***Eric***
From the moment I opened the door to the bar I smelled something beyond the usual bodily fluids of Fangtasia. Lilacs, honey, and sun. The crowd parted where I walked and I made a slightly more outward loop in order to look for whose scent I had caught. The sun dress.
She was looking at me with the tiniest trace of fear. Just enough to provide some patience and caution. Her face was carefully schooled to something that looked neutral or disinterested. But I knew better than to believe she was made of iron inside as well as out. I made sure I was the first to break eye contact. I knew the rules of power.
***Sookie***
While his gaze was only for a few seconds, I felt many hearts crack and gush out violent jealousies for me specifically. This place was absolutely pitiful and here that man was, sitting on a large chair on a raised platform observing me with a more smug smile than I ever imagined could cross another's face. Bill paled in comparison to this man's arrogance. Part of me had hoped to walk up to a vampire here and start asking questions, but I realized I would get nothing here in their own establishment. Even the young vampires walking around, who I could sense from the tiny black holes they embodied, looked deferentially at Eric. It was clear Eric was the gatekeeper and he did not look up for interrogation. There had been no coat check so I easily slipped away from my table to the front door.
Passing through the crowd to the front door I heard something out of place.
Just have to wait a couple more minutes and that girl will go into the bathroom with that vamp and start sucking. Then I'm calling in the troops. Hopefully the violation of a vampire feeding on a human in a public establishment will be enough to shut this horrible place down. These are our kids, getting strung out on V!
Well then. I still was leaving, given that I did not want to be a part of whatever was coming next. An undercover cop could not be good. It was already upsetting that I had no new information and I pressed away the disappointment I felt. I walked past the interior bouncer and turned the corner to run straight into Bill Compton. We both stared at one another, shocked. I recovered first by summoning my previous neutral expression.
"Bill."
"Sookie... May we step outside?" He gestured towards the outside door and I quickly walked past him with confidence that I had done nothing wrong and had nothing to apologize for.
"What are you doing here Sookie?! Do you know where you are and what this place is?" He looked madder than a hornet.
"Mr. Compton. Do remember that I saved your life, not the other way around and I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." I barely knew Bill and this was the second time he'd tried to hinder me because he felt the situation too dangerous. Thing is, I already had a Sam in my life and I didn't need two.
And then right beside Bill stood the blonde vampire, Eric. Great, now they appear suddenly when you are looking.
"Mr. Compton, to what do I owe the pleasure." Hostility radiated from Bill which Eric complemented with complete apathy that conveyed zero concern for how Bill felt.
"I am here on business."
"Yes, and as the Sheriff of Area 5 I am entitled to know when Queen Sophie-Anne's go-fetch-it-toy is here to make off with something. Also, she doesn't look like business." Eric gazed at me with lascivious intent.
Bill's face changed to pure rage, while Eric's grin got wider and he widened his stance to display his dominance over the situation. Bill's fangs peeked out, eyes dilated. They clearly had an abiding dislike for one another. I wonder how long they'd been in this back and forth with this pissing and dick measuring contest. Could be as long as they had been alive. I knew their current nastiness towards each other had nothing to do with me.
"If the Queen chose not to inform you Northman, that is not my problem."
"I'm sure she assumed you would inform me as is required by law." Eric smoothly rebutted.
Bill made the transition from irritated vampire, to full-blown-angry-vampire occurred in the space of 30 seconds. His expression looked eerily similar to the night when he took care of Mack. Eric looked like he was enjoying this, with his fangs splayed out in a toothsome grin. His blonde hair and his chiseled nordic features reminded me of what Vikings must have looked like in battle. Oh god, Eric could actually be a Viking. Like, a real Viking. It was time to make my exit.
"Just so ya'll know, there's an undercover cop in the bar who is about to bust a vampire feeding on an undercover agent in the bathroom. He's standing by the door looking conspicuous in his ill-fitting pleather pants, fishnet shirt with a potbelly and a beer. As for you Bill, I'll see you tonight." I turned and walked away from the both of them to my car and heard one set of fangs click back into place. Eric must have "disappeared". Once again, I didn't turn around. I felt that holding the upper hand was of the utmost importance to my surviving these encounters.
***Eric***
I was compelled to follow her, but I had to take care of what was about to happen in the bar. I could see Bill was feeling similarly, but he was obligated to stay and explain himself to me.
I was back into the bar and at the woman's bathroom door in less than a second. But not before I got a look at the man the girl had described. Got him. I could hear the woman begging to be taken from behind the hollow metal barrier. The stall ripped off from the wall with ease and revealed a faux fangbanger dressed in the usual garbage along with a practically newborn vamp carrying a stunned expression his face, fangs extended.
I didn't bother to tell him of his crime. Gripping his neck I dragged him down to my office, moving quickly enough that no one could see. The vamp's face was slammed hard onto his desk. Pam was right behind me.
"Shall I get the silver Eric."
"Please do."
She disappeared and came back with a gag and her gloved hands holding a silver chain.
"Now, Marshall. That's your name yes?"
"Yes! I'm so-"
His head held down with one hand I wrenched off his left arm. He'd regrow it, in time. But it was most assuredly painful. Marshall screamed and I chuckled that the office was sound proof, for a variety of reasons.
"Now my darling Pamela, if you would be so kind."
Pam loved to discipline the wayward vampires of Fangtasia. I let go of Marshall and Pam quickly looped the chain over his body. She viciously shoved the gag into his mouth.
"Master, what punishment do you have in mind?" Marshall was whimpering and burning under the silver.
"1 month in a coffin, silvered."
Marshall was trying to scream "no" under his gag. They all did.
Pam led him out and I once again made my way to the front door in little time. I appeared in front of the man causing him to drop his beer.
"Leave. Now."
"You can't kick me out, I didn't do anything!"
"I am the owner of this bar, and you will leave. And take your scumbag cops sitting out in the street with you. We comply with all laws in this bar and you have no right to stay if I have asked you to leave without a warrant. Do you have one?"
"No." The man looked down-trodden that his hopes for making a big bust were dashed on the concrete, along with his beer.
"Then get out." If the man had a tail, it would have been between his legs as he scampered out the front door.
With that taken care of, I ascended to my throne once again. It concerned me that Bill was here without letting me know and that it was Bill who would be with the girl in the sundress tonight. Keeping ahead of the political game may not have been an interest of mine, but I was good at it. My reputation as a violent and skilled killer of humans and vampires alike along with being a shrewd political navigator preceded me. It helped that I was 1,000 plus years old. Many feared I would take their monarchy out from under them, but none dared move against me unless it was justified by my making the first move. Then they would have the Council on their side as well as the support of other monarchies. It kept the relationship between the vampire's political hierarchy and myself in harmony that I did nothing to outright threaten anyone.
Bill had slipped back into the bar after the girl had driven away. It would have been disrespectful of him to leave without addressing our previous conversation. I curled my finger at him to come towards me. The sneer on his face from such a gesture was oh-so-satisfying.
"Perhaps I can be of use to you Mr. Compton. If you tell me what you are looking for, I would be happy to procure it for our Queen."
"If I were here to procure something, do you think I would let you take all the credit Eric? Absolutely not. I'd like to see you push me on my mission here, and watch Sophie-Anne punish you for your interference."
Eric did accept the threat as valid. Whether he felt he had to abide by the statement was another thing entirely.
"Very well Compton. You have my blessing to do in Area 5 whatever it is on god's green earth that our Queen may desire you to accomplish. You know I love her and am a loyal subject to our Queen."
I sounded as supportive as possible, but with a contempt that couldn't be relayed to Sophie-Anne effectively. Bill was still bound to his maker, and if his maker were summoned then Bill would be compelled to answer for Eric's loyalty. If I stepped out of line with my verbage, Bill would gleefully confess it to all around him.
"But tell me Mr. Compton. What is that girl's name and is she your business?"
Bill's face soured, but with a quick glimpse of concern and fear crossing his face.
"Sookie Stackhouse. I am interested in her for personal reasons, but I may acquire her for Sophie-Anne's court should she conform to pet standards."
"Thank you, Compton. You may go." I wouldn't be letting that happen, of course.
"Northman." Bill all but ran away from my humble dais.
***Sookie***
I pulled into my driveway and continued to walk with an ease I did not feel to my front door. Once inside the house, I trudged up the stairs. Being around familiar things caused me to lose my courage. I'd been holding up for the entire night, but now at home my emotions took a tailspin in the other direction. Tears started to stream down my face before I reached my bedroom. Crying in the shower was the best option for not being heard and ensuring my face didn't look horrible afterwards.
With the water was streaming down, I could not stop thinking about what I had gotten myself into. Two people, no, two vampires who I could not read had walked right into my life and expressed a moderate amount of interest in me. Their competitiveness in regards to one another was disturbing. Bill seemed to feel like I was his responsibility, which was weird. Eric seemed to covet what he saw, which was more honest but equally less exciting. My hope was that vampires were not as serious and intent as they looked and that individual humans were a passing phase for vampires. How could we not be when we weren't immortal as they were. I guess I was more afraid that they wanted to eat me than get to know me.
Apparently it was Bill's job to procure and Eric's to Sheriff. The latter was easy to understand; Eric was in charge of some vampires in an area. But 'procurement' sounded sinister. Bill I had met randomly at Merlotte's as far as I knew. He hadn't done anything wrong, even if he'd been odd with his staring and commanding my behavior. And telling me that I had no business being at Fangtasia, which was more about my not liking being told what to do.
Procurement. Obtaining something with effort and care. Or someone.
After being considered downright crazy by most of the town, it was a little hard to fathom that I would have anything to do with Bill's goals. While it was now obvious he wasn't just here for his house, that didn't mean it had anything to do with me.
It was 9pm now. I dried myself, started in on my moisturizing routine and thought of what outfit I would wear. No makeup. I hadn't used it since my teens. Who would want to date me anyway. Crazy Sookie who said what was on everyone's mind.
God, what a pity party I was having. And all over some unsuccessful interactions with vampires, which was no different than my encounters with pretty much everyone else. This was my life, last I checked. And I did have some amount of control over how I felt about it.
***Bill***
I stood outside gazing into Sookie's window and returning from Fangtasia. I saw her wrapped in a towel with an expression of apprehension for something dreadful about to happen. She wasn't exactly wrong.
She was quite beautiful for a human. Imperfections were there, of course. She had a gap between the front of her teeth and a handful on either side sized chest. Her midsection was tight with perfectly muscled legs and bottom, and skin unblemished. She was blonde, with her own set of blue eyes.
The towel dropped and I would have sucked in air if I were a human. Instead I tensed, dropped my fangs and realized quickly that I needed to feed before entering her house.
***Sookie***
I pulled down my dress and stood in front of a full length mirror. It was time to check in with myself about everything. Find out why Bill is here. If it all seemed reasonable then I would maybe consider going on another date. Maybe.
9:45pm. I found my courage somewhere during getting ready and vowed to not be intimidated by a single vampire. My posture was impeccable as I walked down the stairs, making me feel confident and in control.
The doorbell rang. Of course he would be early. Reconfiguring my stoic face to my hostess smile, I opened the door. He stood there with flowers and a bottle of wine.
"Ms. Stackhouse."
"Mr. Compton."
He waited.
For a moment I reveled in my ownership of our interaction. I paused to be certain he knew that I was acutely aware of the rules and regulations. "Please come inside. The parlor?" I gestured in its direction.
"That will do perfectly." He stepped in the threshold and made his way to the parlor, following at a respectful distance.
I accepted Bill's gifts with a quick flush at having received the first flowers I've ever gotten from a romantic interest. I left the parlor to find an appropriate vase in the kitchen and set the bottle of wine on the counter to be used at a later time. With my desire to be appropriate, I sat in an armchair so he could not sit so close to me. I was about to address the events at Fantasia when I realized I had not offered Bill a thing to eat or drink. And I certainly wasn't offering myself.
"I apologize. I didn't get you any True Blood. Water? Anything?"
Bill smiled. "Sookie, it's all right. I ensured that I fed before I arrived."
"I want to apologize for the display of such poor behavior on my part in regards to Eric Northman. I was caught off guard by the situation at hand. I wanted to protect you, as he is known for unpredictable outbursts that have killed many a human."
"Is that so. Are you also prone to outbursts?" I remembered his face and thought it somewhat duplicitous that he insisted Eric was the bearer of tantrums and not he.
"Well, no. Vampires do not have to kill indiscriminately. There are humans who freely donate their blood to us and those who we pay for the service. No one has to die or be subject to cruel actions. We are not all killers Sookie."
"That's wonderful to hear Bill. But you didn't exactly answer my question." It was hard to keep the sarcasm out of my voice, but it stood to reason that if vampires were mainstreaming that someone, somewhere in their government thought that vampires could refrain from hurting people. Civility is the expectation, not the exception.
He sighed. "There have been actions I've taken that I am not particularly proud of. But somewhere along the way I found my humanity again. My descendants live here and I have returned to live at the home I had when I was a human, looking to reconnect with the rest of the world. Being a vampire has meant always hiding and never being able to stay anywhere for long. It has made many of us detached from humans, but it's becoming easier for all of us, including me."
I liked that answer. Humans did terrible things, and those who did were often loners who didn't know how to make personal connections with others, leaving their thought process vulnerable to strong judgements against others instead of thinking compassionately. It made sense that violence and vampires went hand in hand due to their inability to integrate with 99% of the world.
"That's really good to hear Bill, and it makes so much sense! I hope you like it here." I said warmly.
"I do as well." His smile almost reached his eyes, and I felt a tiny push of caution rise up.
"So I guess that means Eric was off base, and you're not here to get anything for a certain someone?"
Bill's face looked slightly piqued, but he brokered another explanation.
"Both are true. I work for the Queen to acquire vampires or humans for her. No one against their will. And I have the luxury of being on the path of self discovery."
"And who are you here for Bill?"
He paused, not for very long before he said the dreaded word: "You."
"And why is that." Things were going so well, and now they were spiraling. My voice was icy and the grimacing smile on my face was probably more uncomfortable for me than it was for him. Of course he knew. He knew about why everyone thought I was crazy.
"Your cousin… Is close with the Queen. She mentioned wanting to see you."
"Oh! Hadley?" Maybe this wasn't so bad, but the glimmer of hope died a quick death. Wait, yes it was. Hadley was an addict, and as much as she was a person underneath her disease, it didn't change who she was.
"She is the queen's favorite."
"Favorite what?"
"We call them pets, but it's not as bad as it sounds for Hadley. The queen cares very much for her."
"Does she care that Hadley has addictions to human drugs?" The pet title was unimportant.
"Hadley has been clean since having been found by the Queen."
"Well that's good. But I don't want to see her. She stole from Gran and never went to her mother's bedside as she died of cancer. If Hadley wants to see me, she can come find me and not send a procurer for me."
"Hadley can't leave the Queen's side, Sookie."
"She could have called then." We were not in high school passing notes back and forth anymore. If Hadley wanted a relationship with us, she knew better than to send someone to bring it to her. At least I hoped she did. "And that's all of why you're here?"
"I am here because Hadley said something to the Queen about you and the Queen bade me to take you with me to visit."
"Not Jason, or Gran I guess."
"They were not mentioned, no. But perhaps she feels like reaching out to one family member to test the waters is better than reaching out to all of you at once."
"She did let Gran down, it's true." I sighed and slumped further into my chair. Bill was actually being polite and answering my questions, and I supposed he was being honest. The Hadley thing was a little fishy, but the explanations sounded reasonable. Hadley would be embarrassed to talk to Gran, Jason was not really a person you could trust to smooth ruffled feathers. No, if she wanted back in to this family it'd be through front-door-Sookie. But she could come here; no way I was going to New Orleans to be mistaken for a pet too.
"You know, you are the only human I've ever met who isn't afraid of us. Even Hadley is fearful and timid around vampires other than the Queen and her children." I knew he was trying to be personable and complimentary, but he was asking me to consider a lot right now.
"What's the point of being scared Bill? If ya'll wanted me dead, I'd be dead."
"Rational, but rational thought isn't common for the masses."
"Maybe I'm not rational. Maybe I should have never invited you in, or even saved your life. Seems like you aren't going away now. You live next door and you are supposed to bring me to my cousin and your boss." I raised my eyes to meet his and smiled at him darkly.
"There are vampires among you whether you care about our lives or not. And in my defense I'll say I appreciate what you did for me and if you wanted me to go away, I would. The Queen would send someone else, mind you. But I respect your position, even if it is strange to meet a human who wouldn't throw themselves at us given the opportunity."
He looked sincere with his melancholy eyes latched onto my face. Like he'd really regret not getting to know me, but that he'd let me live my life now if it was what I wanted. It would have been hard to believe what he said about a lack of fear in a human being a rarity if I hadn't been at Fangtasia. Underneath every thought in that bar was the perfume of fear. There was an undercurrent of a threat in his words about another vampire taking his place in an attempt to court me. A revolving door of forced company, with a Queen hoping that just one of her employees would manage to get what she wanted. Fat chance. Vampires may have all the time in the world, but they've clearly never met me.
"That's fine Bill. You don't have to go. I have some more questions, if you're up for answering?"
"Let's trade. I'd like to know more about you." I felt jittery just hearing the last part of that sentence.
"Ok, I go first." I could appreciate how he was settling in, even if I was feeling out of my comfort zone. If his questions became inappropriate, I'd tell him.
"When you came in the door, why didn't you just put yourself on the couch as quickly as you could? I know you can move fast."
"It's uncomfortable for most humans. We are trying to mainstream and conforming to comforting standards around humans is a part of that."
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't hide your nature." He looked conflicted on the answer to that one. I'm sure there was super secret vampire stuff I wasn't supposed to know, but I was definitely curious.
"I will do my best. Now, what do you care about most in the world?" Oddly intimate question, but ok.
"Gran, family. That's pretty much all I care about."
"Not money, a career, your own house?"
"I have a house here just fine. A career requires an education and I certainty don't have the money for that. As for money, we do just fine with that we have. I'm happy." I paused before plunging into the next question. "Where do vampires come from?"
His eyes narrowed and he sat back. "The origin of our existence is kept secret from most of our kind, including me. If our progenitor were still alive out there, he or she would be the strongest among us. And given the creatures we have had to be, many would want to kill our ultimate maker to escape their superiority. He or she is probably dead."
"What kind of creatures are you that you'd kill… your mom...or dad?" I tensed. This was an answer I had been looking forward to.
"That's a third question, it's my turn for a second." He wagged his finger at me.
"Oh fine, ask away." I considered that second question to be part 2 of the first.
"What do you do in your spare time?"
"I'm asking about the history of vampires and you want to know what I do when I'm not working?"
"Yes." He looked charming, knowing full well he was being the romantic while I was being practical. It was hard to not consider flirting with him. Even if he wanted to scoop me up and take me to the Queen.
"I read a lot. Clean and cook with Gran. I love to sun bathe. So now it's my turn! What are vampires like on the whole?"
He looked unhappy to be answering this one. After watching the display between Eric and him I wasn't surprised. "I asked for honesty, Bill. And you agreed to my terms."
"We're generally power hungry and vain creatures. We drink blood, that much you understand. Blood is everything to us, not only a food. Along with blood comes bloodlust, which devolves into sex and a general lack of control. Many vampires resist by practicing, or they are old enough to not feel inclined towards wanton violence. As I said, not all vampires are lacking in control. We can take without killing or having sex and we can choose to only take blood. It happens to be a pleasurable experience for all involved. "
"So getting bitten is pleasurable."
"Well, yes. But that counts as your next question so now I get two."
"But your answer to the second one was basically one word!"
"Two questions." He insisted mirthfully. "Will you consider coming back to New Orleans with me?"
"No. I mean, yes. I guess I have to. But I don't like it. But not as a pet, ever."
"Fair enough. So if not that, would you consider going on another date with me?"
"Maaayyybee." My hands flew up to my mouth and I could feel myself blushing. He was cute, not sexy hot like Eric. More like tall dark and handsome.
"Maybe?"
"Maybe." I confirmed and continued "I have a lot more questions about vampires, but it's getting close to my bed time. So I have just one last one before I let you go."
"Yes Sookie, of course. "
"Who is Eric and why does he seem like he's in charge of everything here?"
***Bill***
This entire conversation had been a careful dance of telling half-truths. While I recognized that she was looking for a place to put her trust, and I would likely break it, perhaps she would understand better when it was all said and done. She was coming with me to New Orleans within a week's time, regardless of her willingness. But willing would be nice.
Sookie would find it in her to enjoy the luxury of Sophie-Anne's court. And if she was everything that Hadley had said, her value would protect her. To be sure, it had not crossed my mind until I met her the first time that Hadley had been telling the truth. When I found the drainers out front just as Sookie had said, I was coming around to the Queen's thinking on the matter. Sookie the telepath. Fangtasia had sealed it as true when Sookie mentioned an imminent raid before she left, throwing it out there like it was something she had simply known.
In procurement, after the value of the merchandise was established, then came price. Sookie was unique in that the only things she needed were things she had. She had thought I was asking personal questions because I wanted to get to know her, when truly I was looking for her cost. Humans generally enjoyed sex, money companionship, traveling and generally the perks of being with a vampire. If she had wanted those things, she could have contracted herself to the human government long ago. As it stood, I could tell all she cared about was her family, but not Hadley. There would be very little to barter her cooperation with if I didn't establish a human-dating relationship with her.
Eric was the worst and most dangerous obstacle I could have attracted in my pursuit of Sookie. It was important to keep my future interaction with Eric at a minimum and prevent Sookie from going to Fangtasia ever again. As much as Sookie was a mission, and I'd generally been hiding that from her, I was coming to like her and would be unhappy to lose her to another vampire before I claimed her as mine.
"Eric is the Sheriff of this area. He manages all the vampires here under the Queen's ultimate authority."
"Will you tell him that someone, maybe a vampire or a person who hates vampires murdered a woman? I bet they'd like to know about that before it happens again. She had bite marks apparently."
That was surprising. She cared and she didn't want to see anyone hurt. Even vampires, apparently. Still, I realized that my time with her this night was growing short. I needed to excuse myself in order to not overstay my welcome.
"Sookie, I will let Eric know about this situation. If you will excuse me, I will take my leave of you and you can decide when and if you wish to see me again." I hoped the draw and uniqueness of being a vampire would encourage her come to me. As long as Eric stayed out of this.
"Yes, I think it's time. I will walk you to the door Mr. Compton."
"Until next time Ms. Stackhouse." I conformed to her request to be myself, in this case at least, and upon stepping out I made it to my house in a matter of 10 seconds. I could hear her gasp in my wake.
***Eric***
"I didn't expect to hear from you so soon Compton."
"Eric, Sookie told me there was a murder and that the woman had vampire bites on her body."
I was listening now.
"Any information besides this?"
"Not that I know of."
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention." I reached for my phone and called the local police station in Bon Temp.
***Sookie**
Jason ran into the house while Gran and I were having breakfast.
"Sook! Did that vampire hurt you? What did he fuckin' do to you, I swear I will stake that vamper myself. I won't see you become a Maudette Pickens."
"Jason Stackhouse, do I look injured to you? You know, who I choose to spend my time with and how I spend it is none of your business." Jason attempted to interrupt. "Jason. I am serious. Mr. Compton was a gentleman. And as you can see, I am not dead, nor bitten."
"Well maybe he just bit you where I can't see…"
"Knock it off Jason! He didn't bite me. Don't make me tell you about how many sexcapades I know you have had and when you had them. Or the thoughts about me that all your friends think when they come over."
"My friends Sook? They think of you that way? Tell me who they fuckin' are right now, Sook. No one thinks about you like that." Jason was all bluster, but he meant well. I was his baby sister.
"I need you to calm down and recognize that I am an adult and I know what I am doing."
"Ok Sook." He was unconvinced.
I remembered my short but happy conversation with Gran.
"Oh my darling, did you have a good time?" Gran sounded comforting and happy.
"I did. He answered many of my questions about vampires, though I did forget to ask him about the war."
"So glad to hear it Sookie. The war can wait!" Gran was squeezing her tight. "Now it's lunch time if you're hungry."
I was debating on when to call Bill again. I had work today at Merlotte's, so there was time to think about it. For the rest of the day I did laundry, cleaned the house with Gran and talked with her about my need to make a decision on Bill staying in my life.
"I don't know what he wants though, Gran!"
"Honey, I know you've never so much as kissed a boy. I remember when you tried dating and came home stompin' off to your room. If you can't hear them, it's worth it to give it a shot and see if being with a vampire will work for you. I want you to be happy."
"I'm not sure they're even slightly human." It had just occurred to me that maybe vampires didn't have feelings at all, just preferences.
"Are you lookin' for reasons to not see this man? Because you'll find 'em dear."
"Maybe." I was silent. That's why I chatted with Gran about these things. Gran had her opinions, but often she only asked pointed questions and made thoughtful statements rather than seeming like she wanted things a certain way.
"They're different, and a relationship with them will be different. That don't mean it's a bad thing." She was soft now. My Gran was a saintly person, filled with love. My rock. My home was here with her. If Bill was going to court me, I would give it a shot. Gran had my back if things fell apart. I knew that.
"Thanks Gran. I needed to hear that."
Gran chuckled, and I finished sweeping the kitchen as she washed the dishes.
***Sookie***
"Hey Sam! Arlene," I nodded to the petite-and-sweet redhead. "Dawn, hey! Lafayette, how are ya?"
"Oh you know hookah, just doing me."
"Lafayette, you watch your mouth!" Arlene had two kids and sometimes she forgot that we weren't her babies.
"I certainly hope you don't watch my mouth for me, especially later tonight…"
"Lafayette! I did not need to hear that!" We laughed as Arlene threw her hands up in the air and walked away in mock offense. Lafayette was flaming, and Arlene was a little uncomfortable with different people. But that's just how she was. Arlene was on her third soon-to-be husband. Rene Lenier was all right. No, he wasn't bad. It was just Arlene was like… Arlene. With all her men. She dives right in there without looking. Converts herself to their lifestyle as long as they're around and picks up a new one when the next guy comes along. I don't know she makes it out alive.
Dawn was another creature entirely. She was on again off again with Jason, and when she was mad at Jason she wasn't very nice to me. Seemed like they were off since Dawn was ignoring me pointedly.
"Sookie.. You saw Bill last night?" I was leaning against the bar and Sam came up behind me silently.
"Yes." I said hesitantly. How did he know?
"I smell him on you." He answers my unasked question. "Be careful Sook, please? I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you." It was the closest he ever had gotten to a declaration of love. It was easy to forget Sam was a shifter too and had the olfactory senses of… whatever he shifted into. Oh Sam, I just don't want you that way.
The night progressed with ease as Lafayette slung out food at a consistent pace while our customers did what they did best, get inebriated.
When Jason strode in through the door, it was about 11pm. From the looks of him, he had pre-gamed elsewhere and was coming here looking for trouble.
And trouble your name is Dawn Green. I shook my head. Someday, some woman was going to seriously injure Jason. Or tie him down and marry him. Or both. Dawn lit up and then went dark with indignation when she saw Jason. She flicked her hair and walked away from him as he was looking to speak with her.
"Dawn! Hey!"
"Can't you see I have things to do besides you Jason?" I wasn't sure anyone in Bon Temp didn't know about Jason and his many affairs, particularly Dawn. Dawn was mouthy and it wasn't like this was a classy establishment, as suggested by the rumbling laughs of the men and some of the women in the bar at Dawn's response. Maybe they should make a reality show on Jason. Not that he could use the affirmation of his ego.
"Oh hey don't be that way Dawn. I'm sorry for what I said 'bout you! I didn't mean it, I swear."
Dawn had the grace to at least walk back to Jason before giving him her response. Not that everyone wasn't already listening.
"And you sure you ain't saying that to get back into my pants? Because I sure as hell don't believe you." I watched as she puffed out her chest, leaned on one of her legs with her hip jutting out while lazily rested her hand on it.
"Dawn let me make it up to you. We'll go to a nice dinner. I'll get'cha some flowers."
"Jason, I don't want your flowers. Or a dinner. I'll decide what I want. So why don't you wait around here and let me think about it."
Dawn's thoughts were triumphant. She had Jason waiting on tenterhooks for her desires. As for Jason, I knew he was single minded in achieving his mission and while he was always sincere in the moment, he forgot all about it when he was done. This created the vicious cycle of Jason jumping from one bed to another. And after each bed jump he'd say 'What?!' to the previous lay when he got smacked or otherwise chastised. Incorrigible.
***Eric***
I had information gathered from my day people regarding the murder of a one Maudette Pickens. The police were quite disinterested in my help, though I had said I was responsible for all vampires in the area and if it were found that one had murdered a human that he or she would be imprisoned and likely face "the death penalty", as humans liked to refer to it. The last pieces I had been waiting on were coming in shortly. My day people had confirmed the name, time of death, and circumstances surrounding it and suspects. When Longshadow, the vampire I had entrusted to carry out this task, came back with a copy of the autopsy, crime scene information, and any samples taken from the body, I would act.
Even if the killer was a human, it was irrelevant. Many other Sheriffs would disagree with my thoughts on this, but I realized that our position as being out in the open was more tentative than secure. Not only did vampires have to play by the human's rules, but we had to do better and preemptively defend ourselves from accusations regardless of who committed the crime. Offering help was the olive branch needed to bridge the gap.
"What did you find?"
"A few things. Here is a sample of the semen found inside her. Definitely human. Do you wish me to track him?"
"Yes. And when you do find him, call me. That will be all."
Longshadow nodded and blinked out of my office.
I didn't have to wait long. There had been some paperwork to do regarding the bar and the area that I was finishing up as my phone rang.
"You've found him? Only one correct? I will be there shortly."
***Eric***
Longshadow was listening cautiously outside of a trailer that had lights and a tv blaring. When I approached, I could hear what the other vampire was hearing. A human male was muttering to himself. It would have been almost unintelligible to humans but I made out what he was saying.
"Trash. Garbage fangbanging women. Not women. Dead-walking whores. They like death so much, they can join." It went on like that for a while.
"Thank you Longshadow. You may go." When I knocked on the door, the man whipped it open angrily. His eyes met mine and his face turned slack.
"Let me in."
"Yes. Come in."
"You murdered Maudette Pickens. Who else?"
"Yes. My sister too. She left her boyfriend for a blood-sucking-."
"What did you use to kill them?"
"Strangled Maudette. Sister too. Burned the house."
"Did you have sex with them?"
"Yes. Before and after."
"Is there any record of this?"
"I made videos." Delightful.
"Name?"
"Rene Lenier, but my real name is Drew Marshall."
"Ok Drew. You're going to gather up your videos and murder implements. Take these with you when you drive yourself down to the police station and tell them everything about your crimes. All of it. When you get into your cell, you will kill yourself using any method possible. Understood?"
"Yeah."
"You will know you saw me, but you will not be able to tell anyone." To me, it was important for him to go to his end knowing that someone knew his sins. Killing for poor reasons or none at all was a waste. Even when we weren't out, I made a habit of not eliminating life unnecessarily, only ruthlessly when it was needed.
"Okay."
"Good bye Rene." I said softly.
