Sookie took a sip of hot coffee. "How does a person become a dog?"
"Dammit Sookie, the man turned into one! I swear it!" After watching Sam disappear into the forest at 4:30 in the morning, Sylvie anxiously waited for Sookie in the kitchen. It had only taken her cousin a few more hours to return home but to Sylvie, it felt like an eternity. She spent those hours teetering back and forth with the idea that she just might belong in the loonybin. After all, how the hell does a person become a dog? It was a question with no rational answer. Sylvie went with her gut: she wasn't insane. What she saw had been real.
"I just don't understand how that is possible," Sookie reasoned. The girls sat together at the kitchen table discussing the strange issue over breakfast.
"How's a vampire possible, Sookie. Tell me that. Do you know?" When Sylvie didn't get a response from her cousin, she continued on. "Besides, how the hell do you explain his clothes just layin' out on the lawn like that? Who leaves their clothes in someone's front yard!"
"I don't know Syl, but I've known Sam Merlotte since he started up that restaurant years ago. Don't you think I'd 'a heard he could turn into animals?"
"Maybe you weren't listenin' right."
"Or maybe you weren't lookin' right," Sookie retorted.
Sylvie rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Sook! Since I came back, there's one thing I know for sure: there's a lot of crazy stuff in this world. Vampires, witches, whatever the hell we are…who knows, maybe there's people that turn into dogs too."
"Well, we'll find out when he comes back for his clothes." The minute Sookie arrived home she'd found Sylvie asleep on the kitchen floor. When she woke her up, Sookie was bombarded with claims that Sam morphed into an animal. While the idea alone seemed ridiculous, the reason for his scattered clothing was peculiar. She wanted an answer. Why did Sam Merlotte lose his clothes? More importantly, why did he leave the house?
"Oh yeah?" Sylvie doubtfully took a bite of her blueberry pancakes. She'd forced Sookie into calling Sam several times but he never answered. She figured he was hiding. "What if he doesn't? I say we go to Merlotte's right now!"
"We're not going over there, that's silly. He can't avoid us forever," Sookie paused to sip her orange juice. "He'll see us at work tonight. And boy, is he gettin' an earful from me. Dog or not, I don't like how he up and left you like that."
"I think he was runnin' after something," Sylvie recalled. "He took off like a bat outta hell." But why? What was he after? Suddenly a light bulb went off in her head. What if Sam wasn't after anything, what if something was after him? "Holy hell, Sook, what if a witch did it?"
A shiver slithered up Sylvie's spine. The hairs on her neck stood on end. If a witch turned Sam into a dog, she knew him or her wouldn't stop there. Sam Merlotte probably wasn't their target.
"Don't say that!" Sookie rose to put her half-eaten plate in the sink. "You'll make me worry more."
"Well, we gotta do something! What if they're after me? Should we call the cops?"
After rinsing her dish, Sookie shuffled back to the table. "You know we can't do that. They're not gonna believe us."
"I know but…" Sylvie paused, searching for a solution. She was blank. "We can't pretend like nothing happened."
"Look," Sookie brushed her golden locks away from her cheeks. "If we don't see Sam at work, I'll tell Bill. He'll know what to do."
It was during that movement Sylvie saw it. That small, effortless motion her cousin's hand made to pull her hair away had unknowingly revealed a very big secret. Two small red dots rested on Sookie's neck. She'd been bitten by a vampire. A vampire Sylvie obviously assumed to be Bill Compton. She could feel her eyes practically popping from her skull.
"OH MY GOD YOU LET HIM BITE YOU," Sylvie announced. She wasn't sure if she was making a statement or a question, but her voice was abruptly loud and clear. Her tone wasn't coated with disgust or disappointment, but rather, surprise. She'd only been around a handful of vampires and she didn't find the idea of their fangs breaking skin to be very pleasing.
"Yeah, I did," Sookie blushed. She used her hair as a curtain, cloaking the bite mark so it was hidden again. "I was going to tell you when I got home but you sprung this dog thing on me."
Suddenly eager, Sylvie leaned closer and rested her chin on her hands. "What was it like?"
Her cousin's eyes went soft, lazily traveling into dreamland. "It was wonderful," Sookie murmured. "Bill was wonderful."
"Didn't it hurt?"
"No, it was great! Bill was very gentle."
Sylvie was bursting. Vampires were dangerous, she'd seen it with her own eyes. And if she forgot, Sookie was always there to remind her of their deadly behavior. Yet, for whatever reason, Sookie had trusted Bill to bite her. "I can't believe you let him bite you!"
"Oh," Sookie smiled sheepishly, "I let him do more than that."
More than biting? Sylvie's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't possibly mean… She could feel her lungs deflating faster than a balloon that hadn't been tied. With her last bit of air she squeaked, "like what?"
Like a scene from a teen movie, Sookie giggled into her lap and uttered the phrase, "we went all the way."
"All the way?"
Sylvie couldn't believe it. Her cousin had finally lost her virginity. And to a vampire, no less! Considering their luck with regular men, it didn't surprise her when Sookie confessed to still being a virgin at 26 that night they'd stayed up talking. But Bill? A vampire? The thought had her mind whirling. Sylvie herself hadn't made it very far, never moving past a few steamy make-out sessions in high school. She'd always end up reading the boy's thoughts, which resulted in disaster. Sookie likely suffered the same problem - until she met Bill, a vampire who's thoughts couldn't be read. Now Sylvie's cousin had another life experience she could cross off her list while Sylvie's remained unmarked. Questions began to build in her mind, stacking one on top of the other like a sky scraper.
"What was it like? Was it painful? Did he ask before he bit you? Tell me everything!" Sylvie bubbled with curiosity.
"It hurt a little at first," Sookie smiled, "but it was perfect. It was everything I'd imagined it to be…and more. I had the most beautiful night of my life with him. It just…felt right, y'know?"
"Like he was the one?"
"Yes," Sookie pictured her night with Bill. "Like he was the one."
"How'd you know?"
"I just…knew," Sookie sighed dreamily. "After Bill was missin' for all that time, I thought my world was crumbling. I was in pieces. With everything that happened, I didn't know if I was gonna be okay. But when I saw his face last night it was like I was put back together again. He's everything to me. I love him."
Sylvie was on the edge of her seat, watching as her cousin spoke of Bill like she was in awe. She knew Sookie was telling the truth. She wasn't confused or sick with a case of puppy love. Bill Compton was the real deal. Visions of her cousin's potential future soared through her mind. If Sookie were to stay with Bill forever, she would never have any kids or walk with him in daylight. Forever… Sylvie repeated. She felt her stomach flop.
"Wait," she paused. "You love each other, but what about when you get old? Is he gonna turn you?"
"Sylvie!" Sookie laughed. "We haven't even talked about it yet. I ain't ready for that."
"Whew," she breathed. "Good."
Sookie grabbed her cousin's plate and carried it to the sink. Sylvie tapped her fingers on the table, impatiently wondering what she would do with her day. Inside she was clawing at the idea of sneaking to Merlotte's to find Sam. But with no car of her own, sneaking didn't seem so easy. Desperate for distraction, she sought Sookie for help.
"So…" Sylvie paused. "What are you gonna do today?"
"I was thinking about headin' to the library. Wanna come?"
Sylvie rushed to get ready, gladly accepting Sookie's proposal.
The library was just opening as the two girls arrived. Bodies slowly filed into the old building which was newly restored - thanks to the Bellefleur's. As the isles began humming with life, Sylvie followed her cousin with curiosity. Sookie was heading for the romance section. She smiled, noting Sookie was just like Gran when it came to her taste in books. Novels lined the shelves, all covers featuring photos of long haired women in pastel dresses with their Fabio-esque counterparts. Sylvie scanned their titles, snickering as she went along. Scandalous Love. Dark Secrets. The Married Man's Mistress. After an amused eye roll, she left her cousin behind and went exploring.
Sylvie shuffled past the romance section. She knew Sookie was still reeling over Bill and would likely spend her time there looking at the sappy novels in a daze. Sylvie wandered through the main hall, reading genre signs as she strolled along. Mystery. Horror. Science-fiction. Suspense. Religion. Nothing seemed to pique her interest. She paused in an open study area, standing amongst empty tables and chairs. It was there that a particular sign caught her eye: the computer lab. Monitors and keyboards lined a wall in the distance. Sylvie remembered using such machines before but technology had changed a lot since then. Approaching an open space in the corner, she took a seat and eyed the screen in front of her.
The monitor stared back at her blank and empty - it was shut off. A curiosity swept over Sylvie as she searched for the "on" button. She remembered the computers she used in high school. They were nothing like what was in front of her now. Everything looked complicated. She wondered if she'd even be able to navigate the web once she figured out how to turn the machine on. Sylvie wasn't sure how the internet worked in the present, but in the past she'd always found it interesting. She assumed Sookie did not share the same opinion, as her cousin didn't keep a computer anywhere in Gran's house. Sylvie pushed a small grey button on the monitor. A green light lit up but the screen remained black. As she fiddled with the button, a voice giggled nearby.
"That only turns the screen on," a little girl laughed from a table behind her. She pointed at the system's unit. "You have to push the other one too."
Sylvie eyed the young girl and smiled. Her hands were small, one holding a children's book with animals on the cover while the other pointed in her direction. She had long curly blonde hair and wide blue eyes. Sylvie couldn't help but think of Hadley when she was in grade school. The girl in front of her had the same smile, one that Hadley would give to Sylvie as she left for school every morning. A sadness swept over her. Would she ever find her? She blinked, stifling the memories that filled her mind. With a nod, she finally spoke to the girl. "Thank you."
And with that, the computer was on. Sylvie spotted a familiar icon on the desktop and clicked it. The Yahoo website appeared, and Sylvie stared at the empty space near the search button. The cursor blinked off and on, patiently waiting to make room for text. It didn't take Sylvie long to decide what she was going to type: Hadley Stackhouse. Her fingers quickly moved along the keyboard and awaited results. To her disappointment, her search pulled up no useful information on her sister. No address or any form of contact information. Instead, Sylvie found signs of Hadley through a laundry list of misdemeanors. Public intoxication, possession, even theft. Sylvie raised a brow, noting the majority of charges took place near Bon Temps. She assumed most had a connection with her sister's V addiction, but her heart swelled when she saw Hadley received a speeding ticket 3 months ago in Baton Rouge. Could Hadley be living in the area?
"What are you doing?" Sookie murmured behind Sylvie.
"Jesus!" Sylvie gasped. "Nothing, just looking up Hadley. I think she might be living in Baton Rouge."
"Really? Did you find anything else on her?"
"I wish," she sighed.
Sookie put a hand on her shoulder. "Well, it's a start at least. Are you ready to go, or do you want to stay awhile?"
Sylvie ceased from her search and the girls headed home. Sookie picked up a few books from the library and started one as soon as she entered the house. Sylvie let her cousin be and retreated to her usual spot on the porch swing outside. Her head was still spinning. She knew Hadley was out there somewhere, but she didn't know somewhere was so close. Hadley was still in Louisiana. Baton Rouge, she thought. Why there? Why not go home? Her sister could've come to Bon Temps to be with family again, but probably kept her distance because of all the money she owed Gran. A sadness filled Sylvie's heart, realizing her sister had no idea their grandmother was dead. But that wasn't all Hadley wasn't aware of.
Hadley had no idea her sister was alive.
The afternoon lingered on at a grueling pace. When it came time to get ready for work, Sylvie was already feeling drained. After her discovery at the library, she'd almost forgotten about her concerns with Sam. Would he be at the bar when Sylvie arrived, or would he be gone? Dead? Kidnapped? Hiding somewhere in dog-form? After dressing for work, she jumped into the car with Sookie to get answers.
The girls arrived at Merlotte's just before sunset. The air was still, occasionally blowing a warm breeze through Sylvie's long blonde hair. She and Sookie stood in the lot, both matching in uniform. A few cars scattered around them. Dinner rush was coming and soon the bar would be swarming with locals. As they approached the front entrance, Sylvie was taken by surprise. Gran's Cadillac was parked just where she'd left it. Only now, the tires had been replaced. Sam had stood by his offer. So where was he? Once the girls strolled inside, they found him standing at the bar.
"Sam Merlotte," Sookie growled with arms crossed. "I got a bone to pick with you."
Sylvie proudly stood by her cousin and echoed her demands. "Yeah, me too!"
Sylvie caught Sam giving her a knowing look, but he quickly recovered and played cool. "Alright, alright," he humored. His eyes shifted to Terry, who was standing confusedly nearby. "Let's talk in my office."
Within a few moments, the three stood behind closed doors. Sam spoke first.
"Now," he took a seat at his desk and faced the two women. "I know what ya'll are 'bout to ask me. Sylvie, I know what you saw. If I tell you, ya'll gotta keep it a secret, understood?"
The girls exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Sam sighed, leaned forward, and clasped his hands together.
"I'm a shifter," he blurted.
"A what?" Sylvie blinked.
"A shifter," he repeated. "It means I can shift into different animals. Any I'm familiar with, that is. There aren't many of us out there but I was born with it."
"So you really did turn into a dog?" Sylvie confirmed.
"Yep. A collie is my main form." He paused and anxiously shuffled papers on his desk. "I know it seems strange, but it's the truth."
"Sam…" Sookie met his eyes. "Why haven't you told me this?"
"I've tried," he admitted.
"After everything you know about me," she began to grow offended. "You couldn't tell me this? All this time, I've felt outta place. Different. Why couldn't you tell me you were different too?"
"I've always told you to read my mind any time you wanted, haven't I? I hoped that someday you would."
"Wait a second," Sylvie interrupted their discussion. She figured Sam could confess his love and life story to Sookie on his own time. "So you're a shifter. You can turn into animals. I get it. But why did you turn into one last night?"
"I heard somethin' outside your house. Real quiet, but it was there. I followed it into the woods...I run faster as a dog."
"What was it?" Sookie asked with wide eyes.
"Don't know," he scratched at the back of his neck. "I couldn't catch it. But whatever or whoever it was, I know their scent."
Sylvie shivered. Someone or something had approached the house last night. It appeared she and Sookie needed protection after all. Was it Gran's killer, or was it a witch? A sudden knock on the door made her jump.
"Sam!" Terry barked. "Arlene could use some help out here!"
Sam let out a tortured sigh. "Go on," he waved reluctantly. "You guys better get out there." He called to Sookie one last time before the door shut. "Sook, I'll be around if you want to talk later."
Work went on as usual. Arlene chattered on about her children and Rene, occasionally pausing to complain about customers or Terry's cooking skills. Lafayette was still a no-show and Tara claimed no knowledge of his whereabouts. Sylvie kept her eyes peeled for the rednecks from the night before but was happy to see they hadn't come back. She spent the evening preoccupied, waiting on customers in a daze.
Her mind wandered through recent events. Events she still couldn't figure out. She'd disappeared for 10 years. Jason was a suspect for murder. Sam was a shifter. Sookie lost her virginity. Gran was dead. Vampires were real. Something was after her. Something was after Sookie. Jason was using drugs. Hadley was in Louisiana. Her world had become a piñata, taking one swing after another. Eventually, one final blow would end it all and break her. She just didn't know what that hit would be.
Sylvie spent her shift so consumed in her own thoughts, she didn't realize hours had passed. When she began to look for her cousin, Tara informed her that Sookie had talked with Sam and went home early. As the night came to a close, Sylvie did her clean ups and jumped in her recently fixed car. By the time she got home, however, Sookie was already gone. She stopped at the kitchen table, reading a note her cousin had left behind.
At Bill's. Be home soon.
Sylvie rolled her eyes. So last night I couldn't be left alone, but now it's okay? Her cousin's sudden hypocrisy annoyed her to no end. First Sookie treated her like a child, and now she was treating her like an adult. She enjoyed being treated like the latter, but Sylvie wasn't certain it would last long. She knew Sookie probably wasn't in her best state of mind. After all, she'd just shared a life-changing experience with Bill. Taking advantage of her cousin's absentminded trust, Sylvie locked the doors and sat quietly at the kitchen table.
Crickets chirped outside. The wind was blowing a little harder than usual, causing the house to creak. After hearing a bird squawk in the distance, Sylvie felt her new found freedom was becoming a bit too eerie. When will she be back? She wondered. What do I do if someone tries to get in? Sylvie pulled her new cell phone from her pocket. She hadn't gotten a chance to use it yet, but she managed to dial Sookie's number from memory. No answer. Sylvie grabbed a coke from the fridge and began to pace in the kitchen. The sounds continued, pushing her paranoia to its limit. Wind blew through the window, sending her a familiar smell. A storm was coming.
"Ugh," she grunted aloud. "That's it."
Sylvie decided she wasn't going to stay in the house alone. Not after the things Sam had told her. Gathering what little courage she had left, she pushed her fears aside and headed for Bill's. She clutched her cell phone tightly and trudged through the front lawn. Air pushed gusts through her hair, the breezes contrasting warm and cold. Rumbles of thunder were beginning the brew and soon the storm would move in. Night time had made its presence known, leaving the forest dark and untrusting. Sylvie longed for another way but knew walking through the woods was her only option. She would have to travel through the dirt paths and past the cemetery to reach her destination.
Bon Temps' cemetery was oddly quiet as Sylvie wandered through. Its peace managed to calm her down, allowing her to stop near her grandparents burial plots momentarily. They were silent and still, hidden away from the elements of nature. As a boom of thunder rumbled above, she reluctantly continued on. After delicately closing the cemetery gate, Sylvie was almost to Bill's. A short, small dirt path separated her from the Compton estate. Light sprinkles of water tapped at her forehead. It was starting to rain. She moved faster, kicking up dirt near her ankles. When a twig snapped nearby, her heart sped up.
"Hello?" She paused with shifting eyes.
Then, another sound called out. Only this time it was much closer. Sylvie yelped, realizing it was only her cell phone. She reached into her pocket with shaky hands and answered the call.
"God dammit, Sook!" She barked into the phone. "Why didn't you answer? I'm walkin' to Bill's in a freakin' storm and you better be with him when I get there!"
"Do you always answer your calls so rudely?" An amused male voice droned on the other end.
Sylvie stopped in her tracks. "Who the hell am I talkin' to?"
"Eric Northman."
Eric listened quietly as Sylvie let out an agonized groan.
"What do you want?" She growled. "I'm kinda busy here!"
"I was merely checking to see if you'd received your gift properly."
"I did," she grumbled, beginning to march on. The rain had wetted the soil, causing mud to stick to her Adidas sneakers. "And what's the catch?"
"There is no catch, Miss Stackhouse."
"No catch?" Sylvie huffed as she stomped through the dirt. "Who just gives away cell phones for free? Not you, that's for sure. I know how you operate, Northman."
"Clearly you do not," he retorted through the line. "No catch. The phone is yours; just pay the monthly bill. I believe it is around $70. However, I am not a sucker. If you cannot afford the payments, I will cancel your line."
"Technically," Sylvie laughed. "You are a sucker."
Silence filled the other end as Sylvie giggled at her own vampire joke. When she had finished, Eric responded blankly.
"I trust you can afford such payments, then?"
"Yeah," she wiped a heavy droplet of rain from her cheek. What once started as soft sprinkling had turned into a light drizzle. "I can."
"Very well. Enjoy your evening. And oh," the vampire paused. "Watch your step."
Before Sylvie could respond, the call was terminated. Confused, she continued onward. The glow of Bill Compton's house was near, she could see the light of his windows through the trees. As she moved closer, Sylvie saw an overgrown tree root in her path ahead. She veered to the right in hopes of avoiding contact. However, in doing so, she made contact with something else entirely - a vampire.