A/N: Only a few chapters left now! Things are getting exciting! :)

Chapter Ten

The next evening was eventful, to say the least. We were at Club Dead by nine. Early for most vamps, but just right for most humans and Weres.

Sookie and I were undercover so we thought we should look that way. Alcide's sister, Janice, had come over at sunset and dolled us up. Sookie was wearing a wig made of dark brown ringlets and far too much makeup. She was wearing a super short denim mini skirt, a hot pink crop top and a pair of way too high, silver, sparkly stilettos.

I donned a straightened, layered jet black wig with side bangs. My makeup was more Goth but still wayyy too much. I wore a strapless black and purple corset that pointed into a 'V' shape at the bottom, black leather pants and combat boots.

Alcide wasn't going to enter with us. We didn't want to look too suspicious. He went in first. Sookie and I waited about ten minutes and then followed suit.

Alcide eyed us carefully as we strode in. He put the proper look of disgust on his face for my vampness. The look he gave Sookie….well, it wasn't in disgust at all.

Club Dead, or Josephine's, which is it's proper name, was your typical Supe bar. I do have to say how weird it was seeing vamps, Weres and shifters mingling. Like they didn't all hate each other.

Sookie and I sat at the bar. She ordered a fancy girly drink. I ordered an A+. Yuck.

We chatted idly, but I mostly remained quiet, not wanting to distract Sookie from her task. I opted to spend my time thinking of ways I could murder Bill and not get staked for it.

Two hours, five girly drinks, four TB's and a hundred and forty-seven dance requests later, we were still showing zilch.

"Wanna pack it in? I'm not getting anything." Sookie huffed.

I nodded. I figured as much. I mean, it goes back to that whole who is actually thinking "I'm planning on murdering this person and burying their body here." thing.

"Yeah, we might as well." I said, standing up.

I looked over and quickly nodded to Alcide that we were leaving. He didn't nod back but he understood. Their was a lady clinging all over him and he didn't look too pleased about it. I wanted to walk over and help him out, but I figured that the presence of a vamp probably would only cause trouble. She seemed the super hateful type. My super-super hearing had detected a few vamp insults spewing from her lips earlier in the evening.

We were getting our things together when dance request number one-forty-eight walked up to us. I wrinkled my nose at his scent. Full blown Were. Even yuckier than synthetic blood.

His look told me he felt the same about me. His attention shifted fully onto Sookie.

"Hey there hot stuff. What're you doing hanging around with this nasty ass fanger bitch?"

He was short, for a guy, and had spiky, blonde, d-bag hair. He was wearing a plaid shirt, all the way unbuttoned of course, and ripped up jeans.

Pffft. Who the hell dressed like that? Sookie and I may have been painted up like skanks, but I mean, seriously. Button up your damn shirt.

I smiled sweetly at him, even though the Slayer in me wanted to knock him out and the vamp in me wanted to rip him limb from limb. I made sure to show a little fang.

"Aww, how sweet. However, if we're being technical, your mother is the bitch, Lassie."

His eyes widened in anger. "It would be really dumb of you to anger me, bloodsucker. Half my pack is here. We could tear you to shreds in seconds."

I grinned. "I'd like to see you try, Benji."

Slayer abilities come straight from vamp abilities. Mine are more enhanced from endless years of training with Giles. The kind of vamp I am is a different breed than the normal bumpy faced freaks of Sunnydale. They're more evolved. Faster, stronger and—thank God—prettier.

Therefore, super evolved vamp abilities plus super enhanced Slayer abilities equals me taking out the whole damn bar, single handedly.

I didn't though. No worries. Like I said earlier, I've only killed one person. And that was one person too many. Even though they really really deserved it.

"What'd you say?" snarled dog boy.

I opened my mouth but Sookie elbowed me, probably hurting herself more than me.

"Nothin'. Sorry 'bout that. My sister is just a little protective of me. We're actually here lookin' for our baby sister….Pam. She's run away. Momma's real worried 'bout her."

If there was one thing that ever constantly surprises me about Sookie Stackhouse, it's her ability to lie. She does it like a pro.

"She's right." I said, as civilly as possible. "My apologies. Even in my unfortunate, vampiric state, I'm not usually so asinine." I fibbed, using the biggest word I could think of. Most Weres aren't as smart as Alcide. Using big words confuses them. :]

"My name is….Tara. And my sister is…Anya." I added. I figured Anya and Tara wouldn't mind being our fake names for the evening. Better than using Faith's. Word to the wise—never use Faith's name as your fake name. I speak from experience.

"Unfortunate, vampiric state? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

I sighed. "It means, ass-face, that I didn't choose to be a vamp. I was sired against my will."

He mulled that over for a few minutes before a disgusting grin spread across his face.

"That is the biggest load of shit I've ever heard, fanger." He turned to Sookie. "If you're looking for that sister of yours, have you thought to ask the bloodsucker? She probably ate her or some sick shit like that."

I could feel the flames of pure, bubbling anger rise throughout me. There was nothing more I wanted at that very moment than to tear him limb from limb. Before I could act on my impulses, however, Alcide chose the exact right moment to step in.

"Is there a problem here, Alvin?" Alcide said, stepping in between the Were and myself.

My face lit up. "Alvin? Alvin. Like the tv show? I wasn't aware that someone could be a Were-chipmunk." I said, not even bothering to contain my laughter.

Sookie wrapped her arm around my waist and pushed me forward. "I think we should go now Bu—Tara. We don't want no trouble now."

I nodded. I threw a quick wink at Alcide and he nodded back. Once we got outside, I was in a bit better shape, sanity wise. We walked down the street silently, towards our car.

I stopped in my tracks and sniffed the air. It taken a shift from the normal city smell to more of a….wet dog, too much cologne and alcohol smell.

Sookie looked at me curiously. "What?"

I turned, putting her behind me. "Stay close. And use your gift." I whispered.

Six Weres came out from an adjacent side alley. They were bigger than good ol' Alvin and definitely tougher looking.
Well, tougher if I wasn't a badass Slayer-vamp, that is.

I smiled. "Hello boys. What can we help you with this evening?"

One that appeared to be the leader of the group, leaned over and looked at the Were closest to him. "Get me the picture."

The Were did as commanded and pulled a photo out of his pocket.

Leader Were examined them against both Sookie and I. I didn't need to be a telepath to know what was going on.

I launched an attack, immediately. It was over just as quick as I had launched it. I knocked out the three to the right and then the three to the left, managing to not kill a single one of them. I grabbed the photos from where they had landed on the ground.

I grabbed Sookie and ran us to the car, tossing her in the front seat. As soon as she was buckled in, we were speeding back towards Louisiana.

_

"The Were from the bar was the decoy. He blocked us off so the group that assaulted us could leave." Sookie said.

We were well into Louisiana now, thanks to my hectic driving. I bypassed going back to Alcide's. We were very clearly being followed and I didn't want to implicate him in anything.

"They knew everything about you. Former Head Slayer. Pledged wife to Eric and recently made vamp." Sookie continued.

"Which means they obviously know who Eric is."

"Exactly."

"So…is it something to do with Dawn's situation? Or something completely different all together?" I asked, getting off the exit ramp to Bon Temps.

"I honestly don't think so. I got the impression they had nothing to do with Dawn."

"Which means this is something new to be a giant pain in my ass."

"And I thought my life was crazy." Sookie smiled.

"I don't think it's safe for you to go home." I said, going for a brief subject change.

"I can handle myself perfectly fine, thank you."

"So can Dawnie and look at the mess she's in. My point is, Weres can go out in the day. Eric and I can't. I'd feel much better knowing that you were safe during the day, Sook."

She sighed, defeated. "Okay, fine. Drop me off with Jason and Faith then."

A Were-panther and a Slayer were about the best protection she was going to get during the day, so I did just that.

Not saying that these Weres would for sure go after her, but I just wanted to play it safe, seeing as how I had absolutely no idea who I was dealing with on that front.

After I dropped Sookie off, I drove straight back to Shreveport. The last couple of days had been seriously long. All I was wanting as I walked through my side door was to hop into our super tub for a nice, relaxing bath with my honey.

What I got instead, was ambushed by said honey. Not in the loving, sexy 'I missed you so much' way, either.

"Where have you been?" he yelled, angrily, grabbing me by my shoulders.

"Eric! What the hell?"

"Have you any idea how worried I've been?" he said, a little more calmly. Funny thing, it was still borderline yelling.

"Eric, let go."

He did as requested and took up pacing the floors. I could see just how worried he had been. His already pale skin had turned to a dull ash color. His eyes were wide and they almost looked sunken in. He actually looked, gulp, dead.

I stepped further into the house, dropping my bag on the floor. I walked over and sat myself down on the couch. Eric continued pacing the floor, hopefully calming himself down.

"Where were you?" he asked quietly, after a few very long, very awkward minutes.

"I'm taking it that you didn't get my note."

"What note?" he asked, perplexed.

"Sookie and I got some leads on Dawn. We were in Jackson, checking them out. I left a note for you on your desk at Fangtasia, semi-explaining it all. You were supposed to call as soon as you got it."

Eric pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it at me.

"Kind of hard for me to reach you when you leave your phone behind. Bobby found it on the floor, in my office."

"Eric, I swear I left you a note. Sookie saw me write it and Bobby had to have seen it sitting on your desk after we left. In fact, I told him I was leaving. I mean, granted I lied about where I was going, but still, I figured that when he told you I was at Sookie's, you would've caught on."

Eric's look changed very quickly. He stopped pacing and walked over to me.

"You told Bobby you were leaving?"

I nodded.

"You told him you were going to Sookie's?"

I nodded again. "Yeah. Eric, what—"

He sat down next to me and smiled a small smile that I knew well from his Sheriff-ing duties. The 'I've been lied to and now you're going to pay' smile. Yeouch.

"He never told me that. When I asked him if he'd seen you last night, he told me no."

"I knew I didn't trust that creep. He must've taken the note after Sookie and I left."

Eric put his arms around me and pulled me in closer to him. I laid my head on his chest.

"Yes…that must be the case. Unless…"

"Unless he's working for someone else." I finished.

"Exactly."

"Whatever. I don't even care right now. Whatever is going on with him and the Weres is just going to have to wait till I'm done dealing with Dawn's problem. I can only handle so many crises at once."

Contrary to popular belief, vamps can and do get stressed out. I'm living, well, un-living proof.

Eric looked down at me. "Weres?"

I sighed. "Alcide took Sookie and I to Club Dead tonight to see if she could hear anything about Dawn. Definite long shot, sure but we had to try something. Sookie and I think this whole thing is something to do from when she lived there and in my experience, when you want info, you go to Supe bars. Sookie was accosted by some stupid pup when we were trying to leave. He and I exchanged some…pleasantries. Alcide, thankfully, intervened. Sookie and I left. Halfway to the car, I realized we were being followed. Six Weres. I knocked them all out before they had a chance to phase. For some, ridiculous reason, they were carrying around a picture of me."

I pulled said picture out of my pocket and handed it to Eric, who studied it carefully.

"You were very young in this picture."

I glanced at it. "High school-ish."

"The Weres were sent after you. By someone that wouldn't know what you look like now."

"Oh, because I didn't have a massive list of enemies in high school. Then add in the demons."

Eric smiled a little at my joke.

"Though, for not knowing what I look like now, they knew an awful lot about me. Sookie picked their brains and they knew everything. Everything. Including my vampness."

"That's odd. Very, very odd. But you are right in saying that Dawn's problems come first. What have you learned from your trip?"

I sighed and sat up. "Not much. Dawn and Alcide dated. Broke up. She moved back here. Alcide had no idea that she was being threatened. And the only real piece of info we learned from Club Dead was that some wolves are after me."

Eric looked me over and raised an eyebrow. "So, Club Dead would be the reason for this?" he asked, flipping up a piece of black hair from my shoulder.

I laughed. I had honestly forgotten all about my skanky little get up.

"Sookie and I dressed undercover. I went with 'stereotypical Goth vampire'. Sook went with 'skanky trailer trash.' It was kind of fun. Not being myself for a night. Even though I didn't really do much besides sit at a bar, drinking A+'s."

I could feel Eric's mood change. He grinned mischievously.

"You don't have to stop now. Your…costume…is quite…eye-catching….and there's still another two hours till sunrise, lover."

(The next evening)

My eyes flipped open and I sat straight up, my thoughts and nerves all in a massive panic.

Normally, vamps don't dream. I haven't had one dream since I was turned.

But today….today was very different.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead, trying to get the mental images to either piece themselves together or go away entirely.

I haaaaaaaate cryptic messages. With a fiery passion.

Dawn and Sam were standing in the middle of a room together. Laughing, kissing, hugging.

Happy.

Suddenly, the room was engulfed in flames.

I turned around to call for help, but no one would come. No one wanted to help the freaks.

I turned back around and Sam was no longer there. It was just Dawn.

I tried to move, to help her, but I couldn't. I was stuck in place.

I watched as she stood there, screaming for me to help her, in complete agony, as her body was engulfed in flames.

"Sweetheart, what is it?"

I felt Eric's strong arms wrap around me. I opened my eyes and allowed myself to take some comfort in his arms. He lifted my head in his hands and wiped away my massive bloody tears.

Before I could tell him what I saw, I heard my phone start to ring. Somehow, I knew who it was. And I knew it was bad.

I jumped out of bed and blurred down the stairs, not caring one bit about my nakedness. I grabbed my phone from it's spot on the counter, yanking it off the charger and snapping the cord in the process. I felt Eric by my side.

"Sookie, what is it? What's wrong?"
I could hear her muffled cries.

"Merlotte's was fire-bombed."