After all the weird and extraordinary stuff that Sookie had witnessed since she associated herself with supes, it usually took a lot to take her breath away. Hooligans did just that.
She could not believe it was the same place she and Neal had teleported into mere hours ago.
Everything in Hooligans was bigger than life - exaggerated to the point of ludicrity. Silky sheets of vibrant colors hung from the ceiling like curtains, which created the illusion of someone peeping through the show. There were two poles in the middle of the stage where two dancers engaged in a sensual dance that was so titillating Sookie felt her underwear moisten a bit just by watching them.
The disco ball that dangled from the ceiling provided a dance of lights that illuminated the performers surrounding the stage. There were at least five more exotic dancers, donning glittery costumes, who moved in graceful rhythm that was a perfect blend of mischief and playful innuendos.
Gorgeous men and women, dressed provocatively in tight corsets and skimpy skirts, roamed around the club with one hand on the hip and the other one holding up trays filled with brightly colored– and sometimes flaming – drinks.
Some of the people in the bar were wearing all sorts of Venetian masks. Sookie assumed the employees were the ones wearing masks as part of their costume, but Neal pointed out it that it was the other way around.
The customers of the burlesque club were given masks upon their arrival as a way to hide their indiscretion. Sookie asked Neal why they weren't given any. He just shrugged and asked if she would like one for herself. Neal stressed that he didn't feel compelled to hide behind a mask since he wasn't coming here for the entertainment but for the company of other fairies.
As soon as they stepped inside the invisible barricade, Sookie noticed that her companion was quite the Mr. Congeniality. They were instantly greeted by a large group of fairies who insisted on assisting them inside the club. Numerous fist bumps -and fist bombs- from the men and playful ass-pinching from the women later, they finally made it through their booth which was situated in the far corner of the room.
Although they were in a secluded area, their spot was considered one of the best seats in the house as they enjoyed a nice view of the stage.
The blood orange sheet draped in front of their table allowed Sookie to watch the show without being seen by the club's other patrons. The silky drapes that hung like tents on the other booths prohibited Sookie from viewing the nasty things the customers were doing with their fairy consorts. She was thankful for those little favors because she definitely did not want to catch a glimpse of what was going on behind curtains number two, three and four judging by the thoughts of the humans inside them.
Hooligans reminded Sookie too much of Fangtasia and their unique clientele. Although she couldn't hear the thoughts of the fairies around her, she could not say the same about their human patrons who, like the fangbangers in the vampire bar, were all broadcasting the same thing: sex, sex and more sex.
However, Sookie found the thoughts of the clients in the Fae bar more tolerable compared to ones that frequent Fangtasia. 'At least the humans here weren't lining up to be fucked, bitten and turned by vampires. Well, fucked maybe but that was kind of a given here, wasn't it?'
Hooligans was a cross between burlesque and cabaret after all, scandalous behavior should have been expected.
She slammed her mental shields back up as she watched the parade of beautiful people. The performers and the waitstaff looked spectacular, otherworldly even. Sookie wondered if there was a sign outside that said: Attractive people only. Trolls be gone.
She chastised herself for her bitchy remarks. Even though she didn't say it out loud, it was still very unchristian like of her. Neal broke her musings when he handed her a small menu. It was a small paper, which had been laminated, the size of a normal greeting card and it wasn't as elaborate as Merlotte's menu. There were a couple of sandwiches, a fruit platter, and an array of amuse bouche, which Sookie assumed were served as aphrodisiacs.
She ordered a simple BLT sandwich and a Coke. Sookie thought that if she wanted to drown her sorrow, she had to put something in her stomach so she would have something to hurl later.
Neal got the same for himself. They didn't realize how starved they were until their food landed on their table. All the small talk between them ceased as they wordlessly scarfed down their sandwiches. They emptied their plates in record time.
After their plates were removed it was quickly replaced with an assortment of fruity cocktails. Neal declined the colorful drinks and settled for a light beer. He said something about real men shouldn't be caught dead sipping one of those girly drinks. Sookie just rolled her eyes at Neal's machismo as she started sipping her cherry flavored cosmopolitan and decided right then that it was her new favorite that would replace her usual gin and tonic. The red cocktail was sinfully delicious that Sookie didn't realize she was in her fourth drink until Neal tried to pry it off her hand.
"Slow down there Missy, drinking is a marathon not a sprint," Neal reprimanded Sookie, who tried to fight him off for her cocktail.
"Oh shush, you're not my daddy. I deserve this for all the beating I got today," Sookie slurred. She finally got her red drink back and chugged it down in a matter of seconds.
"These drinks are traitors, Sookie. Don't you know the golden rule about alcohol? The darker it is the harder it'll screw you over the next day," Neal reasoned with her as Sookie asked for another round of cosmopolitan from the topless male waiter that dropped by their booth and asked if they wanted a refill.
Sookie giggled like a school girl. "So? What difference does it make? I'm already havin' the mother of all hangovers. These past few days had been a clusterfuck of hangovers. And you know why?" Sookie mumbled. Neal looked at her like she had lost her mind. "Because I was stupid enough to indulge my inner desire for a Viking sex god. I let myself get so drunk with my Viking."
Neal stared at Sookie who suddenly had that faraway look as if she was reminiscing old times.
"He was so, so, so - " Sookie started snapping her fingers together as she searched for the perfect word to describe Eric.
"—hot?" Neal tried to finish her sentence.
"Bingo!" Sookie exclaimed and pointed her index finger at Neal as if he just answered a million-dollar question. "So hot and gorgeous and badass… oh that ass… I could stare at his ass forever. He has the most pinchable - is that a word? Pinchable?- whatever, I would just love to sink my teeth on those ass."
Neal was getting uncomfortable at the sudden shift in topic. 'How the hell did we get from talking about hangovers to her boyfriend's ass'
"Don't get me wrong, Neal, you also have a great butt. Your bottom would make Lafayette howl like a horndog. But Eric's fantastic ass takes the cake."
Neal had no idea who Lafayette was and he could only assume that Eric was the infamous Romeo.
"And don't get me started on his… you-know-what," Sookie continued to mumble like a drunken idiot.
"I think I get the idea," Neal cut her mindless chatter before they got to the part that he was certain he did not want to hear. "I'm sure he was gifted in that department."
But Sookie was not about to stop gabbing in her inebriated state.
"Oh no, no, no, no, no, no." She waggled her finger in his face. "Gifted does not even begin to describe Eric's you-know-what. It was more like a gracious plenty." Sookie fanned herself as images of Eric's naked body flashed before her eyes as if she was watching it through a slide projector.
Neal thought four was Sookie's magic number, as her tongue loosened after she downed the rest of her fourth cocktail. He chided himself for not getting her scandalous confession on tape. He could already imagine Sookie's reaction once he gave her a recap of the shameless plugging she just did about her boyfriend's fantastic ass and you-know-what.
He couldn't help the laughter that escaped his lips.
"In vino veritas," Neal commented with a toothy grin.
"In vino - what now?" Sookie asked as she waved to their waiter to give her another round of liquid courage.
"In wine, there is truth." Neal stood up and with a flick of a finger the steward zoomed to their side and took Sookie's empty glass and quickly replaced it with the same cocktail that was among the drinks in his tray.
Sookie gave their waiter, with the six-pack abs, her most dazzling Southern smile which earned her a mischievous wink from the sexy sommelier.
"Hear, hear," Sookie acquiesced as she raised her glass to toast with Neal.
Neal stood up from his ottoman and murmured something to the waiter. The man looked at Sookie before he nodded and walked away.
"What the fuck did you tell him?" Sookie asked, appalled by Neal's high-handedness. She was fed up with vampires who tried to control and manipulate her. She would not be treated the same way by a freaking fairy, too – not if she could help it.
"I told him to lower the alcohol content in your drinks. If there's one thing I've learned by hanging out with drunken men and women, it's that no one can really drown their sorrow, because sorrow can fucking swim," Neal said as he slumped in his ottoman again and lifted the bottle of light Budweiser to his lips.
Sookie grimaced at Neal. "Why do you always sound like freakin' Hallmark card?" she wondered out loud.
"I watch a lot of Dr. Phil," Neal answered offhandedly.
Sookie scoffed at her fairy companion, but decided to put her fruity drink down as she reached for the glass of water on their table instead. Neal might be a smartass but he was right, she could never escape her problems. Hell, she could run faster than a cheetah and trouble would still be able catch up with her without breaking a sweat.
She turned her attention back to the outlandish show on the stage. She actually envied the ladies who were oozing with self-confidence as they put their fabulous bodies on display.
"How can they do that?" Sookie bemused. She wished she had even a sliver of the dancers' self-esteem.
"Do what?" Neal followed Sookie's line of sight and sniggered. "Don't tell me you're one of those prudes who think people like them are whores with no self-respect?" His tone was mocking but there was bitterness laced in it.
"What? No!" Sookie responded quickly. That was not what she meant, and she'd be damned if Neal would think that of her. She knew these fairies were dear to him and she would never dare insult them.
She didn't get a chance to defend herself as a tall woman with long brown hair and light brown eyes magically materialized beside Neal.
Sookie almost fell from her ottoman with the woman's sudden appearance.
"Neal. They told me you were here," her voice was melodic and calming. She leaned in to Neal and gave him a soft peck on the cheek.
"Claudette." Neal acknowledged the stunning woman, before he stood up and offered his seat to her. "I was actually looking for you."
"No, thank you." She waved her hand as she gracefully declined Neal's offer. "I was waiting for some visitors. I've been told they would be arriving shortly. I only stopped by to see you."
Claudette's eyes darted to Sookie's direction.
"I see you've brought a friend?" Claudette asked as she stared at Sookie hypnotizing eyes that resembled Sookie's chocolate browns.
Sookie stood up from her chair and stretched out her hand to Claudette. "Hello, I'm Sookie Stackhouse. I'm a friend of Neal's." Sookie flashed one of her trademark Merlotte's smiles when she aimed for bigger tips.
Claudette took her hand and gave it a soft pinch. "Claudette Crane. I believe you know my sister, Claudine?"
Sookie was jolted by that information. She knew Claudette looked familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it until the goddess-like beauty pointed it out. Claudette was her fairy godmother's sister! Sookie blamed her slow-mindedness on the alcohol. She tried to keep her smile intact as she nodded.
"Claudine's your sister?" Sookie tried hard not to give anything away to Claudette. Sookie didn't know how much the fairy knew about her sister's death.
Did she know that Claudine was drained by Eric? She hoped to all that is holy that that was not the case because if that was, she would be a sitting duck in the strip club. She doubted if Neal would even bail her out this time.
Claudette's eyes softened as she lowered her gaze. After a few awkward seconds, she spoke again.
"Yes. It was most unfortunate that I couldn't see her again after she went to join Mab in the Realm," replied Claudette. Even her voice sounded sad.
Sookie realized that Claudette must not have known about Claudine's demise at the hands of Eric. And Sookie would like to keep it that way.
"You don't get to see her? Or at least speak with her anymore?" Sookie asked, fishing for answers.
Claudette shook her head gently. "She had made her choice. She chose to be with the Queen so she closed all forms of communication with us. I was surprised you didn't know. You are her godchild, are you not?"
"We don't see each other that often really. I didn't even know I had a fairy godmother a year ago." Sookie shuddered at how easily she could lie to the fairy in front of her. When did she become such an actress? Her Gran would roll over in her grave to give Sookie's tongue a good scrubbing if she could hear the lies that were coming out of her mouth.
Claudette began to say something when an equally-stunning fairy with blonde curls walked up behind them and leaned closer to Claudette.
"They're here," the blonde fairy told Claudette in a conspiratorial manner.
Claudette nodded and turned to Neal. "Please excuse me. It seems my guests have arrived."
Claudette turned to Sookie and smiled brightly at the telepath. "It was nice to meet you, Sookie. I hope you are enjoying yourself. Drinks are on the house. A friend of Neal is most welcome here."
The lovely Claudette gently swiped the silky sheet draped over the booth as she made her exit. But it seemed Neal wasn't done with her yet as he grabbed her by the arm and hissed at her ear.
"Are you still doing it?" Neal asked, his voice was low and intimidating. Sookie was startled at Neal's menacing demeanor. It was a far cry his usual charming attitude.
"Oh get off your high horse, Neal," Claudette snapped. The pleasantries between the two fairies were clearly gone. "We need this to survive. We all made our choice when we defied Mab and we both know that bitch would not stop until she hauled all of us back to the Realm. We need protection, and protection ain't cheap."
"You're not only risking your life Claudette, you're also risking theirs," Neal spat, tightening his grip on Claudette.
"Nobody's forcing them to do anything they don't want to." Claudette tried to get out of Neal's ironclad grip.
"You're playing with fire," Neal barked. "There's a reason why we kept our distance from vamps for so long."
"Yes. It's called tyranny. And I'm done with it. If the bloodsuckers could co-exist with humans, why can't we? We all need to evolve," Claudette hissed as she finally yanked her arm away from Neal before she stormed off.
His eyes followed Claudette until the crowd swallowed her svelte form. Sookie, who was trying not to listen in on the fairies' disagreement, put one arm on Neal's shoulder as she tried to appease him.
Neal heaved a sigh of relief when he felt Sookie's consoling touch.
"What was that about?" Sookie asked when she felt Neal relaxed a little.
"Long story. I'll tell you later," Neal replied curtly.
They both sank back on their chairs. Neal took a big swig of his beer while Sookie, who felt a little sober after she overheard Neal and Claudette's heavily-charged conversation, went back to sipping her cherry cosmo.
Sookie could feel the tension vibrating off Neal and it made her uneasy. She stole a quick glance at him. It was obvious something was troubling him and she didn't like it one bit. She wanted the easygoing Neal back. Suddenly she had a light bulb moment.
"Those moves don't look so hard." Sookie kept her tone casual. Her eyes were fixed on the stage.
Neal's eyes followed Sookie's line of vision and they glinted with amusement as he realized what she was implying. He decided to play along to see how far Sookie would go in her effort to amuse him.
"Oh I don't know. I heard those ladies went to a burlesque bootcamp to master those skills," he said as he struggled to keep the smile off his face.
"Bootcamp? Seriously?" Sookie feigned surprise before she shook her head in disagreement; her eyes twinkled with irrepressible mischief. "Nah, I bet you dollars to donuts that I can get bigger tips than that girl over there with this booty." She stood up and gave her bottom a soft slap to emphasize her point. Neal laughed at her sudden wanton behavior. He realized that Sookie, no matter how promiscuous she wanted to be perceived, would always be sweet and adorable.
"So? What do you say?" Sookie walked up slowly to Neal with an exaggerated sway on her hips. "Dare me."
He continued to stare at Sookie in surprise. Sookie met his gaze with an impish smile.
"You're kidding?" Neal asked, still refusing to believe that the shy Southern Belle beside him would actually muster enough courage to perform in a burlesque club. 'How drunk was she?'
"C'mon, dare me," she egged him on and her playful grin was now perfectly complimented with the sultry spark in her eyes. Neal was speechless for a second but he regained his composure and quickly matched her naughty expression.
"If you insist." Neal stood from his ottoman and ducked his head from the curtain. "Leda?"
Right on cue, the blonde fairy who summoned Claudette earlier made her way into their booth.
"Yes?" the blonde fairy asked Neal, flashing him a saccharine smile. Sookie thought that Leda looked like a high-class hooker with her flimsy attire of salmon-colored sequined bra and lacy skirt.
"Our friend Sookie here would like to take the stage. Would you mind assisting her?" Neal asked in his most charming voice.
Leda's eyes roamed Sookie's body disdainfully before she snorted. "Are you sure you're up for it, sugar? Because it takes more than a nice pair of tits to wow this crowd."
Sookie met Leda's scrutinizing look. "I might not be able to carry a tune if my life depended on it, but I sure could dance my way outta trouble. So yes, sugar, I'm damn sure."
Neal chuckled at Sookie's feistiness before he gave Leda a reproachful glance. Leda's face turned sour before she gestured at Sookie to follow her.
Sookie turned to Neal before she followed the sulking Leda.
"Promise me one thing?" Sookie asked Neal, who was grinning at her from ear to ear. "If I make a total ass of myself out there, please feel free to pop us outta here."
Neal chortled. "I thought you could boogie your way out of hell?" he asked mockingly.
"Just promise me, dammit!" Sookie stomped her foot for effect.
"Pinkie swear." Neal lifted his little finger to Sookie and she hooked her own pinkie into his. "I'll pop you out of here before they start hurling the tomatoes."
Sookie flashed him a bright smile before she hurried after Leda who went inside the room beside the stage.
E/S
"Let me get this straight: you expect us to just waltz inside a bar full of fairies and order one to-go?" Eric asked Nora condescendingly as he parked their car in front of a floral shop in Tower Drive Plaza in Monroe. Eric was a bit puzzled why the whole street was deserted when the night was still relatively young.
"Must you always be an ass?" Nora asked, matching Eric's pompous tone. "Just let me do the talking and try not to get too sloshed with fae blood when we do get inside."
"If we do get inside," Eric stressed. He thought the idea of fairies selling their blood to his kind was absurd and improbable. He remembered the time when he accidentally drained Sookie's godmother back in Bon Temps. Although he didn't have complete control over his urges then because of the curse, he knew for certain that it would take a lot of restraint for a vampire to avoid draining a fae, especially a full fae.
It wasn't the same with Sookie though, regardless of his feelings for her, he knew it was still possible to control his feeding impulse on her because she only had a hint of fae blood, which was great news for Eric. He couldn't even begin to imagine the trouble she would get into if she was a full fae. His Sookie was already a shit magnet.
The promise of daywalking was another glaring factor in the implausibility of this type of business. Eric knew first-hand that fae blood could make vampires walk in the sunlight for a limited amount of time. But no matter how limited the time it could offer a vampire, it was still an offer too tempting to resist. Eric knew he would take the opportunity if it presented itself again.
It took a whole fairy to keep Eric from getting fried when he went and took a dip in the swamp in Bon Temps during daylight. Even a whole fairy didn't buy him more time under the sun. It was only long enough for him to see the sunlight in Sookie's hair.
His jaws clenched in frustration as he thought of Sookie. He was getting restless every minute that passed by that he couldn't sense her. He cursed himself for losing his temper with her on the phone earlier. Sookie was right, he didn't even bother to ask her if she was in any danger; or what prodded her to break their bond; or if she did it willingly. He let his insecurity got the best of him and now he was more lost than ever.
He needed to find her.
He ordered Rasul to be on the lookout for his fairy but because he went all caveman with their phones, he had to wait impatiently until he returned to Fangtasia later tonight to know if Rasul had found her.
"Where the fuck is your contact, Nora? Are we just gonna sit here and wait for a fucking fairy to take us to Neverland?" Eric's patience was wearing thin.
"Keep your knickers on. She's coming and then you'll have your brekkie," Nora snapped as she peeked out of the window of the Escalade. "I must warn you, she's a full fae, Eric. So, I need you to be in your best behavior. We both know you have a weakness for those sodding fairies."
"Oh don't worry about me. I'm old enough to control myself around them." Eric fixed his hair in the rearview mirror.
"And yet you allowed yourself to fall arse over tit over one." Nora retorted as she typed in her blackberry in vamp speed.
His fangs snapped in place as he growled at his sister. Nora's fangs also descended as she met Eric's fierce look.
After a few seconds of intense stare-down, Eric pulled back his fangs and stepped out of the SUV.
He took an unnecessary breath to clear his head. If he survived the Sookie and Russell fiascos, he might need to sign up for an Anger Management course. He wondered if they offered vampire courses now.
He wanted to be over and done with this whole fairy bar business so he could go back to dealing with his own stubborn fairy.
Eric knew he was in love with Sookie before, but now he understood just how much his little telepath meant to him. For over a millennia, Eric was in complete control of everything around him – everything that mattered to him. He was always one step ahead of everybody, friends and foes alike. But now he was absolutely clueless what to do next.
Before Sookie, no one on this planet had so much power over him. Not even Godric. His maker's power over him came with strings. He loved Godric but it was the devotion and respect that was similar to a son loving his father.
With Sookie, it was different. She could make him feel invincible with just one smile. She could immobilize him with a single stare. She could drive him mad with a few words.
Eric came to realize that Marnie's curse was not intended to strip him of who he was but to give him a taste of something he couldn't have.
Falling in love with Sookie was the ultimate curse. 'Fucking witch!'
He was occupied with his self-loathing that he didn't feel someone approached him. His nostrils flared as the sweet scent of fae hit him. He turned around and saw the most ethereal woman he had ever seen. She was wearing a soft lavender dress that flowed freely down to her ankles. She had light brown eyes that reminded him so much of his own fae.
"Mr. Northman?" she asked Eric as she held out her hand, her palm directed at him. Eric turned around and bared his fangs to the newcomer.
"Can you control yourself? Or do I need to use this on you?" Her eyes darted to her palm that was pointed at Eric's chest.
The Viking scented the air once more and discovered that he could no longer smell her distinct scent.
"You can mask your scent. Impressive," Eric complimented the fairy half-heartedly. He wondered why the fairy didn't just mask her smell before she got close to Eric so he wouldn't be assaulted with her delicious scent. He concluded that the fairy was showing him that she could easily annihilate him, thus gaining the upper hand right off the gate.
Nora hopped off the SUV and walked up behind Eric. She gave the fairy an acknowledging nod.
"And you must be Chancellor Gainesborough?" she asked Nora.
"Please, call me Nora."
"I've been told you both were old enough to strike a deal with me. Is that true?" the fairy asked as she eyed the two vampires cautiously.
Nora nodded her assent. "I'm over 400 years old. My associate here is way older." She tipped her head towards Eric.
"How old?" the fairy asked again.
"Over a thousand years old," Eric replied in his usual smug tone.
"Very well." The fairy seemed content with their answers. "Forgive my queries, but we have a strict rule that no one below three hundred years old are allowed within a hundred feet from my people."
Suddenly another fairy materialized out of thin air. He was taller than Nora but slightly shorter than Eric. He was wearing brown slacks and a buttoned-down vest. Like the female fairy that greeted them, he, too, had an ethereal quality to him with his soft features. The male fairy was also able to mask his scent from the two vampires.
"My name's Claudette," the female fairy introduced herself. "He's Preston. He will help me teleport you inside the club."
Claudette, who was carrying a small pouch with her, pulled out two pairs of leather bracelets from her bag and handed one pair to Preston.
"Pardon the inconvenience, but I must insist that you were these before we start our transaction."
Claudette showed the bracelets to Eric and Nora. It looked like leather straps embellished with crystal gemstones.
"What's with the jewellery? If I had known we needed to accessorize to go to your club, I would have worn my fancy suit." Eric sported his trademark sideways smirk.
Claudette smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "This is more of a necessity than a fashion statement, I assure you. I offer full disclosure to my clients. These bracelets are made of silver. Enough to weaken you while you're inside my establishment. The leather will obstruct the silver from burning your skin. And the gems, they are my insurance. They are bound by fae magic, the fae of your choosing will be wearing the same pair of bracelet. The gems will be monitoring your blood intake. If you take more than a single drop from what you paid for, you bracelets will paralyze your whole body that will give me enough time to drive a stake through your heart."
Eric and Nora exchanged nervous glances by the fairy's revelation.
"You expect us to wear something that will render us helpless?" Nora asked aghast.
"Yes." Claudette replied seriously. "What we offer here, is virtually every vampire's dream. I know that you are aware of the perks of drinking fae blood – full fae blood – so forgive me if I don't just take your word that you won't drain one of us in the hope of walking in the sun. We are putting our lives in your hands, I think it's only fitting that you do the same for us."
"How much?" Nora asked after a few pregnant seconds.
"Fifty grand for half a pint," Claudette answered without preamble.
"Isn't it a bit steep?" Nora asked, raising an eyebrow at Claudette.
"Not for a full fae," Claudette replied.
"We'll take it," Eric answered for him and Nora. He knew Nora could be a tightwad, and he did not have the patience for haggling tonight.
Claudette moved closer to Nora and strapped one bracelet to the vampire's wrist, and then the female fairy strapped the other one on her slim wrist.
Preston walked up to Eric and clamped one of the bracelets to the hulking Viking who held out his wrist to the male fairy. After Preston secured Eric's band he put the other bracelet to his own wrist.
"We're like bracelet buddies now, BFF," Eric winked at the quiet fairy. Preston looked up at Eric's smirking face, his was devoid of any emotion.
After their bracelets were securely fastened to their wrists, Claudette held out her hand to Nora, which the vampire hesitantly took.
"Are we also going to hold hands?" Eric mockingly asked Preston. Preston, who still refused to indulge in Eric's humor, just gripped the vampire's shoulder.
With a loud pop the vampires and the fairies were gone.
E/S
Sookie was starting to doubt her actions. Was she really going to dance seductively in front of all these people?
For what? To entertain Neal? He was a great guy but they weren't that close.
So, why did she look like she raided Pam and Lafayette's closets? Sookie wore a pink and black satin, over bust boned corset with soft ruffle trim -it was fastened at the front for 'easy access' according to Leda. Leda matched Sookie's corset with a tulle tutu in hot pink. Sookie looked like a slutty Lolita doll with her slightly teased hair.
As if her outfit could not get any more provocative, Leda also made her wear garter belts to go along with her pink lacy boy shorts. Good thing Hooligans, like Fangtasia, had a novelty shop where Leda picked a pair of underwear which came with garter belts for Sookie.
Sookie didn't want to ask why Hooligans had a vast array of undergarments, she already had her assumptions.
Leda lent Sookie her white high-heeled boots to complete her 'burlesque-themed costume.'
"When in Rome…" Sookie mumbled under her breath as she did the laces of her boots.
'Why am I doin' this again?' she asked herself one more time. 'Because it's fuckin' liberating, that's why.'
She downed her drink in one swig and started wiping off the traces of cherry cosmo off her lips.
She stared at her reflection in the vanity mirror inside the dancers' dressing room. She had to admit that she was in the same league with the full fairies outside in terms of physical appearance. She presumed that Neal's blood was to blame for her unearthly glow and she was thankful for it. If she was going to make a fool of herself, might as well do it while she was fucking gorgeous.
"Sugar, you're up," Leda called up to her while Sookie was retouching her lipstick.
Sookie took a deep breath and gave herself a small pep talk. She opened the door of the dressing room and made her way up the stage. Sookie had told Leda that she was going to forego the pole. She said that she did not need any more props to make an ass out of herself.
Leda just snorted and gave her a contemptuous look. The telepath from Bon Temps did not need to read Leda's mind to know the blonde fairy wasn't a Sookie fan.
'Join the club. You get a commemorative mug with 'Fucking Sookie' on it,' Sookie thought bitterly.
The sound of Michael Buble's Feeling Good song rang out the club when she stepped on the stage awkwardly. There were at least three dancers below the stage that were already working the crowd. Sookie had the stage all to herself. She felt like she was in a James Bond movie with the jazzy singer serenading her.
She could feel all eyes turned to her and she knew that at that moment she looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Her eyes darted everywhere as she searched for Neal, praying that he would honor his promise and that he would pop her out of there before she did more damage to her already tarnished reputation.
She turned around to leave the podium when she found Neal's piercing eyes watching her from behind the stage. She was surprised when she saw elation and pride radiated off them. Maybe she was just imagining it but that look gave Sookie the boost she needed.
She slowly turned her body around again, this time facing the audience. The spotlight accentuated Sookie's curves as she slowly, ever so slowly, swayed her hips to the tune of the music.
Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
I'm feeling good
And damn, she was feeling good.
She swayed her hips to the slow beat of the music as she brought both of her hands up and gently ran them down through her hair, playing and teasing her wavy blonde tresses as they fell behind her shoulders. She gathered her hair up, exposing the delicate skin of her neck, and the crowd went wild. She could hear whistling and whooping from the audience. Sookie had never felt more empowered and… seductive.
Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on a tree
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Sookie let go of her hair and it cascaded down to her shoulders. She gracefully brought one arm straight above her head, slowly followed by the other. Her skirt hiked up a bit and exposed her smooth legs. She continued swaying her hips as she leisurely brought her arms back down and started tracing the glorious curves of her body. One hand stopped on the hips while the other moved back up again and made its way between her bosoms up to her neck, her chin and finally to her bottom lip. She traced her lower lip with the tip of her finger before her tongue darted out to lick it.
Right at that moment, Sookie felt like the whole world was watching her and it felt exhilarating.
E/S
Eric, who did not feel the need for oxygen before, found himself gasping for breath as Preston, with a firm grip on his shoulder, teleported them in a dimly lit room. After he took one deep breath, he was instantly calmed. He looked around the place and saw Nora and Claudette sitting side by side on the red couch at the corner of the room.
Without uttering a single word, Preston popped out of the room leaving him alone with the two ladies.
Eric looked around as he took in the general appearance of the room. The walls were padded with red fabric, Eric assumed it was padded to soundproof the room. It also had a high ceiling and a large picture window which was covered with blackout curtains. There were two red velvet chaise lounges facing each other on both sides of wall. In the middle was small table with two dim lamps that illuminated the room.
He moved towards the window to take a peek outside, but Claudette stopped him.
"Before I show you the merchandise, I would like to go over our deal again," she said as she tugged at the black curtain, like a magician preparing to reveal a magic trick.
Eric and Nora exchanged glances before they nodded their agreement.
"This room is soundproofed, but it has surveillance cameras. So, no hanky panky, are we clear?" Claudette asked.
Nora rolled her eyes, while Eric just stared at Claudette with a serene look before he acquiesced. He wanted to get this show on the road, and Claudette was clearly enjoying bossing them around.
'This girl must be the Queen Bee in high school,' he thought with amusement.
"Cash only, no checks. Payments are made right after the feeding. Preston will collect it for me. He will also transport you back to your car after our business concluded. We are in one of the VIP rooms of the club. The glass behind this curtain is a one-way mirror. We have regular shows downstairs. You can enjoy the show from here. You can also choose your meal from here. The performers on the podium are full fairies, you can pick one from them. Once you made your choice, I would get them for you and we can commence," Claudette explained in her brisk, businesslike tone as if she was showing the vampires different types of mattresses. "Shall we begin?"
Eric gestured with his hand. "Ladies first."
Nora stood gracefully from the couch and moved towards the curtain. Claudette delicately pulled the curtain open which revealed the circusy show downstairs.
Eric moved closer to the two ladies to take a peek, and his eyes widened in a mix of ecstasy and shock as he stared at the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on: Sookie Stackhouse.
He blinked a couple of times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating as he tried to get over the shock of his undead life.
'Was it really her?' Eric thought. "Impossible! Sookie wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this, much less provide this lowly humans a show as provocative as that. She was a prude Southern belle, for fuck's sake!"
Eric remembered how Sookie would immediately cover herself up with a blanket right after they made love. How she would blush like a school girl when he whispered something nasty on her ear. No, that could not possibly be his Sookie.
Once again, he looked at the voluptuous vixen who was languidly swinging her hips as she walked around the stage seducing anyone brave enough to stare at her smoldering eyes.
Fuck, it was her!
There was no mistaking those magnificent curves, those long golden locks, those chocolate brown pools, those curvaceous lips that she moistened with her tongue every now and then. It was her.
He was so stunned at seeing Sookie that it hadn't registered to him that Nora already picked her meal until he saw Claudette pointed to a redhead male that had a striking resemblance to Sookie's brother, Jason.
"That's Dermot. I'll summon him here. Would you like your own room or you wouldn't mind sharing this room with your associate?" Claudette asked Nora.
Nora shrugged. "We don't mind."
If Eric hadn't been so caught up with the sight of Sookie's presence, he would have laughed at the irony that his sister chose a fae that looked like his little fairy's brother.
"Have you made your choice yet, Mr. Northman?" Claudette turned to him.
Eric, never taking his eyes off Sookie, pointed at his telepath down the stage. She was busy gyrating her hips from side to side, which made his member throb uncontrollably inside his pants.
Claudette followed Eric's outstretched finger and saw Sookie on the podium. She shook her head and faced Eric.
"No. That one's not on the menu," Claudette quickly replied.
"What?" Eric gawked at Claudette. "Why the fuck not?"
"She's off limits," Claudette answered sternly. "She belongs to someone you don't want to piss off."
Eric's blood boiled as rage slowly consumed him. 'She belongs to me!'
"Who?" asked Eric through gritted teeth. "Who does she belong to?"
Nora sensed the palpable tension in the room as Eric's temper flared. She knew she had to do something before her brother mucked up their mission.
"Eric. Let. It. Go." Nora clamped her hand around Eric's bicep. "You heard Claudette, she's already spoken for. Pick another one."
Eric sensed the urgency in Nora's voice, the pragmatist in him screamed at him to let it go and stick with their original plan to recruit a fairy that would help them lure Russell out of hiding. But the possessive vampire in him was pulling his hair as it egged him to go downstairs and grab Sookie and claim her as his.
He looked at Nora. She was pleading at him with her eyes.
"So, Mr. Northman can we resume our business here?" asked Claudette charily.
Eric straightened his jacket and ran his fingers through his hair.
"I apologize. But would it be alright if I just enjoy the show? I seem to have lost my appetite." Eric returned Nora's glare with a stone-cold look.
"I'm sorry but that's not possible. I can't let you go downstairs and risk the safety of my kind," Claudette replied firmly.
"I take it all the fairies under your care can mask their scents?" Eric asked.
"Yes, but that's not the point. A vampire's presence can agitate my employees as well as my human customers." Claudette remained defiant.
"What if I promise to behave myself?" Eric was using his thousand-year expertise on women as he tried to convince Claudette using the infallible Northman charm.
Nora watched with irritation as her brother tried to enthrall the fairy.
Claudette looked pensive before she gave Eric a terse nod.
"Look, but don't touch." Claudette finally gave in. "And I will charge you ten times the admission fee."
Eric flashed Claudette his trademark smirk. Before he took Claudette's hand and placed a chaste kiss on it.
"Pleasure doing business with you, milady," Eric thanked the fairy ostentatiously, before he turned to the door.
"Oh, Mr. Northman. Do I need to remind you of the consequences if you decide to break the promise you gave a fairy?" Claudette lifted her wrist and wiggled it, showing off the bracelet that matched the one on his wrist.
"No, you do not," Eric's expression darkened but he immediately shook it off, before he turned to Nora. "I'll see you later. Enjoy your dinner."
E/S
Sookie continued to shimmy her hips in erotic fashion before she arched her back and traced the skin on neck all the way to the side of her breast before it finally stopped on her slim waist.
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
It's a new life
For me
The loud thumping of the music revved her up even more as she started playing with the front zipper of her corset which earned her more whooping from the crowd. She flashed them her sexiest smile as she gently slid her hands up her legs exposing the garters. Her hands pulled the garters and they made a snapping sound as they flicked the skin on her thighs. She let her hands roamed up over her hips, torso, breasts, nape of the neck before they ended once again above her head.
She turned her body away from her audience for her grand finale. But a collective gasp from the crowd made her turn around brusquely.
There, right in the middle of the room, stood no other than Eric Northman, the Viking vampire sex god. The one she was pining for barely an hour ago.
He was staring at her with unadulterated lust in his eyes.
Suddenly Sookie was frozen. It seemed that everything and everyone came to a standstill. She couldn't move as she stared at Eric's cerulean orbs. His lips curled into a smirk when he realized that Sookie was as stunned as he was when he saw her.
In four long strides he was in front of her. He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off the floor.
She never got to utter a word before he ravaged her mouth with a kiss so intense Sookie could barely catch up to him.
A few seconds later, he broke the kiss and looked intently in her eyes. "You. Are. Mine." His voice was hoarse with passion.
"No," Sookie finally found her own voice. "Not until you say it."
Eric looked at her incredulously, his eyes probed for answers as he tried to comprehend what she meant. He knew right then that the woman in his arms had his nuts in her purse. He would confess to the assassination of JFK if that would mean Sookie would be his.
Then it hit him and his epiphany made him grin like a loon.
"I love you, Sookie Stackhouse."
Sookie flashed him her sweetest smile, before her hands latched on the back of his neck, pulling his face closer to her.
"I love you more, you big, dumb Viking."
Eric shook his head gently. "Not fucking possible."
He sealed his lips on hers again. They were so lost in each other that they barely heard Nora screamed Eric's name before the Viking spasmed sporadically when a searing pain slashed through his body which caused him to drop Sookie on the floor. The part-fae telepath was horror-struck as she took in Eric's condition. She gathered herself up to hold Eric before his body tensed up all together.
A/N: I own nothing.
All the mistakes are mine. And I know this chapter was long. What can I say, Eric got me carried away. Thank you for the reviews and feedback! Lots of love!