Chapter 7
Sookie POV
I help Sam out until about eight, and head home to get ready. Phase three is going to be the most difficult one so far. There are lots of reasons for this, but my brain can only really articulate the main two (which are basically responsible for every other issue):
1) I am now actively going to be changing things, meaning I won't be able to count on my knowledge of the "future" anymore.
2) I'm going to see Eric.
Yep, I feel like I'm jumping from the kiddie pool into the ocean. More like into a Tsunami (I've been reading a book about Tsunami survivors in my spare time. Somehow I don't think there are any tips in it for me). In TimelineA, the night after I found Dawn, Bill took me to Fangtasia to investigate. I would be keeping that appointment tonight, sans Bill. This time I will be going to Fangtasia on my own. I know don't have to go tonight. I could put off going to Fangtasia and my plan would probably still work… but tonight is the best night to go if I want to be sure.
I smile at the memory of being nervous about going to Fangtasia alone before; feeling like I needed Bill there to help me. I'm still not thrilled at the idea, but knowing more about Eric, I know nothing will happen to me that I don't want to happen; it would be too much trouble. Eric is extremely invested in mainstreaming his business and keeping his profit margins up. It's funny, but the people in Fangtasia are probably safer than people walking the streets. Fangtasia is all about offering up death and danger, but when it comes down to it, it's a business. A tourist trap.
Granted, a tourist trap filled with fangs, but even the Grand Canyon has claimed some lives.
I set about "packing" my ring. I leave everything that was in it before, and add:
-The chain that bound Bill
-A spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and colloidal silver
-A stake
-Pens and Paper
-My copies of the paperwork, plus an extra set
-A cheep cell phone I got last week
-Money and an emergency credit card
I'm sure things won't get out of hand tonight, but having an anti-vamp arsonal in my ring can't hurt. The phone, money and notepaper just seem like good things to have. Nose-wipe seemed to think a whole house could fit in the ring, so I pretty much plan on sticking anything in there I think can be useful. I consider putting my lipstick in there, but I doubt the ring was meant to take the place of my battered purse. Speaking of, I transfer my more purse-friendly items from my old straw purse into my new black one. During my week of planning I'd gone out and bought an outfit specifically for tonight, complete with shoes, purse and necklace. I didn't even have to feel too guilty about the purchases since the dress was on clearance and the purse will also work as an every-day bag; it was stylish, but not overly structured or designed.
When I was putting together my look, I wanted to strike just the right contrast of sex and professionalism. Some people might think those two things can't be put together, but I think I balanced things just right. I considered wearing the same thing I wore in Timeline A, but in the end I knew it just wouldn't be right. I need to change how the vampires see me, and a virginal white linen dress with flowers was not the way to do it. I finish loading the purse and turn to my dress.
The mall in Shreveport had exactly what I wanted. The dress is a deep red, so deep it almost looks black in dim light. I don't want to look like some hussy, so it actually has a pretty high neck line, with a little faux-cape that creates cap sleeves. I basically have to pour myself into the thing, but aside from being tight (and looking like the color of super-concentrated blood) it's pretty demure, falling just above the knee.
My necklace is more utilitarian than the rest of my outfit. It's a tiny silver chain which I tuck under the neckline of my dress. It is so small and so thin that it doesn't disturb the fabric at all. Basically it's a last-ditch repellent to any vampire that may want to get too close. It's such a small amount of silver that I doubt a vamp would even notice it unless they got up close and personal.
I put on a little more eye make-up than I usually do to match the tone of the dress and I'm ready. I wiggle into my flip-flops and bring my black heels with me. They aren't that high, but after spending all day on my feet hawking food to gossip-crazed customers; I'll take any little bit of comfort I can get.
Gran is out at a Descendants meeting, so I leave her a note that I've gone out and not to wait up.
If I thought I was nervous to meet Bill, seeing Eric is pushing my stress-meter off the charts. I'm pretty sure I check my reflection in the rear-view mirror about twenty times during the hour-long drive. Crazy thoughts run through my head, like asking Bill to give me some of his blood to make my hair more bouncy.
I mentally slap myself. I cannot be this worked up when I get there! I roll down the windows, take some deep breaths and try to let my mind wander.
It wanders to tsunamis.
I don't know why I expect Fangtasia to have changed. It looks exactly like it did the last time I was here, and the time before that, and the time before that. I get in without any trouble and decide to head to the bar to get a drink. Longshadow is there in all his glory, and asks me: "What can I get you beautiful?" I almost want to sass him; say something like "An explanation for why you think it's okay to embezzle from your business partners," but I go with "Gin and tonic, please."
He flashes a harsh fanged smile that I know is meant to both frighten and intrigue me. I wonder if he does it naturally, or if it's part of his vampire shtick for the bar. I can't bring myself to approach Eric's thrown just yet, or even look at it. If I didn't know better I would swear the bond is still intact. I feel like I can sense him. Maybe I'm just imagining it; or maybe a blood bond can linger somehow? I don't really see how, neither my body or his in this reality has had the other's blood. Sometimes I really just want a reference book for all this supernatural stuff; maybe I could start one:
Blood bond1 /bluhd bɒnd/
–noun.
1. something that binds a human and vampire together after 3+ blood exchanges. 2. often used as a means for control, resulting in confused feelings, mixed emotions and a general state of uncertainty. 3. may or may not survive in some form through time travel.
I quietly sip my drink and look around. All anyone is thinking about is sex, often staring the vampire I'm trying to ignore for the moment. The undercover cop isn't here yet. I finish my drink and start making centrifugal rings on my napkin with my glass.
I scan again a few minutes later and it's still just sex. I sigh and I know I need to get a move on. An old Smashing Pumpkins song comes on; something about the world being a vampire. It makes me smile. I'll say one thing about vampires, they generally have a sense of flair about them. Suddenly instead of wanting to stall, I feel like I'm totally ready. Maybe my liquid courage has kicked in, or maybe I'm getting so anxious to see Eric that it's overpowering my desire to not see him. Either way I thank Longshadow and move away from the bar.
I look up and Eric is staring right at me. Oh god. I forgot he wore just a vest. No shirt. I can see his whole chest.
Oh lord, I just saw nipple!
Crap, Sookie, get it together…
Eric POV
I've watched her since the moment she came in, and thank god she did. Pam has been insufferably boring tonight. I believe she is trying to punish me for not letting her put in a multi-tiered synthetic-blood fountain. Honestly, I know we are trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator here, but there are limits to bad taste. There were little angels on it. Little cherubs with flutes and bits of fabric covering their nethers. I suppress a shudder. I am not a taste nazi. I like a good slogan t-shirt and huge belt buckles, but I know when to draw the line: I still sometimes have to resist rolling my eyes at the name "Fangtasia." Yes, it is marketing gold, but it is also one of the worst puns I have ever heard.
And I have heard a lot of puns.
There is ironic, and then there is moronic. Speaking of, I'm going to have to talk to Marco about wearing that damn red pleather jumpsuit in the bar. I hired him on as one of my auxiliary vampires a few weeks ago, but he's been more trouble than he's worth. Not only has he not adhered to dress code (red pleather jumpsuit anyone?!), but he's been drinking from clients like they are Coca-Colas on a hot day. I'll have Pam talk to him later.
Speaking of hot, I turn my attention back to the blond.
I take my time considering her (Pam is certainly not going to entertain me. She is now looking off into the distance; probably dreaming of some sort of blood equivalent to the chocolate river in that Oompa Loompa movie she likes to watch). The woman seems familiar and totally novel all at once; I wait for her to look at me. She doesn't. I call out to her silently, she doesn't respond. Any other human in the room would be licking my boots by now. Is she human? She looks it.
She is wearing something entirely too classy for the venue (though I am loath to admit it). Her hair is twisted elegantly, and falls over her shoulder on one side.
She doesn't look entirely comfortable in the dress however; like she's dressed up in the clothes of another woman who happens to be her size. Judging from her tan I would guess that she is more comfortable in a cotton dress and flip-flops. My fangs extend a bit. Yes, that would be lovely. The dress does hug all the right places; too high a neck-line though…
Yes, finally she makes eye-contact. Come here, yes. What? Mid-glammor she swerves away from me and enters the restroom. I resist the urge to charge toward the bathroom and rip the door off its hinges. What is this woman doing to me? How did she counter-act my glammor?
Pam says something about snacking on some whore at our feet; I wave her off. The last thing I have on my mind is biting some two-bit fang-banger. I continue to watch the door she just walked through. She'll have to come out of the restroom sometime, and I am a patient man. I can wait.
Also, if it's more than five minutes, I can send Pam in to get her.
I have a link to how I picture the dress if anyone cares, but the formatting won't let me copy and paste it in :(
I've put it up below with spaces and (dot) for "." Hope it can work! I tried putting it in but just breaking it up, but it always erases part of it.
h t t p://1(dot)bp(dot)blogspot(dot)com/_h4mOtJEDlTk/R0C8cz_P5XI/AAAAAAAABAw/GX2g50LG9K0/s400/posh%2Bdress%2B60%2Beuro% Boli. . jpg
Also, I want to give a shout out to whoever first wrote the idea to use a spray bottle filled with water and colloidal silver as a defense against vampires in a story! All through Dead and Gone I was sure Sookie had spray guns with water and powdered iron... I guess I read it so fast I missed the part about lemon juice!
