and tugged me close to him. "I hope you'll be comfortable here."

He'd deposited my luggage in the foyer and picked it back up before we went up to see the second story. It was carpeted upstairs. A nice carpet that I thought I might like to wiggle my toes in. There were two doors on either side of the hallway. One, I imagined, was a bathroom and the other was likely an unused bedroom. The closed door at the end of the hallway was where we headed. It was clearly the master bedroom.

It was the side of the house that contained the circular turret so one side of the room was rounded with a big window that had a large cushion on the ledge, big enough for me to curl up on and read. The bed, large enough to sleep three, was centered in the room. I liked it immediately. It was an old sleigh style bed made of what looked like maple. There were matching nightstands, each holding an illuminated table lamp, on either side of the bed. It had comfortable looking dark blue linens and a black comforter. Every bit of me wanted to lay spread eagle on that bed and just let out a sigh of relief.

To the left of the room was a large walk in closet, where Eric was putting down my bags. Next to that was the door that I imagined led to the private bath?

"Bathroom's there," Eric pointed to the door I'd been expecting. He tossed my little overnight bag, containing my toothbrush, toothpaste, a hairbrush and some deodorant, to me. "In case you want to freshen up before we go."

I nodded and made my way toward the door. When I found the light switch and flipped it on I may have actually gasped aloud. The bathroom was spacious and I immediately felt jealous as I thought about my small bathroom at home. There was a small dais in the center of the tiled room with a raised whirlpool tub. I'd definitely be trying that out sometime soon. The his and hers sinks had a massive mirror behind them and the toilet was somewhat hidden on the other side. Behind me was a walk in shower made of glazed glass.

Everything was extremely clean. I'd have to ask Eric what maid service he'd gotten because I was curious as to who he might trust to be in his house while he was hidden away in his sleeping space. Vampires, especially ones with Eric's standing, didn't trust easily.

I brushed my teeth and combed out my hair quickly, trying not to think about how much all of this must have cost. Money was something Eric had plenty of and I'd known that for some time. Still, I'd never really been in the home of someone who didn't have to worry about money. I took care not to leave any water or stray hair on the countertops. While I reapplied some make-up I took in the idea that I'd be essentially living here for a little while. I thought I might be spending my time here tiptoeing around, worried that I'd damage the high dollar furniture.

Eric was sitting on the window ledge, looking out at the night sky when I came out of the bathroom. He looked over to me and smiled.

"I'm not really dressed for clubbing." I looked down at my ensemble. I had changed into a knee length khaki skirt and a tank top with little flowers on it before we'd left. It wasn't exactly hip or modern but I'd changed in a hurry and had to grab whatever was clean while I packed.

"You look beautiful, as usual," he said as he stood and wrapped his arms around me. "Nothing would make me happier than to take these clothes off of you right now and use this bed for its intended purpose," his voice was a low growl in my ear that got my heart pumping fast.

He put his nose to my neck and nuzzled me a little while he ran his fingers through my hair. My body, and if I was being totally honest, my mind, wanted to take him up on that offer. I eyed the bed longingly as he pulled away from me.

"But Pam might blow a gasket if I don't get back to Fangtasia as soon as possible," he kissed my cheek softly.

I grinned back at him, "I don't think there's anything in this world Pam can't handle."

"I like your way of thinking, my love, but I am needed." He took my hand as we left the comfortable bed behind. "There are regulars at Fangtasia. They come weekly or more often multiple times per week, and many of them come to see me." A trace of the egotistical Eric I'd come to know slipped out as spoke. His wicked grin was incredibly enticing and I was forced to put it out of my mind now that we were back on the front porch.

The parking lot at Fangtasia was packed. Most bars and clubs didn't get that kind of a crowd on a Wednesday evening but Fangtasia wasn't most kind of bars. Tourists, kids looking for a thrill, fangbangers and all manner of people lined up at its door to get a look at how the vampires lived out their nocturnal lives. We parked around the back and headed toward the Employee Entrance, Eric's hand firmly clasped around mine the whole way.

I wasn't a big fan of Fangtasia. That was possibly because just about every time I entered the place something horrible and life-changing seemed to occur. My first boyfriend, vampire Bill, had staked the bartender who was trying to kill me when I outed him for being a thief. I'd once found the place in ruins and two of its human daytime employees in trouble, one was already dead and the other had required a lengthy stay at the hospital. And then there was the time when I unknowingly proposed to Eric, via a ceremonial knife, here. The most recent time hadn't been so bad though. Eric and I had a decent conversation in one of the booths. Maybe my bad luck with the vampire bar had run out.

I heard "Black Velvet" playing in the main bar as Eric and I walked down the back hall and into his office. Pam was sitting behind his desk, wearing her black vampire get-up; a human girl with long dark hair, pulled into a tight bun, was sitting across from her.

The human was dressed in a long skirt, heels and a silk blouse. She looked a tad-bit too nice to be in a vampire bar. There was a black leather purse, expensive looking, in her lap and her hands were clasped over it. She turned to look as we entered and gave a beaming smile.

"Claudia, this is Eric, the co-owner, and his fiancée, Miss Sookie Stackhouse," Pam said by way of introduction.

The girl's eyebrows rose slightly when she managed to take in my introduction as Eric's fiancée. Though the state now recognized vampire to vampire marriages there was still a taboo on vampire-human relationships. Most people just assumed vampires didn't have the capacity to love a human after spending so many years of killing them. In most cases, I would have agreed.

"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Northman, and Miss Stackhouse," she held out her hand to me and I shook it with a smile. She had a firm, professional grip.

"My apologies for being late," Eric said with a nod of his head. Pam was up from his desk and beside me in a matter of seconds. "Pam, would you escort Sookie to the bar," he said as he took his rightful seat behind the desk and Claudia sat back down opposite him. He said something in what sounded like Russian. Pam nodded and we made an easy exit, closing the door behind us.

"Not surprised to see you here," Pam said with a smile. "I suppose you're going to spend all of your time under his thumb until we figure out what's up with this Lee character."

"I suppose."

"Well, at least he might keep his schedule now that he's not traipsing down to Bon Temps the minute he rises." There was a hint of annoyance in her voice. Eric's change in demeanor had really put Pam on edge. She didn't like this one bit and I found it hard to blame her. When someone you've known for hundreds of years suddenly starts acting differently it's probably a cause for worry.

"I'm sorry about all this," I apologized as she led me to a booth.

"It's no fault of yours." A vampire waitress wearing a skirt that was hardly more than a strip of fabric and a neon purple bra sidled over to us. "Nothing for me," Pam said.

"Umm… I'll have a vodka and cranberry." I wasn't a big drinker so I'd just said the name of something I'd heard a lot of people order at Merlotte's. It couldn't be all bad seeing as how so many people seemed to like it.

"Her tab is on the house," Pam mentioned as the waitress walked away. She nodded in acknowledgement and headed straight for the bar to put in my drink order.

I had a moment to look around the bar while I waited for my drink. Pam seemed to be quite keen on keeping her eyeliner perfectly straight and was currently going over it again with the help of tiny little hand mirror.

The place was loud and busy tonight. It looked like three times the crowd Merlotte's got on a good night. It was clear who were the fangbangers and who were the curious tourists.

There was a table of ladies, all in their late twenties, with fruity looking concoctions in front of them. The prettiest one, a blond with large blue eyes and high cheekbones, was wearing a sash that said "Bride to be" in bold calligraphy. It seemed that even young bachelorette's liked to walk on the wild side.

There were small groups of men, all looking at the vampire ladies as they walked by, and making loud comments here and there. Most of them were clearly drunk but not stupid enough to cause any trouble in a bar full of bloodsuckers.

There were vampires spread around, some sitting in booths and some on stools at the bar. Fangbangers were hanging off of some, all scantily clad and showing off their many bite marks. I had nothing against them. I tended to look at it like any other addiction; some people just couldn't help themselves. And here they were, hanging all over the vamps just looking for their next high.

A girl, clearly a fangbanger or donor judging by the amount of bite marks on her neck, caught my eye. She was sitting directly in front of the raised dais that Eric usually sat at. She stared up at the throne-like chair that my vampire usually occupied, just waiting. Her hair was dirty blonde and loose. It hung in waves to her shoulders. She wore little make-up and what she wore was tasteful in my opinion. Just a bit of blush, some light lipstick and a little eyeliner. She wasn't dressed like the other vampire lovers in the bar. She wore a knee length dress that was cut in a baby doll style. A style I'd worn many times and still wear when the weather's right. She looked completely comfortable but so very out of place.

Pam caught me starring at the girl. "Mary," she said without preamble. "She was Eric's favorite donor," putting emphasis on the past tense. Pam gave me a pointed look and I wasn't sure how to react. "She sat there for four hours last night before she finally realized he wasn't coming out."

The girl returned with my drink and I was thankful to have a moment to look away from Pam. I thanked her graciously and sipped. Vodka and cranberry wasn't all bad, I decided.

"He refused her two nights ago and she's been rather morose since." I took that in. Was she pinning away for Eric? Maybe she'd fallen in love with him. A boiling rage of jealousy came over me suddenly and then vanished just as quickly. I'd wondered if he had slept with her. "Silly humans," Pam grinned. "They become attached so easily. I'm sure she had some fairytale ending in her head where Eric would fall madly in love with her, turn her and take her as his wife." Pam grinned at me again. "But it looks like that spot's already filled."

I couldn't think of a decent response to that. The girl suddenly turned and we looked at each other. She scowled visibly and returned to her vigil of the empty chair. I was slightly taken aback by her reaction. Surely she didn't know that I was the reason Eric had scorned her. No, she was probably like that with everyone who looked at her these days. She looked like a woman with a broken heart who was just waiting for someone to come along and mend it for her. Too bad it seemed like my Viking was the only one she'd let do the job. Too bad for her, that is.

A/N: Link to the picture I used to describe Eric's house: . . That's exactly how I'd imagined it in my head. This chapter sort of ends abruptly but I'm already working on Chapter 4. It shouldn't be too long before I have it written/edited and posted. Reviews are welcomed and thanks so much for reading!!