The story is done. It isn't all below but I just wanted to get that out there. My goal is to have the whole thing up before the holidays (My house will be full of crazy people) i.e. my family.
Sookie
Chapter Twenty-One
Missing Mayhem
I woke to loud banging at my front door. I cursed under my breath and shuffled to answer it. Before I reached I knew it was Andy and Dove. No doubt they had come to ask me about my car. I hadn't even had much time to get my story together. I opened the door. "Morning Sookie" Andy was attempting to be warmer towards me. Dove on the other hand wanted me sent away for the many things I had been involved in. He felt I was the guilty party in pretty much all those incidents "Morning" I showed them in.
"Please make yourselves at home" I just rolled out of bed my mind wasn't clear. I left them and went into my bathroom. I freshened up and got my act together. The only game plan I could come up with was to pick out what was already in their heads and go from there. I could clearly hear that Andy was convinced without a shadow of a doubt that vampires were involved. He thought I was scared and I wasn't going to tell them anything. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. Andy was correct on all counts Dove thought they should threaten me with charges of leaving the scene of accident. He didn't really care what happened. According to him I was single handedly ruining Bon Temps crime statistics. This wasn't going to be easy.
I joined them. "Can I get you anything" They both politely declined. I sat. "Didn't see your car out front" Dove said. My eyes widened and I went to look out the window. I was doing a poor acting job but it would be enough. "My car was stolen" I said in disbelief still looking out the window like I couldn't believe my eyes. Having the advantage of knowing how my acting was perceived helped me not to overplay my hand. "When did you last see it?" Andy asked me. I turned to look at him "Last night when I parked it right there" He was taking notes for the show of it. He didn't believe a single thing I said but he didn't have a way to prove otherwise. "Did you find it?" There was hope in my voice. Dove nodded. He was hoping it would make me nervous that he found it. I smiled in relief.
"It was maybe twenty minutes from here along with two other cars" Andy said. He was giving me a piercing look. Dove thought it was some kind insurance fraud because mine was the only car that they were able to identify so far. He was scrutinizing my face for any sign that I was already aware of this. Andy continued. "There seemed to have been some kind of accident" In his head he used explosion. My face fell and I thought I did a good job looking distraught. "Was anyone hurt" I only asked because I knew they thought I wouldn't. Dove clenched his jaw. I wasn't giving anything away. "Doesn't look like it" Andy said. "There were no bodies" I was rightfully stunned. "There's nothing you can think of that would help us make sense of this" Dove said. His tone was accusatory. I shook my head. Andy shrugged and stood up. "You know where to find us if can think of anything" Or change your mind. He added mentally. I nodded and they both stood and left.
After they had gone I called my insurance guy. We have had other run in's he knew what ever happened to my car had a supernatural undertone. Lucky for me he was a witch, he also knew I was honest so he wasn't going to dig too deep. He told me he would be in touch with the police and when they had a report he would pay out my claim. That was good news. It did nothing for the fact that I still had to figure out a way to get around for the time being. I took my coffee out on the porch and tried to relax. My day was off to a stressful start. I tried to just enjoy the heat of the summer morning. I didn't have to work today. Lately I had been spending my free days with Dermot but I didn't know if he would come by after yesterday.
Having Eric explain his motives to me made me less angry. But we still had to talk. It was nice of him to think he had to defend my honor but it wasn't necessary. Bill and I had come a long way from that Emergency room in New Orleans. That night I would have jumped at the chance to have him killed. In hindsight that would have only served to feed my anger and deepen my pain. Bill had a place in my heart he always would it was why I could never bring myself to hate him no matter how much I wanted to. Though I no longer wanted him or loved him in that way I cared about his safety and his happiness. I also owed him my life a few times over. I didn't want anything to happen to him. If Dermot was going to keep coming around he had to understand that.
Just as I was getting ready to call him Dermot drove up. The car he was driving made my mouth hang open. He was driving a compact silver Cadillac sedan. He walked up the front steps and just looked at me. It looked like he was gauging my mood "I am not sorry for trying to kill him" His arms were folded across his chest and he sure didn't look sorry. That was just peachy. I glared at him. I wasn't angry at what happened anymore but if he even showed a hint of penance it would make talking to him easier. Before I could began ranting he continued "He lives by your mercy. You have my word that I will not make him finally dead" He seemed to gag on his words. I thought about how out of control he had been last night. I knew fairies kept their word no matter what. That was good enough for me because it was the best I was going to get out of him.
At least that was settled. "Nice car" I said to change the topic. He grinned. "I'm glad you like it. It's yours" He threw the key at me. It was a black keyless remote. I caught it reflexively. But my brain hadn't completely processed what he said. I was shocked that he could afford to just buy me a new car; I was shocked that he thought I would accept it. I got a hold of myself and threw the key back at him. "Thank you but I can't accept it" I said. He rolled his eyes like I was being unreasonable. Then he came and took the chair next to me. I couldn't take things that I didn't need. I needed a car but no one so grand. What kind of woman would it make me if I just walked around taking expensive things from men? Granted one was my husband and the other was my uncle "Claude said you would not be agreeable" He grumbled. I really wished they would stop talking about me behind my back.
"I will sell it to you" He said. I snorted. He cocked his head to the left. "Are you expecting anyone?" I shook my head. A few minutes later two cars pulled into my driveway. I didn't recognize either of them. Then David hopped out of one and another man came out of the other. Dermot was watching them intensely for a few seconds then he relaxed. "Good morning Mrs. Northman" I smiled. "Nice to see you again David, please call me Sookie" He nodded. "I was instructed to bring you a rental this morning" It was nice of Eric to think about that but I didn't want him paying for a rental indefinitely. "Thank you but I'm fine" He was confused. He was told I needed a car and he certainly didn't want to leave and have me go without one. He didn't want to argue with me but he didn't want to disobey Pam's orders. "I got it figured out" I told him with a smile. He looked at the other car in my driveway and nodded. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" I shook my head. "No David but that's for asking" He thought I was refusing because I was uncomfortable with him. This was the first errand he had been on for Eric that involved me. He made a mental note to be warmer. "Very well then have a good day" He turned and left. He wasn't even the least bit bothered that he had drove all the way out here for seemingly no good reason. He did as he was asked the end.
"You just told a lie" Dermot said. His tone said he wished he could tell a flat out lie the way I did. I shrugged. I've been telling a lot of lies today. "You really would be doing me a service by taking the car" I got up. I wasn't going to entertain him anymore. He followed and continued. "I bought it for you. The car I have is better suited for a fairy. Also I drove it so I cannot return it. Whatever am I to do?" He sounded truly distressed. I was trying to keep in mind that he was a fairy and he was great at acting. But all that he said did make stop and think. "I can't afford to buy it from you" my tone was wishful. I had to admit to myself that if I really could afford half what that car cost I would take him up on his offer. I needed a car. Being new I was sure this car would last a long time not to mention it was beautiful. I assuaged some of the disappointment by telling myself it would probably end up being mangled in some vampire attempt on my life.
"You do not even know what I'm asking" I was rummaging in the kitchen for something to eat. It didn't matter. There was no way I could afford it. "Give me what you would have spent on another car" I would be lying if I said I wasn't tempted. But it seemed wrong. I felt like I was taking advantage of him "What is it with you fairies and the pushy gift giving" I had become a little annoyed that he wouldn't drop the subject. I remember Niall had asked me constantly if there was something he could give me. "It is a token of the deepest affection" He said in a soft tone. That caught me by surprise. Usually when people gave you something it was because they wanted something. I thought about it. I would give him the full amount of my claim and something extra. It wasn't nearly as much as the car was worth but it would make me feel better. After breakfast Dermot and I went to train. About half way through I hated him.
"Stronger" He chided. "You must come with more power" I was leaning with my hands on my knees and my sword in the dirt. He came over to me. "Your movements are too rigid" I was almost wheezing. I glared at him. He was looking for good sport. I guess my lack of ferocity and strength was boring him "I am not as strong as you are" He was forgetting I was more human than Fae. He shook his head "You fight like a coward" That was it. I have had it. I stood ready to give him a piece of my mind when he swung at me. I ducked and picked up my sword without thinking about it. Usually I was on the defensive. I had always silenced that that part of me that wanted to fight. Today I set it loose.
I noticed he wasn't doing his summersault and flips today. He was taking me seriously. That made two of us. He was barely managing to keep me out his personal space. I was moving faster because that hesitation I felt when I moved was no longer there. I was proud of myself for forcing Dermot to use more of his strength. He was stronger but I was lighter on my feet. Throughout all of this I noticed my shield remained in place. Dermot did a few cartwheels that put him out of reach. I followed after him. When he stopped my sword was pointed at his neck. He put his hands up "Truce" I withdrew my sword. He had actually broken a sweat and sounded out of breath. He was smiling at me I returned it. He had goaded me into realizing what I was capable of. I didn't like it. But I couldn't say I was angry about it.
Later that night we got dresses for Claude's new club. Well I got dressed. Dermot showered and poofed a designer suit on. I was jealous. Their beauty seemed so effort less while I had to spend a half hour on my hair. Overall I thought I looked nice. I had on a lilac colored dress that had black lace applique. It was one of the ones I got from Vegas I thought it did my figure justice. I thought about calling Eric and letting him know I was heading out just in case he thought about coming over. Then I decided against it. One I didn't know who was listening and two he would feel me moving away from here. Lastly I didn't want to feel like I was asking his permission. It would set a bad precedent.
Dermot offered to transport me in the fairy way. Driving to him was fun but a distasteful way to travel. I refused. There was no way I was ever going to do that again. In the end he decided to take the drive with me. He wasn't above complaining about it every time I went below sixty-five. I loved this car from the second I drove it. I was now the owner of a brand new Cadillac CTS. The car was the definition of luxury; black leather seats; wood grain interior; and a keyless engine start. My favorite part of the car was the state of the art console that included a navigation system and the sun roof. You could hardly hear the engine start up. I have never known a car could handle so great. I barely felt any bumps and the cabin was soundproof. I would get the best insurance possible. In the event it met the same end as either of previous cars I would get it replaced.
Claude's new club is called "Oasis". I have never been to Hooligans but I was willing to bet this place was different. The décor was that of an enchanted night club. There were dancers in cages. They weren't naked but very close to it. The atmosphere was almost electric. From the minute I entered I was getting looks from men and women. I just assumed it was because I was with Dermot and Claude. Of course they were basking in it I too was beginning to revel in the attention I was getting, I didn't understand it. I was unsettled. Dermot smiled at me. "It's a fairy thing" I wanted to laugh at his twist on a human idiom. "You mean I'm going to be an attention junkie" I was unhappy with that development. He laughed. Claude rolled his eyes at me as if to say you wish. "It's the atmosphere it is…" He couldn't think of a word. "Very sexually charged" Claude said with a wicked smile. I blushed. Dermot nodded. "Your streak of fairy has been heightened you will hold more appeal for all creatures especially the supernatural" Perfect just what I needed.
"In this kind of atmosphere with us you will be more prone to enjoy it" I understood the gist of what he was saying. So long as the allure I had was not as dangerous as the one they got from vampires I was okay. "Hanging out with this one" Claude inclined his head at Dermot in a very snobby way. "Will shorten your temper" I assumed he was insinuating Dermot was a pain. When I looked at him he didn't look at all insulted by this. He shrugged. "Emotional climate is where my gifts lie. I am naturally ill-tempered it is contagious with prolonged exposure. It is an inadvertent thing" I thought about it. That may explain some things. I had had a few rants lately. But I didn't want to shirk the blame for that on him. I made a mental note to watch my temper. I was sure I could control it regardless of any influences. So I shrugged it off. "We all have our quirks" They laughed.
It got harder not to get swept in the flow of the music as the night went on. Claude pulled me to dance. He said I would feel better. I did in a sense. The way I was moving commanded more attention. I was no longer worried that I shouldn't like it. I did try not to let myself get too carried away. Claude and Dermot were dancing around me. My shields dropped and almost every mind was thinking about one or more of us. I smiled. I knew I shouldn't be acting like this but I also knew I wouldn't be doing it again. The other few times I've been to clubs didn't go so well. I ended up getting staked or in some other kind of trouble. This experience shook away the feeling of plane Jane I got from being around them. It was different tonight. I was with family. We danced and laughed and we sky fairies owned the night. It was one of the most carefree nights out I had ever spent. I have had a few of those lately.
The first week or so after the were summit I was alert. I wasn't scared I was just expecting an ambush every night. To distract myself from this I began planning Tara's baby shower. This was something I told myself I would do for her anyways. I just started it sooner than I estimated. It worked before I knew it the day arrived. It was memorable because she was my oldest friend and this was her first. It was unforgettable because Pam was there. I orchestrated the whole thing and she helped. It took some coaxing but Tara allowed it. Pam was excited. Well as excited as she ever got over human things. For her this was just a chance to experience something pertaining to femininity that she has never experienced before. She was dressed up in a beautiful sundress and the present she brought was the biggest (She bought the crib). It wasn't because she cared about Tara far from it. She did research on the internet that told her gifts were customary. And being a vampire she couldn't resist showing off. Her research also netted her games to play at a baby shower. It was a little scary. We couldn't not play or go along with the items on her itinerary for a "perfect baby shower" The other women were scared stiff. Once they got over the fact that Pam wasn't going to kill anyone they relaxed a bit and enjoyed the party.
It was hard work for me to keep from laughing. Pam had never been to a baby shower and it showed. She asked me the most ridiculous questions. One of my favorite was, "When will the father have his shower for the baby" Andy's wife brought their new son. She shared stories of being in labor for a full day. She talked about late nights and breast feeding. Everyone else showed the right amount of sympathy and enthusiasm. Pam looked at all of us with the expression of someone witnessing a primitive tribe.
Pam was helping me take down the banner and the balloons from the front of the house when Dermot pulled into my driveway. "Here we go again" I muttered. "Hey Dermot" I waved from the porch and began walking over to him in an attempt to keep some distance between him and Pam. He hugged me. "Hello" he held my hand and we walked into the house where Pam had suddenly disappeared into or was that my imagination. "Hello Pamela" His greeting sounded a bit tentative. She turned, gave him a curt nod and went back to what she was doing. "You look presentable this evening" I really hoped he was intentionally insulting her. Otherwise that would have to be the worse compliment in history. Dermot should have kept quiet for all the reaction that got from her. He left her alone for the moment "You had a party?" He asked. I nodded. "A baby shower" he let go of my hand and began helping put away left overs. He was keeping an eye on Pam and keeping his distance as well. The tension between the two of them was palpable.
I wasn't sure what made me more uncomfortable their flirting or...whatever this was. I wasn't sure what happened but Dermot was getting the cold shoulder. I really wish that had found a different venue to do this. Pam had done all she was going to do or maybe she was leaving because of Dermot. "Sookie I will be going now" I nodded and walked her to the door. Dermot watched. The expression on his face was impossible to read. It was a cross between amusement, irritation and slight apprehension. "Thanks a lot for helping me Pam" She nodded. "It was very interesting" we smiled at each other then she kissed my forehead and left. Dermot sighed heavily. Then he went after her.
"Would you like an apology" he said to her back. There was a smile in his voice. Pam's back was ramrod straight and she didn't respond. He ran to block her path. "I am sorry" He said. "If you are attempting to test my restraint you succeed only in testing my patience" Her tone was leveled "I assure you fairy I am in no mood" I was conflicted. This exchange was going to take a violent turn. I wanted to intervene but there was no place for me in their lover's spat. "You were in the mood last night and the night before that and several others if I remember correctly" His tone was playful. My eyes widened. I was getting a lot more information than I needed at the moment. I was impressed that Pam was able to go to bed with him and not drain him. I underestimated her attachment and/or self control "And now I am bored" Ouch. Her tone sure sounded it. I could practically see the bland expression on her face. "After all you are not a full blooded fairy" I cringed that was just plain mean and uncalled for. Bill said something close to that and I bet he was sorry he had. "You are being hurtful" He said. Not sounding hurt at all. "Dermot" I called out in warning. He waved me away. "She will not harm me, will you Pammie?" If I wasn't scared I would have giggled at his pet name for Pam. He was still toying with her. His tone insinuated she couldn't. Pam made a disgusted noise from the back of her throat. "Get out of my way. I will only ask once" There was that lethal vampire coolness in her voice. From the way her words came out I could tell her fangs were extended. Dermot changed his stance and I knew her fangs were down. "Make me" He said. His tone was full of malice.
Pam did. She flashed halfway in the air to gain an advantage but Dermot grabbed her ankle and threw her to the ground. Their fight was moving much too fast for my eyes. It appeared to be more like a wrestling match. Not the death match Dermot had fought with Bill. It was hard to know who had the upper hand they were rolling around on the ground for a few minutes. The crudeness of supes was not something you ever got used to. When the fight finally slowed I saw Dermot was looming over her and her hands were pinned above her head. Her legs were wrapped around him holding him to her. They were joined at the lips. My face flushed and I ran back in the house. Those two deserved each other.
Over the next month there were only a few eventful things that happened and they were good. I was spending a lot more time with Eric. I finally got him to see gone with the wind. I had been horrified when I found out he had never seen it. He didn't enjoy. I was glad he saw it and I was able to get him to admit that it was lovely.
Sam and I spent another night at Crawdad Diner. We filled each other in on the things that we've been too busy to mention and elaborated on things that we only mentioned in passing. He was now using love to describe how he felt about Jennalynn. I almost choked on my shrimp Alfredo. But I was determined not to be as judgmental as he sometimes was. I was determined to be a good friend. I did find myself thinking that the Maenad was much better. I forced myself to be happy. Even if I couldn't see what he saw it was easy being happy that he was happy. I told him about Vegas. We discussed nuptials. His brother's was cancelled again. It was permanent this time the woman packed up and left town (she left their dog for fear that he was more than just a dog). We laughed ourselves silly about that. My wedding wasn't hadn't even gotten into the planning stages but now that I had some quiet I began to imagine what that day would be like.
I saw Hunter when I could. He would spend nights with me on days when I was off. Other times I would make a day trip. Dermot accompanied me once or twice. It wasn't all fun time when we were together. Remy was becoming more concerned about his child. So we spent more and more time on his shields. What I found was that he was very talented. He was a kid and his attention span was not very long. But when he focused he did great. Even with contact he was able to keep me out of his head and stay out of mine. That was something Barry and practiced in Rhodes. It wasn't easy. I now held out some hope that his childhood would be a lot more normal than mine.
My training with Dermot was moving along. My shields were now on command. They were lasting longer and I was getting stronger. We had moved on to cloaking. It was hard for me but it was doable. I was only able to do the bare minimum and it didn't include hiding myself. Summoning was a whole other matter. I had only managed to use it once or twice. The items were directly in front of me. I was so exhausted after I didn't think it was worth not taking the two steps to get what I wanted. Tia and I were becoming one. I trusted my body to know what to do. One of these days I was going to beat my uncle in a sparring match.
Sookie
Twenty-Two
Stackhouse Residence: A Hostel For Traveling Vampires
It didn't occur to me that I was waiting for something to happen. It was in the back of my mind. I was waiting for Victor to try again. You know what they say if at first you don't succeed. Time passed. One month turned into two. Nothing turned into more nothing. Eric and Pam bragged that he had lost four people trying to kill me and he had nothing to show for it. They had a good laugh about that. "Just think Sookie" Pam threw her arm around me. "At this rate all his people will be gone if he attempted just five more times" I was sure Pam was trying to make me feel better with that statement. I shuddered. They said he would most likely abandon that tactic. I wasn't reassured but as more time passed I was inclined to agree with them. I enjoyed the quiet and got some form of normalcy in my life.
I was beginning to think everything was really going to be different. After the third month the quiet began to scare me. I couldn't explain why. It was too quiet. Even on Eric's end. He didn't want to show it but I think it made him uneasy too. He said "Victor has fallen off the radar" It frustrated him more than anything. Lately he had barely stopped to antagonize him or assert his authority over the area. Contrarily Victor's lack of activity made him busier. The spies he had working in Victor's camp didn't have much to report. I was glad. Maybe someone had killed him for us. I knew that wasn't the case but it was wishful thinking.
Coming up on the fourth month of quiet I was becoming acquainted with it. I chided myself for being so pessimistic. This was the way things were before any of this supe madness started. I began to accept this as the pace of my life now. Outside of screening humans that came here from Vegas there wasn't much going on. I wanted to feel comforted by Victor's absence but I just couldn't, not fully. I began taking extra shifts anytime they were available; to prepare though I didn't know what for. Thankfully last night was the last double I had opted for. Today would be an easy afternoon shift. After which I would go home and get in bed nice and early. Maybe I would get a visit from Eric. I started making my way out of bed when I saw a note on my night stand.
My lover,
I came in late last night to inform you that there are things I must see to, said things will leave me unavailable for the next two nights. I would have woken you but I felt how tired you had been earlier. You work too hard. I will come to you on the third night.
I love you
~E
He didn't have to spell it out for me this was Victor related. I frowned at the letter as I rolled out of bed to get my cup of coffee. When I came into the kitchen I saw the red blinking light indicating I had a message. As I poured my coffee I listened. Sam was my best friend and he was the best boss ever but he was killing me right now. He needed me to work a double. Holly was not going to come in. That meant another really long day for me. I just sighed. Despite my plans for a nice early night I knew I would go in and help Sam out. What with all the times I've taken off on him. Plus he sounded pretty desperate. I took my coffee out to the porch. The sun was shining it was enough to make the chill of the morning tolerable. Fall was becoming very evident. Leaves were strewn across my yard. I haven't had the time to do a thing about it. After my dose of sunlight I felt better. I called Sam and let him know I would be coming in. Before I left the house I told myself that today is going to be a good day. I guess I haven't learned my lesson about thinking such silly things. I had no idea how wrong I was.
The drive home after more than sixteen hours on my feet took everything I had. We were short a cook and a waitress. The patrons in the bar today were exceptionally rude. Having to wait longer to have their orders taken and to get their food made them even more difficult. No one cared that I was juggling two sections while trying to keep all their thoughts out of my head. Towards the end of the night my mental shields began to slip. All the thoughts of my "rack" and my "nice ass" and the good old "Sookie is crazy" only served to make my night harder. My body was beat but I was even more exhausted mentally. When I pulled into my drive way I was more surprised than relieved that I had made it there. Because I can't say I remembered the drive. I shuffled inside and got ready for bed in a stupor. The last thing I remember was plopping face down on my bed right over the covers.
After what felt like only a second I heard loud knocking at my door. I just laid there willing whomever it was to go away. My eyes were partly open but I wasn't fully conscious. The knocking turned into banging. Now that alone should have alerted me that something was wrong. But right now I had less brain power than a zombie. The banging became more insistent and it got me out of bed. I shuffled to the door. The only thing moving slower than my feet was my mind. If I wasn't so tired I would have registered the mental void on the other side of the door before I yanked it open. Adrenaline coursed through my mind and body. I flinched instinctively from the unknown Vampire that was on my porch.
Let's face it the last unknown vampire to show up at my door was Victor Madden and he was bad news. However the vampire in front of me was the saddest creature I had ever seen. He was young maybe no older than twenty when he was turned. He was tall and he was looming over me from his place on the porch. He had curly chin length hair that was plastered to his face. The color was hard to tell because it was caked with dirt. He was soaking wet from head to toe. His face was stained with red tears. His eyes were dark and they were wild. I got the feeling he was more scared of me than I was of him. Regardless of the fact I was not going to approach him. A scared vampire was a Dangerous vampire. His appearance reminded me so much of Eric when I found him on that New Year's Day. Only he was really animated.
He was talking and gesturing profusely at the sky. I took a careful step forward. There was no way I was going outside but I was no longer partially hidden behind my door. His sentences were a mixture of some ancient language and English. He was looking at me as if I was supposed to understand what he was saying. He would speak in a rush and stop to await a response. Despite the lack of response he kept right on talking and pointing. I managed to pick out something about a ball of fire. I looked in the direction he was pointing. And sure enough the sun was rising. Even under cover of my porch he was already smoldering. The day time stupor was making his movements less erratic and his rant was slowing. He peeked around my head and tried to side step me to enter my house. It seemed to surprise him that he couldn't enter. He was looking around himself like he was lost. Seeing he was here that was unquestionably the case.
"P-please. H-help" he stammered. There were fresh tears falling down his face he was looking into my eyes. He looked so despondent. I know I could barely call myself a Christian anymore. Everything from my experience in the last two years was telling me to shut the door and just go back to bed. This could be a trick though I really didn't see how. Not helping him seemed so very wrong. What kind of vampire doesn't know he couldn't enter a mortal's home uninvited? Plus if I refused he would meet the sun. There wasn't enough time for him to dig a hole and rest for the day. If he proved to be a danger to me I would rescind his invitation and watch him burn. While I was mulling it over he was getting worse and worse. He was no longer moving and he was slumped against my door frame for support.
"You won't hurt me right?" He shook his head weakly and pointed into the house. I pulled on my shield although I believed him. Then I took a step back. "Please come in" He looked at me. Something was seriously wrong with this kid. My words meant nothing. He just stood there as if he was expecting me to open the unseen door that prevented his entry. I ushered him forward with my hand. He looked apprehensive but took a cautious unsteady step forward then took another that brought him over the threshold. His steps were very wobbly and he wasn't moving as quickly as the situation called for. I was worried he wouldn't make it far into the house. The sun was already letting light in. He weaved around in a shaky manner to avoid the rays of the sun. When he was at the foot of the stairs he turned and looked at me then he smiled showing his perfect teeth. I was sure when he was in better space his smile was dazzling right now it was unsettling.
As if this wasn't bizarre enough as if this encounter wasn't crazy enough, he walked right to the hall bedroom that housed the hidey hole. I heard him moving the camouflage items out of the way. He never even turned around as I went to stand in the doorway. He was mumbling to himself. When he got it open he slid right in and looked at me and gave me another big smile. "Thank you" then he laid back and shut the trap door. I just stood there for a few minutes. I was too shocked to move. I'm sure the look on my face must have been something. Eventually I burnt through all my adrenaline to the point where I was nodding off on my feet. Then strange vampire in my closet or not I went back to sleep.
Waking up for the second time today was more disorienting than the first. To make sure I didn't dream up the whole thing. I cast out my net and picked up the mental void that was in my house with me. Coffee would help me make sense of this. A few minutes later I was sitting at my kitchen table deep in thought. First thing I wanted to do was call Eric the vampire aspects of our lives were his thing. But he was unavailable even if I did call him I was sure I couldn't explain my exact predicament over the phone. Also calling him with this problem would distract him from whatever he was dealing with. Right now I wasn't sure there was a reason to worry. Obviously something was wrong with the vampire in my closet. He may have been newly turned that would explain his lack of knowledge of his nature. That thought made me uneasy because from experience newly turned Vampires were twice as Dangerous. Maybe he was disoriented because it was dawn or maybe he was cursed or both.
That wasn't the most disturbing part of this because I've encountered a cursed vampire before. The unsettling part was that he knew the inside of my house. It was possible that he followed Eric's scent into the hidey hole but that didn't make sense. If he was following Eric's scent it would have led him into my bedroom. He didn't seem to know me, and I certainly didn't know him. Nothing explained how he knew I had a hidey hole and where to find it. What to do now? A different train of thought occurred to me. Eric would have a fit if I told him there was another vampire in my house. Especially when I told him he showed up and knew the insides of my house. Eric would kill him and maybe me too. I remember how unhappy he had been when I let Claude move in. Shit. My house was becoming a very frequent stop on the supernatural express.
There was really nothing I could do about it now. All the vampires I knew were dead for the day. On the upside so was the one in my closet that I didn't know. I had to work the lunch shift but if I was lucky he may be gone by the time I came home. Before I left for work I checked my supply of blood to make sure he could get a drink for the road. Despite the fact that he was a much unexpected guest he was still a guest. On my drive to work I was thinking about just how much my life had changed over the past two years. Not just that but how much I had changed to survive it. People who have known me have commented on it. I've noticed it too but right now it seemed more evident. Because I felt like I was feeling the wrong thing. Two years ago I would have been terrified. Now I was cautious but not scared. The only reason I was wary was; one he knew the inside of my house; two I didn't want to get dragged into whatever Vampire shit he was involved in. And he was practically a blinking neon sign that screamed vampire shit. I already had myself a great big vampire problem in the form of Victor Madden.
Throughout my entire shift I was distracted. Twice I nearly dumped beer on a customer. Fortunately for me the people in this town thought I was crazy. So they didn't think much of it, crazy Sookie that was me. Sam gave me a questioning look I just gave him a look that said, 'you don't want to know'. When my shift was over I took my time driving home it was well after first dark as I entered my house. I just stood there in the door way for a few minutes listening for any signs of my guest. I knew he was still there because I felt the void that was his mind. For a second I considered leaving on some errand but this was my house.
He emerged from the hall bedroom the second I entered the kitchen. I caught sight of him and he looked nothing like the person he had been this morning. It could be my imagination but he appeared taller. I could now clearly see the daunting grey color of his big round eyes. The shape of his eyes gave him the look of a boy. His features were soft but still chiseled somehow. His lips were full and his nose belonged on a statue. Now that the dirt was gone I could see that his curly hair was a very light brown. It was pulled into a little pony tail high up on his head. Obviously he had showered. He changed into pair of very dark blue jeans and a blue V-neck sweater. They were definitely designer label. Through which his athletic physique was plainly visible. The contradiction was so jarring that it took a few minutes for my brain to tell my eyes to stop staring.
"Hello" he said with a small smile. He made no sudden movements and I guessed he was trying not to scare me. After a few seconds I got a hold of myself. "Hi" This was easily the most awkward exchange I have had in a long time. I didn't know what to say so I just fell back on my home training.
"Would you like a blood?" He nodded. "Yes please" Something was off about his sentence. He had said please to a human. In all the run in's I had with vampires I don't think they had ever said that to me. Everything was a command wrapped in an ultimatum that led to pain. I got one from the fridge and popped it into the microwave. I followed his cue and was careful to make my movements careful and deliberate. We didn't say anything to each other as his blood warmed. He was looking around my kitchen. I was stealing furtive glances at him. When the timer beeped I went and retrieved his blood. Carefully I shook out any hot spots. I walked half way to him and let him meet me the rest of the way. "Thank you" He said. I nodded in acknowledgement. He downed half the bottle in one quick gulp so I took that as a sign that he needed another. I threw another bottle to warm. When his bottle was empty I swapped it for the newly heated one.
"Thanks again" he said I gave him another nod. I was being ill-mannered. But he was beginning to make me uncomfortable with his politeness. You could see his mind was clearer now that he was no longer hungry. I sat down and he followed suit. He drank slower this time and turned his bottles in circles on the table. I thought it was a nervous reaction like my smiling.
"I know you must think I am quite mad" he said with a smile. "But I promise you I am not" That wasn't what I thought he would start out with. Outside of him explaining to me how he knew the insides of my home. I didn't care if we had any kind of dialog. He seemed okay now. I felt like I had done my job as a Good Samaritan. It was time for him to hit the road. The less he told me about anything else the happier and safer I would be. He was looking at me as if he were trying to gauge my reaction to what he said. His face seemed so open for a vampire he didn't have the whole smooth mask down packed yet. It made me answer him sincerely.
"I know what it's like to have people label you with that word I don't use it on others" He looked surprised by what I said and seemed to be thinking over what I could have meant by it. He sipped for a few more minutes then he spoke again. "In what state did you find me?" His tone was matter of fact. Was this normal for him? I wondered if he was used to depending on the kindness of strangers. If that was the case he wasn't going to live much longer. I wondered what was wrong with him.
Turning someone wasn't an exact science. There were something's that even vampire blood couldn't fix. When you tried anyways you got Vampires like Alexei and Bubba. But he didn't strike me as insane. Not even when he was so out of it earlier. He seemed to be all there intellectually too. My theory of him being a newly made vampire seemed less likely so did a curse. Well at least Eric's kind of curse. Unlike Eric he had some inclination of what happened. I think he just needed me to fill in the gaps. "You weren't hurt that I could tell. Your clothes were wet and dirty and you were really discombobulated (previous word of the day). This didn't seem to surprise him.
"You came here at dawn" That got his attention. The prospect of meeting the sun would do that to any vampire. He raised his eyebrow in question. So I told him everything that happened. I was careful to mention that he knew the insides of house even though we had obviously never met. When I was finished he looked thoughtful. "I apologize. I must have frightened you." I shrugged my shoulders because I have experienced some very scary things. And that didn't make the top ten it didn't even come close. "What you saw was me with my mind in the future and my body in the present" It was now official. Nothing was sane. All those myths and legends originated from some Supe source. "You can see the future?" I asked just to clarify. He nodded. "I saw this house and saw I would be safe here, although by the time I arrived I was no longer myself." He looked away there was a ghost of a frown on his handsome face.
Claudine told me to stay home from Rhodes because she 'felt' something was going to happen. Dermot once told me I would have visitors. For some reason I was more stunned by what he was telling me, maybe because he was a Vampire. Possibly I was in awe because his fortune telling was a lot specific than those of my Fae relations. Let me tell you here and now if Claudine told me I would have to escape a building while it exploded underneath me, Sophie Anne would have had to drag me to Rhodes kicking and screaming. He was still looking around my kitchen. He was probably comparing it to a picture he had in his head. Then he pushed away from the table and stood.
"Thank you very much for your kindness. I must be going now" I had a million questions. But my determination to not get dragged into whatever he was into hushed them all up. I stood and went to the door to see him out. He went into the hall bedroom and came out with a black camping backpack I didn't notice he had this morning. How did I miss that? When he met me at the door he extended his hand out to me. It had a wad of hundred dollar bills in it. I shook my head and took a step back.
"No that's not necessary" I waved his money away with a smile. I was also a little affronted. He just called my act kindness then he goes and throws money at me. It's true that I charged Vamps to help them out. This was different. Taking money from him seemed wrong. It went against everything I learned from Gran about hospitality and being a good person. "Please take it. It would ease my conscience" He extended his hand further out and there was a smile on his face. The smile lit his face and made him look even younger. If vampires had a conscience this was the first I was hearing about it. There was just something very un-vampiric about him. He looked me directly in the eye and for a second I wondered if he was attempting to glamour me. Then he eased his gaze before I could decide.
"It would undermine my upbringing" I said a little more firmly. It would have too. My Gran would roll over in her grave if she saw me take money from someone just for helping them when they were in dire straits. He seemed to accept that and pocketed his money. He opened the door and turned to face me.
"I do not even know the name of my savior" I thought it wise to skip introductions on the count of not wanting to know anything more that I had to. He smiled at me brightly. Smiling seemed to be the common expression of his face. Not Victor's kind of smile that held a threat of violence just below the surface. It seemed…warm somehow. It belonged there unlike the expressionless faces all vampires wore. I really couldn't help but return it.
"My name is Sookie." His eyes widened a little and he leaned his head to one side. My name wasn't common but that was an odd reaction.
"Sookie Stackhouse" He finished for me. The expression on his face was triumphant.
No one kill me. I am sorry about the short update. They were the only chapters I was fully satisfied with. Please bear with me. Don't let the cliffhanger make you crazy. I have never done one before. This chapter provided me with an excellent opportunity (It won't be a recurring thing. I promise). S*T hits the fan fairly quickly from here on out so it won't be very feasible.
I am very interested in speculations pertaining to our mystery vampire. He is going to open the gate to a whole gang of my new very own characters.