Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the books or True Blood. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Day Man
Chapter 4
Dusty was not sure he still wanted the job after what he witnessed. Stan talked him into sticking to it.
"You don't have to worry about what's going on there. In fact, Godric's the last one to go looking for trouble."
"What do you mean trouble?"
"Not trouble, but sort of what you saw. He probably went along with Rex. When things get ugly, he'll step in and ask everybody to sit down and talk it over."
"I noticed he had a lot of Jesus and Mary pictures in his office."
"Yeah. It's never done me much good, but Godric's got a real interest in that sort of thing. Try not to bring it up with him though, or he'll start talking for hours about it. Even quotes it. Best you start out slow with him anyways. He's not quick to make new friends."
"Is he friends with you, Stan?"
"I'm not sure. Isabel can't stand me, and she's babbling in his ear all the time, but I go over often enough to play poker so I get my face seen."
"He plays poker?"
"Rarely. He usually stays in his room reading or whatever, but sometimes we're short a person or two, and we'll ask. Sometimes he'll play. It depends."
So Dusty decided to give it a try. He made two deliveries of books and was $40 richer. There were even half the books to return waiting for him when he came the second time so the library cops wouldn't be on his ass. The only other book he saw in Godric's office was a Bible. Actually, three Bibles, but it was all the same book after all.
Third day, third delivery. He had not seen or heard from Godric or Isabel. Both times, there had been no one in the back, and Klaus the dog was napping behind the counter on another dog bed, like he was now.
This lady had seen him before and opened the counter without Dusty saying anything. This time Klaus looked up, then turned to look over his shoulder and stood, growling low in his throat.
"What the fuck?" some young man yelled.
The female employee did not bother putting down her knitting as she said, "I believe it's called 'you're fired,' Jimmy."
"Oh yeah, what if I tell?"
"Tell what? You did a shitty job."
"That's not what I meant, I know what they are."
Dusty looked at the guy in confusion. What were they? A secret religious sect, funded by a deranged teen, hiding in the back of a laundromat?
"Just find another job."
"No, I want Godric to pay."
"You were paid. Now get lost, or I'll call the cops."
"No, I mean it'll cost a lot to keep me quiet. Godric's gonna go down."
The woman laughed loud and long.
"Hey, shut your trap, bitch," Jimmy said, getting close and taking out a switchblade.
Dusty had a person between him and Jimmy, besides the counter.
Klaus moved quickly and jumped right over the counter, sailing right into Jimmy's body.
"Whoa," Jimmy yelled, scrambling to get up and back away. "Damned dog."
"Don't," the woman yelled, but no one listened.
He ran, with Klaus on his heels. The dog was faster and Jimmy went down, disappearing behind a line of washers.
"Damn idiot," the woman said, getting up. Dusty followed her, but she went past Jimmy getting mauled to go up front and locked the door, flipping the sign to 'closed'.
Dusty tried to call the dog off, then foolishly wrapped his arms around its neck, trying to physically remove it. Klaus was one strong dog.
"Klaus, disappear," the woman called. "You are going to be in so much trouble. I gotta call someone to clean this up."
The dog moved off the still Jimmy, pulling Dusty with him. Christ. Worse was Klaus was looking over his shoulder at Dusty, showing off his bloody mouth, then gave a short bark.
"Right," Dusty said, letting go.
Klaus' paws clicked his way back to the counter, went through, and sat down next to the door to the back room.
The woman said, "You are one dumb dog, Klaus. You understand that? Get yourself cleaned up. I'll make the call 'cause no one understands a word out of your mouth."
Dusty looked around to make sure she was really talking to a dog, as she grabbed a couple quarters.
"Uh, what should …?"
"I guess you should keep doing what you're doing. You're only getting twenty bucks so it's better you don't get involved. Let him in the back with you."
"The dog? But isn't he …?"
"He can take care of himself. Don't worry, Klaus will have to answer to Godric later. Thank goodness no one was in here that I'd have to keep till later."
"Keep?"
"Never mind. I got to make a call, and get this taken care of."
Dusty did not like this at all, and did not want Klaus following him into the back. Vicious, unpredictable dog with creepy eyes. He didn't need to look at Jimmy closely to tell he was dead. His throat had been ripped out.
He opened the door and the dog went through leading the way. Dusty followed, and went into Godric's office and closed the door to keep Klaus out.
Eying the cross, a brief plea crossed Dusty's lips. He doubted the police were being called. Shit. He dropped the books in the drawer. Godric had left two books in it from yesterday. In the return drawer, were the rest. Yeah, like he should be worried about library books right now.
Dusty opened the door. There was a man, wearing only a pair of blue jeans, splashing water on his face at the sink. He didn't see the dog.
The tall, lean man turned and wiped the water off his face. He was one of those pale blond sorts that looks odd, due to their lack of real color. Especially those freaky pale, blue eyes that were looking at him now, over a scar that ran across his face, bridging his nose. He had a sunburst of scar tissue on one of his pale shoulders.
"Scheißkerl kann nicht arbeiten und klagt hier?" the scarred man asked, then answered himself with a dismissive huff and wave.
"What?"
"Sprechen Sie Deutsch?"
"No."
"Ah, mein Englisch ist nicht so gut. Ich verstehe … understand more as ein Hund."
Taking a wild guess, Dusty asked, "Klaus?"
"Ja," he replied with a nod. "Wenn Godric kommt … ah no. He will angry with me. Sie … you explain to him?"
"What is there to explain?" Dusty asked cautiously. He did not want to be the next person dead of a vicious dog attack, or whatever else this individual was capable of.
"Jimmy … meant … meant, mean, right word?" Klaus turned and looked at the clothes in the closet and pulled out a shirt. "Ich hasse Kleider."
"You killed him."
"Ja, Godric will be upset. Er ist sehr friedlich."
"What's that? You said it in all German."
"Very … peace, nice? Not like the rest. Tells them to stop or else."
Klaus pulled out a pair of boots and sat down to pull them on.
"Was ist für lunch? Ich bin hungrig," Klaus said, reaching into the bowl of dog biscuits and noisily bit into one. He picked up the bowl and held it out to Dusty.
"No, thanks."
"I am not fed till evening. Ich bin hungrig jetzt."
"What?"
"Now. I want to … eat. Habit to eat when I become human."
Rather than questioning the 'become human', Dusty asked, "Does Godric feed you?"
"Godric does not like the smell of food. Someone brings me food for breakfast and dinner every day, und I eat out at the table."
"Hey, you said that all in English," Dusty commented. Klaus' accent was still heavy.
"I need time to think my words English. I think in Deutsch."
"You're from Germany?"
"Ja."
"Are you like some sort of war criminal?"
"Nein, ich only Jungvolk before the end. I was too small to fire artillery like the older boys."
Klaus stalked over to the door, and opened it to the laundromat. He wasn't even through it, when he complained loudly, "Ich bin hungrig."
"Hold your horses," was yelled back at him.
He went over to see what was going on. Klaus had sat on the attendant's chair, and placed his folded arms on the counter to rest his head on them.
The female laundry attendant said, "Stop drooling on my counter. You're a bad dog. You understand that in English? You, here's your twenty dollars for today. Here's another twenty. Take him to eat. Go out the back door, and come back through the front when we reopen."
"What?" Dusty asked.
"Get him out of here."
Klaus had already stood up, looking at Dusty expectantly.
"Is that safe?"
"I think you could figure out what sets him off." She sighed, "Don't make threats to him or Godric. He might protect Isabel too."
"Not Isabel, unless Godric says," Klaus corrected, waiting at the door like he couldn't open it for himself.
"What a gentleman. Just take him."
"Never a gentleman."
Dusty opened the door, and Klaus followed him to the back.
"How about I get you some hamburgers and bring them back here?"
"Nein, no eating back here."
"You mean the rule about eating out front?"
"Ja, Godric's rule."
"So you eat hamburgers?"
"Meat, yes. Und beer. I like beer."
"Do you have a restaurant around here you like?"
"I do not leave the building unless ich bin mit Godric."
"I'm not Godric," Dusty pointed out.
"Definitely not." Klaus pushed open the metal fire door.
"Are you allowed out?"
"Allowed … allowed? Ah, yes, I can go outside. I am not a prisoner here."
"Okay, let's go then."
