Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the books or True Blood. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Author's Note: To help keep track of how long has passed - zombies were first seen in Dallas about 76 hours ago.
True Blood and Zombies
Chapter 11
There was a pounding noise on the front metal door. Everyone inside Fangtasia looked towards it. It was locked, and it stayed locked till vampires came after dark. They could open it from inside, but they did not do it.
"Hey, how do we turn the camera towards the door?" someone yelled.
Eyes went to the screen showing the front parking lot. There was no mob of zombies in the parking lot, and nothing seemed to be moving.
"Sookie!" Bill yelled, as he kicked the front door in, then stepped onto it, looking around for her.
The object of his search was torn. Sookie's heart leapt into her throat because Bill came for her, but her ardor was immediately doused by the dirty looks she received from everyone else that was hiding in here. She understood. Bill was loud, and now the building was no longer secure with the door being knocked down.
Lafayette voiced what others were feeling, though maybe not in these exact words, "What the fuck you do to that motherfuckin' door?"
"I came to save Sookie," Bill replied dismissively, walking over to her.
Looks turned from dirty to murderous, and Sookie was overwhelmed with nasty and hateful thoughts of her imminent demise.
He put his hands on her elbows, held her close, looked into her eyes and inquired, "Are you unharmed?"
"I'm fine, Bill. Where have you been? I was told the queen needed you in New Orleans."
"It's true," he admitted, "yet I could not find you when I was dismissed from Texas. I'm so happy you and your brother were resourceful enough to escape the danger there. We should go."
"Go where? There's nothing left in Bon Temps."
"You are not safe here."
"Who's fault is that?" Sam asked belligerently. "It's you that broke down the door."
Ignoring the chorus of agreement, Bill gallantly replied, "Ah, Merlotte. Thank you for keeping Sookie safe till I could come for her."
Sam suggested, "Maybe Sookie should stay with the rest of us, rather than going with you."
"I can protect her in ways that you cannot."
"Wait," Sookie said, "I need to know what you have in mind, before I go anywhere." She wanted to know what happened in New Orleans, and more about Bill's lady friend, Lorena. He was keeping secrets from her, and Sookie did not consider them in a good way such as darkly brooding and mysterious, or sexy and spontaneously romantic.
"Don't you trust me?" Bill asked, wondering why Sookie did not immediately wish to be swept off her feet by him. Did he smell Eric on her, or did the Viking's foul stench permeate this whole building?
"I need answers. I need to hear a plan. There's no plan here except to hide and stay safe and alive, but that's a darn good plan compared to everything that's going on out there. We got the news here, and cameras so we can see what's going on outside."
"What has Eric done to you?"
"Eric?" Sookie repeated in confusion. She stated the obvious, "This is his club, if that's what you mean, and there's food, water, bathrooms and a shower."
"And liquor," Lafayette added.
"Yeah," Jason agreed, "we're gonna have to know more before we go anywhere."
Sam nodded. He heard from Jason that Bill did not want to get his hands dirty in Dallas, so he'd rather stay close to the vampires that would tear zombies apart. These vampires also got supplies for everyone, even more mayonnaise for Coby. He was not about to risk the lives of Arlene's kids following Bill Compton. Sam did not trust him. He did not trust Eric much either, but he'd rather go on what he had seen so far, and Bill could not be counted on.
Hoyt stated the obvious, "I'm not going anywhere without Jessica."
Sookie frowned. Bill had not even asked about Jessica. Wasn't Jessica Bill's responsibility? If Eric and Pam hadn't come along, was Jessica expected to break into Merlotte's or a convenience store to get Tru Blood? Besides leaving Sookie behind, Bill had left Jessica, after claiming she needed to go to Dallas with them because she was too young to be on her own. Was that just something to annoy Eric, or Bill fishing for a reason why Sookie could not go? They hadn't known it at the time, but if Sookie had been home instead of in Dallas, she'd probably be dead with almost everyone from Bon Temps.
There was a lot going on that she did not like, and it was growing worse. Bill should not have made assumptions that she was in danger inside the club here. She had not been scared or in a state of panic, like she had been in the basement of the Fellowship church. Breaking down the door, when everyone in here was counting on it to keep anything from wandering in was a real bone-headed move, in her opinion.
"We should leave," Bill urged. He had gone to ground near here before dawn in order to free Sookie as close to sunset as possible.
"Where are we going?" Lisa asked.
"We've been okay here for a couple days, Bill. I think we should stay until there's a better idea of what's going on out there."
"It's too dangerous for you here, Sookie. I can protect you."
"From zombies, or something else?"
Bill was sure something had happened to Sookie during his absence. She was questioning him, rather than listening and agreeing.
"I care about you more than anyone else, Sookie. I begged to be allowed to come rescue you."
"Where do you think we're going?"
"Far away from here," Bill answered. The Authority's plan to depose Sophie-Anne and other monarchs that were not totally reliable was no longer an issue.
"Like an island or something?" Sookie asked, trying to think of someplace that might be safe.
"Just go already," Bobby snapped. He didn't need these people, and Eric certainly did not either. They were loud, especially when others were trying to sleep, and ate more than their fair share of food. They complained about everything, and repeatedly said they wanted to leave. Nothing was stopping them, except common sense that they were safe here.
"Tara?" Lettie May's voice grew desperate as she looked around for her daughter, and they could hear her yelling from inside the ladies room. "Tara? Where are you?"
Lafayette went in the back, where the shower was. He doubted his cousin would use it without someone standing watch. It was empty.
A blur plowed into Bill, and resolved into Eric gripping his throat, fangs exposed, "What are you doing, Compton? You were banned from my area."
Since breathing was not necessary for vampires to speak, Bill replied, "Sookie's mine."
"Stop, we gotta find Tara!" Sookie screamed, grabbing at Eric's arm.
Eric confirmed the children were within his sight, and felt Lafayette was still in the building. An adult was free to go, and he was not going to bother trying to track her down when she made it so difficult by not taking her entertaining cousin along.
"Why not send Compton to find her? He left the door open for anything to wander in or out."
"You were holding Sookie here against her will."
"I gave her brother the key. That means they could have left any day."
"You locked Sookie up?" Bill clarified.
"In case you haven't noticed, things are currently distressing, and Sookie was distraught. She was not thinking clearly."
"Who's fault is that?" Bill challenged.
"If you're saying it's Eric's, it's not," Sookie answered. "I know vampires don't make zombies like they've been saying on the T.V."
"I wasn't claiming that," Bill retorted. Eric had done something to Sookie, and he needed to give her more of his blood as soon as possible. He needed to get her out of here so suggested, "We need to leave right away if we have any chance of finding Tara Thornton. Sookie, do you have any idea of where she could have gone?"
"She wanted to go and find her boyfriend, Eggs," Sookie explained.
"Where would he be?"
"I don't know. He was in Bon Temps, but he may have went with Maryann to somewhere outside New Orleans."
"The Timken Reserve?"
"How'd you know that?"
"I was there. No one is there now. Everything was knocked flat, and the water surrounding it is mostly gone," Bill explained.
"What happened?"
"The Queen sent me to investigate," he declared.
Eric coughed and strangely it sounded like 'sheep shit'. Then Sookie realized that vampires did not cough.
"She summoned me, not you," Bill reminded him.
"You are expendable," Eric pointed out.
"We gotta get goin' if we're gonna find Tara," Sookie insisted.
"Which 'we' do you mean?" Eric asked.
"Well, you found everyone in Bon Temps pretty quick," she suggested.
"Shreveport is still populated. I cannot find one person by their heartbeat alone. You should let her go."
"I can't do that. I can't expect you'd understand, Eric, but Tara's been my best friend for like forever!"
Eric understood better than Sookie, and he was hurt that she did not understand that, yet also knew she had no concept of what a vampire and his maker shared. He felt closer to no one before Godric, and also felt his relationship with Pam was also eternal. Truly, Eric was blessed with such companions.
"I will go with you to search, Sookie," Bill volunteered.
"And what happens when you mistress has other work for you again?" Eric challenged. "Sookie gets left somewhere to fend for herself again?"
"She was not left to fend for herself. Sookie was in the company of both you and Godric when I was called."
"Stop! Let's go already," Sookie insisted. Every second they wasted meant Tara was getting further away or possibly getting hurt.
Lettie May grabbed her purse and said, "I'm comin' too."
On the other hand, Lafayette closed his eyes in frustration. How could he go after Tara again, if she was going to run off every time she saw an open door? His crazy cousin was going to end up dead, and it might be at the hands of her abusive boyfriend, Eggs. If not, if he found her, he'd do the job himself, after he turned Eggs into a meal for zombies. Tara was worse than Jason fucking Stackhouse jonesing for V.
He had to go.
*** The Hotel Carmilla ***
Barry could not sleep. He was on an emotional roller coaster. Yeah,he knew that was a melodramatic figure of speech, but he was on it right now.
Earlier, he had been jealous. Godric was going to protect Michelle too. The reason was noble since her mother had been murdered while working for him. Still, it was easy for Barry to dislike her. She was not worthy of Godric's protection.
They were now up higher in the hotel in a two bedroom suite. Barry was with Godric, looking at him rest and wanting to tell him every nasty thought in that slut's head.
Barry did not want to delve too much into that cesspool she had in her skull, but she was a Grade D Skank. He had met fangbangers desperate for V with their boobies hanging out and their dresses cut up to their hoo-hahs with more modesty. She also disliked vampires, particularly Godric due to his looks.
He hated a pregnant teenage whore who was in the next room, thinking about getting away from the vampires as soon as things calmed down with the zombies. Barry hoped she did, but worried about how Godric would feel if she disappeared without telling him.
It felt childish to lie here planning how he would trick Michelle into exposing herself for what she really was. Barry could not tell Godric what she thought, or the vampire might resent him.
Barry tried to reason with himself that it was not jealousy. He had not lost his head over Godric, was not his boyfriend, and he had to face it, he had Godric in his bedroom, rather than over in that girl's.
Godric's eyes opened. He turned his head to look straight at Barry before asking, "What is wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You're worrying. Did something happen while I rested?"
"No," Barry replied.
"Was it something on the television?"
"You ask a lot of questions," Barry huffed.
"So there is nothing that I can do to ease what troubles you?" Godric asked, not sure why Barry was sulking. Then he asked, "Am I the problem?"
"No," Barry answered immediately, trying to think of what he should say. He was not a child so did not want to sound like one, and they were not in a romantic relationship so Barry definitely did not want to sound like a jealous boyfriend.
"You are tired, Barry. Did you wish me to stay here till you fall asleep?"
"What were you going to do while it's still daylight?" Barry asked.
"Think. I am slow to understand why things are as they are."
If it was another vampire, Barry would suspect that meant scheming, yet knowing some of the difficulties Godric and other local vampires were facing locally, Barry understood what Godric could not. People were crazy, greedy and looked to gain whatever they could even at the expense of others. Strange that a vampire could not recognize that.
"You should rest more," Barry suggested, moving closer to Godric.
Godric was distracted by the smell of Barry again. What was it? What made him think how delicious Barry's blood would taste?
"You cannot handle it all alone, Godric," Barry said, touching the vampire's face. His fingers traced the cheekbone under his blue eye.
"My blood," Godric uttered, "it has you troubled. If it is too much for you, I do not mind you touching me, Barry. When I am distracted though, say something first so I acknowledge you because I sometimes get lost in thoughts, and would not want to accidentally injure you."
"Touching you?" Barry repeated. He knew his hand was on Godric's face right now, but he was trying to tell Godric that he didn't need to worry about everything. He was a very old vampire, not Superman.
"It has been some time since I've given my blood. You are troubled by it. I understand, and do not hold it against you, Barry. If you suffer, I am here for you."
"What are you saying?" Barry asked. "I don't want to be your pet."
"No, you are not. You are free to be with whoever you wish."
"I'm not gay."
"I understand."
"Do you? I thought vampires didn't care what they had sex with." Afraid to hurt Godric's feelings, Barry said, "I'm okay with it if you are. I mean I'm not, and you seem to not mind pointing out that your blood'll make me feel things."
This time Godric touched his face briefly, and murmured, "That is fine. I am following your lead since what is called normal changes so much. As you've said, I am vampire, and while I try to understand what formed my opinions, I am not tethered to the customs I was born with."
Barry was thinking through what Godric said when the vampire abruptly turned over, giving him his back.
"Are you okay?" Barry asked.
"Yes, you need to sleep, not spend the day pondering my every word and gesture."
"It's not all about you. I'm concerned about Michelle, and what she might do and how that could hurt you."
"She plans to hurt me?"
"No, it's … it's complicated. I don't think she knew for sure she was pregnant till vampires told her," Barry was trying to be careful.
"She claimed not to know the father, but does she think of someone in particular?"
"Um …"
"Oh, apologies, Barry, I remember I said I would not ask you to do that for me. Forget I began to ask."
"Uh, no, I mean it's not like … what would you do if you knew?"
"Find him. Not to hurt, but to give Michelle some companionship. I think there is too much an age difference between you two, or not?"
"She's uh … I don't know her, and I don't think we'd have much in common."
"I overheard her call you a fangbanger. Please forgive her since she had an upsetting day. You can explain to her later that I am keeping you safe too."
Barry's thought went to the safety part of his anatomy was feeling against Godric's ass cheeks before he said, "I don't know if there's someone or not yet, but I'm thinking she would rather not have the baby … possibly. It's hard to tell."
"What do you mean by not have the baby?"
"Maybe an abortion?" Barry suggested. He had never had a girlfriend, much less a pregnant one, so his concept of options was limited.
"I understand the term, but what is done?"
For all the press abortions got, Barry only had a vague idea that partial-birth ones sounded horrifying, but those were maybe not the normal way it was done. He replied, "I'm not sure."
"What if Michelle changes her mind, or this is only a whim? I can hear the other heartbeat within her so I think of the baby as alive already. Once it's killed, there is no reversal of the decision."
Barry was struck speechless. Since when did vampires vote Republican?