"Come on, Will, try to keep up!" I called as I turned around to run backwards.
Will who was only a few steps behind rolled his eyes at me as we continued our morning run. I laughed turning back around while picking up my pace. I heard Will pick up his pace as well as we ran, so I smirked deciding to make a race out of it. I took off at full speed, and Will cursed from behind me.
"Warn a guy, Cori!" He called off of me as he started running faster.
I just continued grinning as I rushed back towards the house. Sookie hadn't come home last night, but I didn't have any bad feelings, so I knew she was fine. I was just guessing she went over to Bill's place. She'll probably be home by the time we get back.
"Cori, slow down!" Will yelled.
"Will, speed up!" I retorted.
He cursed some more, but I did hear him catching up behind me. I wasn't about to be beat by my younger brother. I pulled out all I had, and soon found myself running up the steps to the house.
"And she wins again!" I cheered doing a small dance on the porch as Will stopped at the bottom of the steps out of breath.
He glared up at me as I continued my dance, but I froze when hearing a creak inside the house. I placed a finger to my lips, and Will nodded in understanding. Will put his hand in his back pocket probably where he had a weapon stored. I walked silently towards the door, and I opened it as quietly as possible. Will was right behind me, but then we heard something behind us. We whirled around ready for a fight, but we saw it was Sookie.
"What are you two doing?" Sookie asked.
I placed my finger over my lips to silence her, and she stiffened up realizing someone was in our house when she saw how cautious I was. I nodded to Will, and he stepped back next to Sookie. He placed a hand on her shoulder to keep her back as I stepped inside the house. I went in to the place, and I crept around the corner right into Jason. He jumped in surprise, and I frowned when seeing a bag and Gran's candlesticks in his hand.
"Fuck!" Jason cursed in shock.
"Jason, what are you doing with Gran's things?" I asked gesturing to what's in his hands.
He looked lost for words for a moment as he looked to what he had in his hands.
"I'm just takin what's half mine." Jason said.
"Those candlesticks were given to her as a wedding present from her mother if I remember correctly." I said.
Jason shrugged trying to pass me as he said he needed the money, but I placed a hand on his shoulder to push him back. He wasn't getting out of here so easily.
"For what?" I asked. "Last time I checked, you have a job and a house."
"It's none of your business." Jason said.
"Oh, no, Jason." I said pointing towards him. "This house officially belongs to Sookie, so put that stuff down, and get out."
Jason scoffed about to walk behind me, but I grabbed his arm to twist is behind his back. He dropped the bag and the candlesticks as I shoved him into the wall. He grunted in pain, and Will was soon coming through the door with Sookie behind him.
"What's going on?" Sookie asked then looked at the contents on the floor that had spilled from the bag. "...Jason, what were you doing with Gran's jewelry?"
"Planning on selling it." I replied for him. "But he was just leaving."
I let go of Jason, and he rushed out of the house without glancing back at us. I shook my head knowing he and I would have to have a long talk later. Or I'd get Easton or Hoyt to speak with him. They usually helped set him straight.
"Was he really..." Sookie trailed off.
I nodded my head then noticed the two bite marks on the side of her neck. I reached forward tilting her head to the side to get a better look.
"Looks like I was right." I said. "You did go to Bill's last night...Pay up."
I held out my hand to Will, and he handed over a handful of drachmas as Sookie looked at us in confusion.
"What are those? And what did you two bet?" She asked.
"Drachma." I said. "It's the currency used in Greek when the gods were still very popular. And I bet you were at Bill's handing over your virginity, and Will bet you were at the bar all night drowning in your sorrows."
Sookie gave us 'are you two being serious' looks, and the two of us nodded in unison. She rolled her eyes at us then went up the stairs.
"I warned you not to bet against me." I said grinning.
"Shut-up." He said.
"Behave tonight." I said to Will as I sat him down. "And don't you dare try to pick up anybody. Everyone here is too old for you."
Will smiled at me 'innocently', but I made the 'I'm watching you' gesture, which made him chuckle. I started getting to work while noticing that Tara wasn't around. I shrugged my shoulder guessing she'd show up later.
"Hey, chocolate goodness." I greeted Lafayette a little bit later on in my shift as I placed an order.
"Hello, sweet vanilla." He replied grinning at me. "You look fine tonight."
He winked at me, and I grinned in reply. He then froze looking over my shoulder, and I turned seeing three rednecks coming into the bar. Lafayette had told me he had an issue with three inbred rednecks, and I'm guessing it was these three. Lafayette went to come confront the three as they sat down. I grabbed his arm, however, as Sam cut him off.
"I'm paying you to be a cook, not beat up customers." Sam said.
"Then I want a motherfucking raise." Lafayette said.
I smiled up at Lafayette as I kept a hold of his arm. Sam said he'd think about it then told Lafayette to keep cool. I squeezed his arm to get his attention.
"Yeah, Lafayette, we're getting busy, so we need your sexy ass in the kitchen." I said as Terry walked up with a box in his arms.
"Tara called." Terry said as he kept walking. "She ain't coming in."
Sam cursed because we were undermanned so to speak, and that's when Sookie walked past us.
"Don't worry, Sam." Sookie, who had a scarf covering her neck, said. "We'll make it work."
I shook my head at how peppy she was being as the two men gave her confused looks. Lafayette gently moved his arm out of my hold as he turned towards my cousin.
"Well, goddamn." Lafayette said as he walked up to Sookie. "Look at you, all pornalicious. What kind of crazy mix have you done and got yourself into you?"
Sookie just smiled grandly as I looked away scratching the back of my head. I knew why she was like this, and I'm sure the others would react badly if they knew.
"Can't I just be in a good mood without it being a big deal?" Sookie asked. "It's a pretty night, and I'm glad to be enjoying it with my friends. Oh, and I got a new scarf."
Yeah, a scarf I loaned to her. A scarf given to me by Silena, so she better take care of it.
"Very cute, baby girl." Lafayette said nodding.
Sookie walked off after that, and I noticed how Sam turned to be with a quirked brow.
"What?" I asked.
"You know why she's like that." He said narrowing his eyes.
"Nope." I said shaking my head. "Well, I better get back to work."
I rushed off ignoring Sam when he called for me to get back there. No way was I telling him the girl he had a thing for was sleeping with Bill whom he hated.
"Excuse me, Terry." I said spinning around with before we crash into each other. "Sorry."
"It's fine, Rissa." Terry said smiling.
I smiled at him in return as I went to pick up a few orders. I paused, however, when seeing Lafayette heating up a spoon over the stove. I shook my head at him as he winked over at me. He placed the spoon in a bowl of hot soup, and the spoon was so much hotter than the liquid that steam came off the soup.
"Terry," Lafayette called getting the man to come over. "Can you run this to them crackers?"
He nodded to the three rednecks, and Terry nodded picking up the bowl. Well, one of those guys were in for a surprise.
"Thank you, baby." Lafayette said as Terry walked off with the food.
"You're bad, Lafayette." I said. "Funny, but bad."
Lafayette just continued grinning as I stacked my orders onto my tray. I walked off towards the bar where my customers were waiting, and I snorted when the redneck, who pissed off Lafayette, cried out in pain as he dropped his spoon. As I was placing down Rene's order in front of him, Sookie walked back towards the kitchen as Arlene rushed over to Rene.
"Sookie's been with that vampire." Arlene said as Rene was thanking me.
Rene blinked turning to his girlfriend as I grimaced. Sookie did not tell Arlene, did she? I added a mental curse when seeing Sam had overheard Arlene, and was now leaning in.
"That's just bar talk." Rene said brushing off Arlene's comment.
"She told me herself!" Arlene asked.
Sookie, why in the name of Zeus would you do something like that? I resisted the urge to slam my face against the bar as Sam's expression darkened.
"Oh my lord...suppose she gets pregnant." Arlene said. "How in the world can she nurse a baby with fangs?"
I gave her a deadpanned look while wishing she'd shut her mouth because Sam was looking more pissed off by the second. I love Arlene too death, but she wasn't helping right now.
"You just be her friend." Rene said. "She needs one now more than ever."
I looked to Rene guessing I might have misjudged him. He's been really kind, and he's even defending Sookie here.
"And to put your mind at ease, Arlene, she can't get pregnant by sleeping with Bill." I cut in before more could be said. "Vampires can't procreate because they're dead."
The three looked at me in confusion, and I mentally screamed at myself. Filter! Filter! Filter! People were seriously going to start questioning me if I couldn't control myself.
"Or so I've heard." I added quickly. "And it makes sense, right?"
Arlene paused to think a moment, but she did nod as I let out a sigh of relief. I was about to go on, but that's when I saw Sam rush towards Sookie who had just left a customer. He ripped off the scarf, and I groaned knowing this wasn't going to end well. He grabbed her chin roughly to tilt to the side, and she started struggling against him.
"You keep your hands off me, Sam Merlotte!" Sookie said shoving Sam away. "You have no right to touch me."
"You're a damn fool, you know that?!" Sam yelled.
Everything went quiet in the bar as people looked towards the two, but Will looked towards me in confusion. I shook my head meaning I had nothing to say.
"What I do on my own time is no concern of yours!" She snapped then turned towards the town. "Or any of ya'll's!"
Everyone was really paying attention to her now, and I frowned wondering if this could get any more awkward.
"Yes, I had sex with Bill." Sookie said as she looked to Sam. "And since all ya'll are too chicken to ask, it was great! I enjoyed every second of it, and if you don't like that, you can fire me!"
She then slammed her tray into Sam's chest until she marched off. Well, I guess it could get more awkward. I then walked up to Sam to take the scarf away from him.
"That's mine." I said. "Thank-you."
I was at the kitchen window getting an order when the door opened with three vampires coming in. I stiffened immediately, and I saw that Will was already on his feet as he watched the three vamps. I glanced around the place, and my eyes landed on Sookie. I saw how she stiffened, so I quickly put things together, and guessed these were those vampires from Bill's place she told me about. I think Sookie said their names were Malcom for the male with the beard, Diane the female, and Liam is the bald one. Diane went over to Will, which had me tensing even more.
"Hey there, Sugar." She said brushing up against my little brother.
I was about to go over there to beat the shit out of her, but Lafayette had come out of the kitchen in time to grab me.
"It's okay." He said holding me back. "Just stay calm."
I shook in anger at the sight of that bitch near my baby brother. I've already lost too. There is no way in hades would I lose another. Lafayette, who saw I was about to lose it, wrapped his arms around me to pull me against his chest, so to keep me in place.
"Get us three True Bloods." Malcom said.
"Ya'll need to go somewhere else." Sam said. "This is a family place. Locals only."
Malcom smiled saying that they bought up a place up the road, and that they were the new locals. That didn't mean shit to me, and if these vampires wanted to live to be undead another night, they better watch out.
"My bars, my rules." Sam said not backing down.
I grit my teeth glaring at the three vampires as I twist my bracelet around my wrist.
"Discrimination against vampires is punishable by law in the great state of Louisiana." Malcom said then shrugged. "Personally, I don't give a fuck, but I am thirsty."
"You're not welcomed here." Sam said.
"That shit only works in a private home." Diane said as she brushed her hand up Will's chest.
He glared down at her, and she grinned as her teeth sunk out. I clenched my bracelet tightly as my body shook a bit more. Malcom's eyes then landed on Sookie as he gave an over exaggerated gasp.
"How nice to see you again, Sookie." Malcom said as Diane left Will to stand beside Malcom. "You are looking delectable as always."
I relaxed partially, and Will looked over to me with a nod that assured me he was alright. Lafayette let go of me when I looked calmer, and I flexed my fingers as my eyes snapped back to the vampires.
"You know them?" Sam asked as Sookie glared at Malcom.
"We've met." Sookie said unpleased.
Malcom tilted his head to the side, and he grinned as he commented on Sookie giving up her goods.
"Did he leave enough for the rest of us?" Malcom asked.
"I am his." Sookie reminded him.
"Well, he is not here now, is he? And while Bill's away, Malcom with play." He said as his fangs clicked out.
He stepped closer to Sookie, and I acted instinctively. I reached back grabbing a knife that had been left at the kitchen window. I threw it with it zooming in between Malcom and Sookie. It embedded itself into the wall as people turned to stare at me in shock.
"You aren't getting any blood here." I said stepping forward as I waved Will, who had made a move for his back pocket, off because I had this under control. "So leave before I make you."
"Hmm, are you really threatening all three of us?" Malcom asked as he and his friends turned towards me.
"I am." I said.
Everything was still and silent as we had a little stare off, but then Terry ran forward with a yell.
"Jihad this, motherfucker!" He cried.
Diane easily flipped Terry over her shoulder, and he went flying into the air before landing by the pool tables. Sam quickly grabbed a pool stick to snap in half, and Will took one end from Sam to toss to me. It was better to use this than bring out my celestial bronze arrows in front of all these people.
"You both are dead." Malcom said pointing at us.
"We'll see about that." I said smirking. "You'll be surprised at how deadly I can be."
Diane picked that time to rush at me, and I whirled around cracking the broken pool stick against her head, which sent her to the ground. Sam tried to go towards Liam, but he pinned him to the bar. I stabbed Diane in the shoulder causing her to cry out before I launched myself at Liam. I twisted his arm behind his back then slammed his head into the bar. His nose busted open, and I threw him to the floor as he cried in pain. Will tossed me another broken in half pool stick as I placed a foot on Liam's chest.
"Let this be a reminder not to fuck with me." I said with stone cold voice.
I was about to bring the jagged piece of wood down on his chest, but before I could finish off Liam, Bill came in.
"Stop this, now!" Bill ordered. "You're here for me—not them."
Bill then looked to see Diane just getting off the floor after ripping the wood from her arm. He glanced down at Liam before looking up at me while seeming shocked by what I had done. He then slowly held out his hand for the broken pool stick, and I handed it to him as I breathed deeply. It wasn't because I was out of wind, but to control my instinct to finish of the danger in front of me.
Bill took it while seeming worried as he gazed at me. I stepped away from Liam, and Sam grabbed me to pull me back. Will moved back as well while keeping in front of me in case the two vamps I attacked came after me. They did head for me, but Bill stepped between us and them.
"I said you're here for me." He growled as he looked to Malcom.
The vampire was looking right at me, and I glared at him in return. If he and his friends tried anything else, I'd kill them right here and now. Fuck having control over my instinct to kill the dangerous. Malcom finally turned to Bill as Diane and Liam stepped back.
"You never returned my calls." Malcom said as he stepped forwards Bill. "Now, if I remembered what feelings were, mine might be hurt."
"Come join our nest, Bill." Diane said putting her arms around him. "Forget these blood sacks."
"Yeah, mainstreaming is for pussies." Liam said.
I was about to show him who the pussy was if he didn't back off, and leave us all alone. Bill was silent for a moment as he looked from Sookie and then to me. When he agreed to go, my eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't being serious, right? Sookie tried to beg him not to go, but in the end Bill left with those vamps. Once they were all gone, eyes started to turn towards me. I guess I just fucked up. However, there were more pressing matters to deal with beside all the eyes staring at me. I looked to Will. I gestured for him to follow me, and the two of us went outside away from prying eyes.
"Head to the house, get your things, call a certain taxi service, go home." I said tossing him the keys to my bike.
Will stepped up ready to protest, but I held up my finger to silence him before he could start.
"You will not argue with my, little brother." I said firmly. "I do believe I just painted a target on the back of my head. Meaning it isn't safe for you here. Now go before I have to call Argus to pick you up."
Will frowned obviously not happy, but he knew if I called Argus that the hundred-eyed man who hog tie him then toss him into the back of the camp's car.
"As you wish," Will said dipping his head to me. "Stay sharp, sister."
"As you as well, brother." I said.
Will then went over to my motorcycle, and a few seconds later, he was gone. I sighed while looking back to Merlotte's where I saw Sam peeking outside.
"Styx." I said while ignoring the thunder that rolled over head.
After the excitement died down, everything went silently back to normal. Though now everyone was staring at me and watching my every move. If they didn't stop, I'd give them something to look at though.
"Here's the house special you ordered." I said while setting it down at table four. "Along with one ice tea. Is there anything else I can get you?"
I just received a stare in return as if the man in front of me was trying to decide if I was an alien or something. I scoffed rolling my eyes before turning around to come face to face with a frazzled Arlene.
"Hi, Arlene." I said. "Can I help you?"
"It's Terry." Arlene said. "He's all upset over what happened, and I'm not sure how to calm him down."
I frowned because the last thing we needed—or Terry really needed—was him having a breakdown. I've had those before. Not fun. It's just one of the many joys of having PTSD.
"Alright, where is he?" I asked as I set my tray down on an empty table.
Arlene led me over to Terry as he was huddled up in the corner in the back. He was shaking looking like he was barely holding it together.
"Terry," I said getting his attention. "Hey, pal, not doing too hot, huh?"
Terry shook his head while curling up tighter when the shaking became worse. I nodded for Arlene to follow my lead. She nodded in return while following me over to Terry. I crouched down next to him with Arlene doing the same.
"Terry, it's okay." I said. "You're safe. Everyone is safe."
"It's not okay." Terry said. "I froze up. I let everybody down. I didn't do nothing."
I looked at him softly while knowing the worst thing a soldier could feel was to feel as if they let down the people they need to protect.
"This ain't Baghdad, Terry." Arlene said gently as she placed her hand over the one Terry had resting on his knee.
He jerked slightly though let her hold his hand, which he soon started gripping as if it was a lifeline. I nodded my head because this was good.
"It's Merlotte's okay?" She asked.
He nodded in confirmation then looked to me as I looked him in the eyes, so he could see the truth in mine.
"There was nothing you could have done against them, Terry." I said. "You are a trained soldier, but you weren't trained to fight vampires."
"But you fought them." Terry said. "You protected everyone like I was supposed to."
I sighed as I wondered how to explain that one to make him feel better. I guess a half-truth was well enough.
"You were trained to fight humans." I said. "Me on the other hand—I was trained to fight in an entire different ballgame, Terry. That isn't your fault."
I then stood up knowing I needed to get back to work before Sam comes looking. He was already in a bad mood because of those vampires, and the fact that fight broke up some of the things in his bar.
"Now you sit back here until you feel like you're ready to move." I said staring him in the face. "Arlene will stay with you."
Arlene said she would, so I left the two alone while sure Arlene could handle it. I went back out while noticing those rednecks seemed to be plotting something, and considering they're about as dumb as a box of rocks, I'd say they're plotting something against those vampires. I moved closer while listening in.
"I know where that house they bought is at." The redneck said. "It's about four miles away, right at the edge of town. It'd be easy to sneak up on them."
I frowned—while ignoring as Sookie went to give a piece of her mind to those three idiots—because those rednecks would only succeed in getting themselves killed. Or they wouldn't do the job right, and we'd have pissed off vampires on our hands. Neither is good. However, I had to agree that those vampires had to go.
Couldn't have dangerous creatures like them so close by that they're practically in my backyard. I sighed, but guessed it was time to go on an old-fashioned vampire hunt from like when I was still a kid back at camp. I just hope I don't have to shoot Bill in the process. He's kind of grown on me, and I don't want to hear Sookie whine when she learns I killed her boy toy. But she doesn't even have to know I killed those vampires.
I'll go in take them out before the three amigos show up. Didn't take my psychic powers to know they'd show up during the day while planning to torch the place. They'll unknowingly hide any evidence of me being there, and I won't have to worry if they botch the job because the vampires will already be dead thanks to yours truly.
Damn, it's almost scary that I'm as smart as I am beautiful…My brows furrowed. Man, I really need to reign in that Apollo arrogance of mine. It might actually get me killed one day. I then shrugged shaking my head. No way could that happen. I'm overthinking it. Besides, there was more important things to be worrying about. Which is the hunt.