I love my job. Vampires are so exciting. And Eric is the most exciting of them all. He's like a God and super important, being a Sheriff and all. Since he was so sexy and powerful his bar was the most popular Vampire hotspot in Northern Louisiana. Even the Queen down in New Orleans was jealous of Eric.
I wasn't supposed to know that, of course. Right little prima donna that one is. She would come flouncing into Fangtasia every so often and try to act like she was the boss. Eric was always polite to her and let her have her way but it's obviously an act. Anybody who's been around Vamps for very long can tell an old one from a baby vamp right off. That's nothing. But me? I've been with Pam and Eric for over a decade. I think. Sometimes I'm a little fuzzy on details. But I KNOW how to tell old vampires from REALLY old ones. Take Eric for example. He's like, ancient! Everybody knows that here but even if you didn't, you could feel it. When he's in the room, the room is his. Pam is respected and feared by everybody but that's mostly because she is badass and the Master's progeny. But Pam doesn't give off the same power vibe. That queen that makes the Master bow to her? I'm betting she's half Eric's age! What a spoilt brat!
I think Eric should be king. He'd certainly be better at it than that redhead. I bet he's only not king because he doesn't want to be. I've certainly heard him bitch about the Sheriff paperwork enough times. Being King would probably be worse, but I bet the digs would be better. Everybody begs to be Eric's around here. He has more humans available to him than he could possibly eat or fuck. If we lived in Nawlins, we could charge admission for people just to come stare at Eric. Well, so they do that NOW, but they would do it in a palace rather than a bar. I'm sure we'd have a palace. And Eric could have better minions. Eric never feeds on me and Pam rarely does but that other one bites me a couple times a week. I really don't like him, but, you know, I'll do whatever Eric and Pam need...
"Ginger!" I heard Pam yell for me. "Why didn't you come when I called? We are closed and so you only have one job tonight. Come when I call. I had to come fetch you! What is WRONG with you?"
I got up and went to Pam who was waiting for me in the door to the office. "I'm so sorry, Mistress. I guess my mind wandered. I didn't hear you."
"What mind?" I thought I heard her mutter. I must have been absent minded a lot recently. I can't really remember. I wanted to please Eric & Pam so I would try harder. I adjusted my breasts in my top as I walked in. I always try to display as much skin as possible. I want to always show my willingness to serve. Master Eric is there and so is his new pet, Sookie. Pam directed me to sit on the couch next to Sookie. She smiled at me and reached for my hand. I didn't really want to be touched by her but I wouldn't do anything to displease. She clasped it softly on the couch between us.
"Hi Ginger. I'm Sookie. We haven't really had a chance to introduce ourselves yet, but I hope we can be friends."
I looked, not at Sookie, but over her shoulder at Eric. "Whatever the Master wants," I told him. When I looked back at Sookie she had turned her head and was glaring at Eric.
"You and I are going to talk about this later," she angrily muttered. I'm sure I misheard her. No one speaks to Eric like that. She smiled at me and said, "Ginger, have you worked for Eric very long?"
"Oh, forever!" I giggled.
"How long is that?" she asked again.
"I don't know." And I really didn't. Years, was the easy answer but beyond that, I really have lost track.
Sookie sighed. "She really doesn't know. How many times HAVE you glamoured her?"
Eric shrugged. "The occasional need arises and she's been around long enough that she has seen things she shouldn't."
I didn't know what Master was talking about. Nothing bad ever happened here. Maybe things were a little rough occasionally. I really wish HE wouldn't bite me but if it pleased Master, it was fine with me.
Sookie made a disgusted sound and turned to glare at Eric again. "You are so lucky that Longshadow is already fired. I might have staked him myself otherwise."
Longshadow was fired? But I just saw...
Master's new human was very pretty. She's blonde. I'm blonde. I wonder why he's never slept with me?
Eric spoke to Sookie. I really couldn't follow what they were talking about. "I'll keep that in mind. He is supposed to report in for his punishment later this evening. What did he do to displease you so much?"
"He's been abusing Ginger very much against her wishes and telling her that it was what you wanted her to do," Sookie said.
He did what?
"Excuse me? How did he do that?" Eric asked.
Sookie answered, "Glamour, I would imagine. She WANTS to please you and Pam. She thinks letting him feed from her and... other things is what you want from her. But she's terrified of him. I told you that the second time I came here, if you remember."
Eric growled. He was so sexy when he did that but right now he looked pretty angry. He crouched in front of the couch between Sookie and me. When he spoke, it was gently, "Ginger. Has Longshadow been feeding from you?"
I smiled happily at him. "Whatever you'd like, Master."
Eric sighed. "No Ginger. I want you to tell us what has actually happened and what you, for yourself, wanted. Did you WANT Longshadow to bite you? Did you want him to fuck you?"
I was so happy. Master wanted to know what I wanted. I was so happy, but... my face hurt trying to smile. "I... didn't... I... Whatever you would like, Master." My head hurt. I tried to think of Long... of Longsshh...
Master's leather sofa felt so nice and cool against my cheek. Nice of him to let me rest here.
I looked up to see Master and Sookie standing nose to nose, arguing.
"He must really like her a lot. Nobody else ever yells at him."
They stopped to look at me. Sookie started smiling while Master gave an exasperated sigh and looked at his shoes. I wonder why. Was it something I said?
Eric looked back at Sookie and said, "I'm sorry but I have to know. His life is forfeit at this point, but I have to know as much as possible about what he has done to my business and perhaps my reputation. The missing sixty thousand dollars is irritating, but not devastating. But I need to be sure it was him. I might have other traitors in my house."
"She can't even think his name let alone speak it. I can see him in her mind but when you tried to focus her on him, it made her pass out! I'm not sure how much he has done to her but it is definitely some extensive damage." After a moment, her shoulders dropped and her voice lost some of its passion. "But I'll see what I can find out, for both your sakes."
Sookie came to sit next to me again. She took my hand and stroked it soothingly. She was such a sweet girl. "Ginger, sweetie. Can you walk me through the end of your shift last night? Why don't we start with what happened after Eric and I left."
"Well. It was pretty busy. I was out on the floor working tables til about 3 o'clock. Then that new boy, Laffy, and I cleaned up and prepped. He gave the cash bag to Pam and then Pam said she needed to take him home. Which I thought was strange since she likes girls and he likes boys, but I was just glad to go home. I grabbed my purse and the white pouch and the trash and headed... And I got up about noon to go to yoga. Then..."
"Wait, Ginger. Go back. What white pouch are you talking about? And where did you take the purse and pouch and trash?" Sookie asked. She was staring quite intently into my eyes and I was starting to get a little wigged out. Her expression seemed to say she could see right into me and wasn't liking what she saw.
"I... I got the pouch. I always get the white pouch from my cubby. Every night I get the white pouch because it's my job to get it. And I got it last night. I did and then... I... Then I... I went to yoga..."
"What time is yoga?" Eric asked.
I tried to smile at him, but I couldn't think. "Same time as every day, Master, one o'clock."
"So you left here about 4am this morning with your purse and this pouch and the trash to take out, yes?" Eric looked to Pam to confirm the time. She nodded. "And I assume you dropped off the garbage on your way out of the bar, heading to your car, correct?" I think I nodded, but despite having walked that same path every working night for years, I couldn't remember doing it last night. Or even most nights in the last few months. I know that I did. I must have. But I couldn't see it in my mind.
Sookie interrupted my thoughts with a question. "Honey, do you remember going to bed last night? Can you tell me what color nightie you were wearing?"
I giggled. "Oh Sookie, what a question! You want me to tell Master about my unmentionables? I can see you aren't the jealous type. I would be if I were you, though." I laughed. "I wore my... It was..."
"Close your eyes for me." Sookie said in her soothing voice as she stroked my hand some more. "Now think of standing in front of your bathroom mirror. Can you see it?" I did.
I was running a comb through my hair. My face was freshly washed and I could see my years creeping up on me while the people around me stayed the same. I wore my blue flannel night dress, which was strange. It was too warm for it. I only wore it when I was sure I was sleeping alone or... Or when I wished I was. He slipped his hands over my shoulders from behind and fisted the fabric on either side of my neck. We stared at each other's reflections and I saw my hand start to tremble so I put the comb down on the counter. "I told you I didn't like this one. Where's that lace and satin number?" he said. "It's in the trash. You tore it to ribbons," I answered him. "Oh yeah," He laughed, "I forgot. Well, this is the last time, so let's make it fun!" Suddenly he pushed me forward onto my stomach across the sink, my face barely missing the faucet. I...
"Stop. Ginger. It's ok. It's ok. After that. Later. Much later. Did... Did you see the white pouch? What happened to the pouch? There, do you see it? On the table. He... Yes, he took it. Ok, Ginger, It's ok. He's gone. He's never coming back. You're safe now."
I blinked my eyes and realized I was curled up against Sookie's chest with my face buried against her neck. She was rocking me and running her hands up and down my back. She seemed to be trying to soothe me. I don't know why. I'm just fine! Happy as a clam, that's me!
I pushed myself away and looked at her. She was crying hard. Poor little thing. Maybe she and Master had a spat. She needs to mind her manners. You shouldn't argue with Vamps. The only way is their way.
"Oh, don't cry there, sweetie. Everything will be okay. I'm sure, whatever happened, he didn't mean to hurt your feelings. He's sweet on you. I know it. Never seen him look on anyone the way he does you." I patted her arm. I wasn't so touchy feely as her but I could sympathize.
"Hey well, I think I need to get back to work. You'll be okay here? Alright." I smiled at her and got up. I was surprised to see Eric standing right by the couch. "Oh, hello Master." I gave him my brightest grin and made sure I was shown to my best advantage by standing up straight. "How can I serve you, Master?"
Eric stared at me for a moment before answering. "You can have the rest of the night off. Pamela will see you home. Thank you, Ginger, for coming in on your day off. You are truly loyal and I will make sure you are rewarded for all you have sacrificed for us. Good night." He turned and nodded to Pam.
She took my arm. As we left the office, I glanced back. Eric had taken Sookie in his arms and held her tightly while she cried. I'm glad they made up. Sookie seemed to make Master very happy.
