A/N – Okay so quick update : The vampires have finally revealed themselves on TV.

Merlotte's , Bon Temps

SPOV

There was silence. The woman in the screen continued to stand there ; her mouth hanging slightly open with two long and pointed canines protruding from her gums. I cast my eyes around. Apart from me , everyone's faces were transfixed to the screen. Even Sam eyes held that glazed look and were looking straight at the screen.

She started speaking again. "We are not wanting any disturbance to your lives or to our existence. We simply want to be accepted." She shifted her gaze to the regular news reporter who also had his mouth open and long sharp teeth. People around me started to stir from their trance-like state and their brain activity started to gather momentum.

I missed what the woman said next. I was starting to go a bit woozy...not really in control of my brain functionality.

My shields were collapsing...

I just registered random stray words , "Synthetic...Japanese...vampire...blood donor," but speech and thoughts and the woman's words mingled together in my brain and became the same thing to me. I could no longer differentiate spoken and thought words. Mouths were moving but whether they were actually shouting or just thinking loudly was no longer distinguishable.

It felt like a giant roaring volcano had erupted inside my head.

The woman was still speaking , her words however just got lost from the overload of screaming minds and voices my brain was trying to sift through.

My head was spinning. Now the room was spinning. I closed my eyes shut tight but I still felt out of control as my brain , frantically , tried to shut out the noise . both internal and external.

I tried focussing. 'Just get to the door Sookie. Get outside into the quiet.' But of course as fate would have it , I misjudged and lost my balance. I cried in distress , hoping Sam or Terry or Lafayette would hear me. Blackness was enveloping me as I began falling...falling...

"...should be sent by tomorrow morning , we could be the first bar to offer drinks for the fangy-type." I recognised that as Sam's voice. 'The fangy type? He was already planning Halloween parties?'

"Think they come in flavours? I mean like blood type flavours?" Andy. Definitely Andy Bellafleur's voice. Wait what was he doing in my house? Sam was a friend but Andy sure as heck wasn't! And what the hell? How could Millie let him in!

I made a start to get up from my bed but my hand groped air as I tried to remove the layers of covers off of me. In fact my butt was paining. I clearly wasn't on a bed.

"Yo Sam , hokkah moved just then. Get your ass here quick." I groaned as the voice reached my ears. My head was aching. I carefully opened my eyes. I did not like being observed , like an animal in MY OWN DARN HOUSE! I squinted through half opened eyes.

Only I wasn't in my own darn house. I was at Merlotte's. It was not a strange surreal dream. And if it wasn't all a strange surreal dream then the woman really did have fangs. People really did scream and a stampede had built up in here. You could tell – the bar was a mess!

Vampires. They really did exist. My eyes shot open at that thought and I slid off a hard wooden table , hurriedly.

"What time is it?" I croaked out. 'Why was my throat hurting?' Had I been shouting?

"It's just gone midnight , cher. How are you feeling?" Sam asked sympathetically , holding out a glass of water. I took it from his hand and made it a start to get up. Immediately protective hands shot out to help me. I made a sort of annoyed tone.

"just relax Sookie , you're suffering from shock." His lips moved but the words were not making sense to me. I needed to get back home. Jason and Millie would be worried.

"Jason has already been informed , cher. Just listen to me. I'll take you home. Don't worry about coming in for work." He was just trying to be helpful and somewhere down there I knew he wished well but I was already embarrassed about passing out . I didn't need more sympathy. The feminist in me was on defence.

"Thank you Sam , but I can take care of myself." I shot out in a clipped tone. Then added "And I can decide if I am well enough to work or not."

"Cher , in case you missed the big announcement , there are creatures living amongst us. Creatures who we should all be afraid of." Fleetingly his face held anger. Something I would have completely missed if I wasn't already scrutinizing his face. He carried on "Let me take you home. You'll need some protection. They come at night time" he said pointedly.

"Sam! I told you I can manage. Don't try manipulate me into agreeing with you. Vampires existed before. We just did not know about it. I'm no safer now than I was five nights ago." Fatigue it seemed , made my tongue just run wild. I was being irrational, I know, but I just wanted to get home , dammit!

"I do not need your , or anyone's help to get to my own dang home!" I sucked in a huge breath. Slightly calmer from my outburst, slightly, I stoutly walked to the door never glancing back.

I knew I'd regret the words later , but great big vampire revelation or not , I was a Stackhouse , I didn't give Sam or anyone the audacity to interfere with my way of working.

01: 50 am

QSA's Palace , Shreveport

Queen Sophie-Ann of Louisiana felt very pleased if not slightly arrogant about how well the Great Reveal had appeared to go down in her piece of America. Of course no one – be they her least liked subjects or her area sheriffs or her pets or even her most trustworthy second-in-command ,and child , Andre – wanted to tell her how horribly wrong she was. Behind the palace gates , Sophie-Ann with her child-like appearance and dated dress code , had absolutely no idea what the situation in down town Louisiana really was. The fact that already human protests and rioting had begun was not a cause of concern for her majesty. Oh no. Her main priority at the present moment was on possessing potentially one of America's greatest treasures. A treasure which until the reveal , had not been possible to get hold of.

The truth was she did not really care what happened to those under her regime as long as one Mr. William Compton and one Miss Sookie Stackhouse remained unharmed in the forthcoming and inevitable war with vampires and humans. And the duty of keeping both her vampire subject and soon to become human treasure from harm's way was of none other than her 'favourite' sheriff . Eric Northman. Failure to keep her soon-to-be human Miss Stackhouse safe was of course final death. So she had told him , anyway.

But Eric was not one to be fooled. Despite the Queen's evasiveness ,Eric had full intentions of discovering who this Sookie was and what exactly had Bill Compton got to do with her. As for the Queen? Well it is safe to say her days were numbered. Eric the Viking vampire had not survived over 1000 years without a few tricks up his sleeve. The Queen may be superior but Eric was far far more devious.

"What did she say?" Pam pounced on Eric , as soon as he flew through the open windows of the hotel room. She had left as soon as the Queen had dismissed the vampires. Except for Eric , of course.

"None of your concern. I shall tell you when you need to know." He shot back , striding towards his laptop bag and starting it up. Pam pouted. "So you mean to tell me that the Queen said nothing? Absolutely nothing to you? How do you expect me to even begin to believe that , Eric?"

Eric smiled tightly. "I expect a great many things , child," he said , emphasising Pam's young age. "but you are welcome to believe what you will" She gave up and muttered "And here I am dragging my sorry butt all the way from Chicago to open up a crass strip bar with my extremely infuriating maker." Eric's shoulders shook with silent laughter and he turned grinning to her. "Aw , come on! I'm letting you decorate it." A reluctant smile donned her face.

"Of course! You know I'd do a better job of it. If we left it to you no human would set foot inside."

"but don't forget your wonderful design needs to have the capacity for my throne. It will serve as a magnificent base for my area duties.

" And as a showing-off ground." Eric glowered at that statement. "I have no need for showing off!"

"Fine. As long as I get my own office," came her reply. "I eat exclusively."

00:30 Parking Lot , Merlotte's

Bon Temps

I decided that I needed some special Sookie time. Away from the thoughts of others so I could think clearly for myself. Also I didn't want Millie to see me in the state I was. I had sat in my car after storming out of Merlotte's and started to silently cry. Whether it was my brain catching up with the events of the evening or the fact that I had been so unreasonable and shouted at Sam but nevertheless I felt awful and frustrated. Yeh. Millie really didn't need to see me like that. Hence why I'm currently taking a de tour and going through down town Bon temps instead of the back roads.

So...now that I'm slightly calmer I have some serious thinking to do. Like the fact that vampires exist. Call me weird – heck everyone does anyway – but I am kind of excited. Think of all the stuff they must have done in their lives. Some of them might have even been in the great war. My gran would have loved to talk to some of the older vampires. They were bound to be brimming with historical facts , and my gran used to be a complete history geek. Thinking of her brought a smile to my face. When our parents died in the flood , she was the only relative who took us in. She was my mother , father and friend rolled into one. Jason , her and I were very close and for that reason we both knew a fair bit about Lincoln , the civil war and all those historical tid-bits that Gran loved to share.

Anyway...back to vampires. I wasn't shocked really. Confused? A little. Curious. Hell yeah! And excited? Definitely. But I was really not all that surprised. Not like I expected it or anything , but I mean , if witches and telepaths exist then why not vampires? Technically they are just living-dead humans. The idea of such a creature sure sounded wonderful and I just can't wait for my first vampire encounter...Maybe we'll get a vampire customer at Merlotte's.

I finally swung into hummingbird lane and up to my disintegrating-almost-driveway. I winced as the car bumpety-bumped on the gravel.

Millie was staring at the screen of a muted news channel and so as to not disturb her viewing I quietly came and sat next to her on the carpeted floor.

"Oh!" she exclaimed turning towards me. Her expression was one of relief.

"We just got told that crazy blood sucking fiends exist and you've been gone for god know's how long. You wouldn't pick up your phone. In fact Jason and I were practically ready to come look for you until Sam called , and you're asking me what's wrong?" Her eyes had gotten bigger and rounder.

"Millie , don't exaggerate!" I sniffed and rolled my eyes. "Trust you to overreact. You should be happy. We're officially not the only 'weirdos' out there." I nudged her until she gave a sigh.

"Didn't even get a chance to think clearly 'bout all this..." she trailed off , her voice bleak. Well this was new. Usually it was Millie who was always hyper excited about new things and world events.

"But aren't you excited about this?"

"Of course I am , Sook , this will open up so many new magiks for us. How can I not be excited?"

Ah there's my old Amelia.

"But this has also opened up a whole new kettle of fish..and I'm not sure what reception this piece of revelation will have . I don't think people share our enthusiasm at all...Look." I turned to the TV again as she found the button on the remote to turn the volume back on.

It was showing live video coverage of 3 different cities in Louisiana. One of the was Shreveport. Mobs of people carrying signs and big banners were all moving about continuously. The cops were there but fights kept breaking out between the protestors and the authorities. The headline read : 'Louisiana will not associate with evil'

I blinked, how could I be so ignorant? Of course this was going to be every one's reaction. Louisiana was a stickler state for it's 'no reforms' policy.

The weird thing was that no vampires appeared to be on scene . at least not to my knowledge. Surely they could easily overpower the mobs? Maybe they were hoping that the human authorities would deal with it.

Out of , what seemed no where , a young-ish man strode forward. He had a torch with him. He was brandishing it about like a dangerous weapon. He was shouting , but the cameras were unable to pick up what he was saying. More people with torched started to join him and began a chant..."They are Lucifer's descendents. They must burn and be sent to hell"

I gasped and exclaimed , "Sweet Potatoes! What are they doing? Who are they?"

"The Fellowship of the Sun." Millie spoke quietly.

"But they're a religious committee ," I said horrified.

"Well , Peter Newlin..."

"The leader?"

"Yeah...he started the protests. And of course , like sheep , everyone followed."

I was speechless. I never thought that innocent Mr. Newlin would be capable of such a thing. He was always on TV telling us how God wanted all races and nationalities to co-exists. Why the sudden change?

"They say that as theists its their job to eradicate the world of evil and that is the word of God. So now that is their mission," Millie added.

"That is just disgusting. They call themselves Christian and yet they condone such hatred and violence." I stared at the screen as the chant picked up momentum until everyone seemed to be spouting it. Somehow the chant and the torches had spread from city to city and all three video cameras were showing exactly the same chaotic coverage.

"I've been watching the news channel since 8 pm and the protests broke out just a mere twenty minutes after the vamp lady on the TV appeared." Millie spoke softly and with a hint of sadness.

I was stunned. No , I wasn't expecting celebratory dances and music to the news about vampires but this was just out of the box crazy. A small voice in my head said 'Or maybe , Sook , it's you whose crazy...' I ignored it. Whatever the cause , this protesting and rioting was absolutely horrendous and definitely not up my alley. I could only hope that in other parts of the country the news was being received with a somewhat more open-mindedness.

Because , seriously speaking , if the vampires got angry , we would all be screwed. The vamp lady on TV had pretty much broken the table leg in two with her thumb and fore-finger. It wasn't like they were weak.

A/N – Okay this was a seriously strange chapter for me to write. First because I wasn't sure what kind of reaction humans would have. And Second , the Sookie in SVM is introduced to us 2 years after the Great Reveal , while I've tried to keep her reaction pretty much the same ,I think it is safe to say not everyone would have reacted in good spirit to such a reveal. Anyway , review please...how will I know what you think is working and what isn't if you don't review...

Vitzy.