Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Layla and a few of the plot twists. Lyrics from 'Cities of Night' by Blaqk Audio.
Inside the bar Layla saw that it was beginning to really fill up. She moved past the swarms of Vampires and the humans eager for their attentions and struggled not to roll her eyes. Truth be told, she found all people annoying. The more pathetic you were, the less she wanted to do with you. The men and women here were scraping the barrel as far as dignity was concerned. Layla actually saw one woman groveling at a Vampires feet. Jesus, if she weren't so disgusted she might have found it sad.
She made her way over to the bar and sat down. The woman behind the counter smiled at her.
"A, B, AB or O?" she asked. Layla's artificial smile fell.
"Rum and coke." she said flatly. The woman looked surprised but didn't say anything and made Layla her drink. What was with people down here? It wasn't like she was that pale. When the woman set down her drink Layla slid the money across the counter. The music that played wasn't bad. In fact it was actually a song she knew.
Will you live in hope or dark desire?
At least whoever ran this place had good taste in music. Layla sipped on her drink and looked around the room, taking mental notes of what she saw. Dancers, moving in incredibly fast and complicated ways. The stream of Vampires glamouring people. How in the world had Sookie thought she was capable of that. She watched as one woman lured a man to the bathroom, no doubt to feed on him. Whatever, it had been his decision to come here. She had never been glamoured, at least not that she could remember. Usually people...and vampires, let her be. What was it about the south that made everyone so god damn friendly.
"Hey there, sweetheart." a vampire said, sliding up beside her. Layla smiled an murmured a hello but continued to look around the room, not wanting encourage the man. This wouldn't be as simple as some drunk at Merlotte's. Dealing with Vampires required finesse and delicacy, neither of which were her strong suit. Layla looked up and caught sight of the set up in the front of the club. Was there someone sitting on a throne? Really? That was so pompous.
"You lookin' for some fun darlin'?" he whispered into her ear. Layla smiled sweetly (a rarity for her) and looked the Vamp in the eye.
"I can't. I work tomorrow morning." she said, which wasn't a lie. She had to open her laptop and get back to work eventually. The man just stared into her eyes.
"You can. Work can wait." he pressed. Layla fought to keep her smile in place.
"Unfortunately, it can't. Sorry. Maybe another time." she told him turning back to the woman bar-tending and indicated to her to make a second one. This drink was going fast. It didn't help that they were only half the size she would normally make for herself. The Vampire seemed pissed. Layla could feel his annoyance. This happened a lot when she went out. No one liked getting turned down, but it was a fact of life...or in their case death. Eventually, he was distracted by a younger girl wearing less clothing and Layla let out a sigh of relief and went back to looking around the room. She was perfectly content to people watch. Her eyes went back to the man on the throne. He was wearing all black, and from where she sat, it looked like his clothes fit him well and they contrasted his skin beautifully. He was alabaster. Obviously a Vampire. Why else would he sit on a throne in a vampire bar? He had blonde hair slicked back away from the smooth planes of his face. Arrogant, self-serving, dangerous. These weren't things she picked up from him being a Vampire though. She saw those things in the way his eyes boredly scanned the room, the disapproval in his mouth.
Layla watched subtly as the woman from the front door walked up and stood to the left of him and whispered something into his ear. He made no movement except to scan the room. Layla didn't find his disinterest interesting enough so she turned and asked the woman to make her another drink. The woman smiled and flipped her bleach blonde hair even though it wasn't in her way. She seemed to be a few fries short of a happy meal in Layla's opinion, but as long as it didn't interfere with her ability to make a solid rum and coke, she didn't have a problem. As she was handed her drink the bartender leaned forward to speak to her in a low voice.
"I think they want you to go up there." she whispered. It wasn't actually a whisper because she had to make herself heard over the music, but she still kept her voice low enough that no one else would hear. Layla raised a quizzical brow and turned her head. The woman from the front door and the man on the throne were staring at her expectantly. She turned back to the bartender.
"Why are they staring at me?" she asked. Layla quickly replayed the last forty-five minutes or so she;d been here through her mind. She hadn't done anything to offend anyone except the one Vampire and he seemed to be getting along just fine without her.
"Just go." The woman behind the bar hissed, giving Layla a small shove. The brunette straightened her back and took a large sip of her drink, keeping it in her hand as she headed towards the two Vamps who continued to stare at her as she approached.
"Hello, Miss Dahlin." the man said, his voice was deep and seemed to echo in Layla's ears.
"Hello, Mr...?" she left the blank hoping he would supply her with a name.
"Northman." he said, gesturing for her to come closer. Layla didn't like it, but she came closer anyway. "I believe you've already met Pam." he said, gesturing to the woman beside him. Were they a couple or something.
"Hello again." Layla said to her. the icy blonde merely smiled in response.
"I've noticed you aren't actively seeking out a Vampire and the one that did approach you was refused. Why?" Mr. Northman asked.
"I didn't come here to get hit on." I told him honestly. His expression did not change.
"Why come to a vampire bar if you do not intend to meet any Vampires?" he asked, sounding only slightly interested. Layla took a deep breath, figuring honesty was the best policy when dealing with someone who could potentially drain her in two minutes flat.
"Well, I figured a human at a Vampire bar wouldn't have to deal with people trying to talk to her all night like they would be at a regular bar."
"So, you come to a Vampire bar because humans annoy you?" he asked, his face now showing something along the lines of curiosity. Layla fought the urge to once again roll her eyes. She really needed to rein in her sarcastic side.
"Everyone annoys me equally." she told him flatly. Like hell she was going to pick a side. Vampire or Human. The corners of Mr. Northman's mouth slid slightly upward in a half-smile.
"Do you find me annoying?" he asked with a dangerous look on his face. Layla took another sip of her drink before speaking.
"No. You just seem curious." she said. It was only a half-lie, really. Pam raised an eyebrow and looked down at Eric to gage his reaction, he only seemed to grow more interested.
"Please, sit down." he said, gesturing to the seat beside him. Layla glanced at it, knowing she should probably take it but she felt something pulling at her spine, telling her to go home.
"I'm very sorry, but I really should be getting home." she said. Eric's indulgent smile fell instantly.
"How dare-" Pam began to say but was cut off with a wave of Mr. Northman's hand. He leaned forward in his chair, staring hard into Layla's eyes.
"I would very much like...for you to sit down." he repeated. Layla blinked a few times. Was this a classic vampire intimidation method or something? A stare-down?
"I'm sorry. I really should be going home." she told him, tightening her grip on her glass when she saw an angry look cross his face. What was with these guys and rejection? Get over it!
"What are you?" he whispered to her. Layla furrowed her brow at the question.
"Confused." she admitted.
"Well, that makes two of us." Mr. Northman admitted, leaning back in his chair. Pam continued to stare. The two had a brief exchange in what sounded like Swedish, but they spoke much too fast. The only reason Layla caught it at all was because her grandmother would randomly shout things at her grandfather in the language.
"Do you happen to know Miss Sookie Stackhouse?" he asked in a low, refined way. If this was Sookie's boyfriend Layla was going to have to shake her hand, cause though he was a pompous ass from the look of things, he was beautiful.
"We've met." Layla told him. "Are you her boyfriend?"
"Certainly not." he said quickly. "Do you two have anything in common I should know about?"
Layla ran through similarities with Sookie in her head. They seemed like complete and utter opposites actually. Sookie was tiny, tan, blonde and bubbly. Layla was tall, pale, brunette and kind of a bitch. Sookie dated vampires. Layla didn't go near dating with a ten foot pole.
"Uhm, we're both pro-vampire? I mean, her more so than I am judging by the bites I saw on her neck but other than that I can't say we have anything in common. Oh, except we now live in the same town now." Layla told him. She didn't like feeling nervous and jittery but this vampire was making both emotions rush through her. It was really beginning to annoy.
"Anything else?" he pressed. Layla lost her patience.
"I just met her last night. I know jack shit about her. How the hell am I supposed to know if we have anything in common? And what the fuck is with the third degree? I already told you I came here for a drink and to mind my own god damn business. What else do you want?" she asked, her voice cutting through the air like knife. Eric was on his feet in an instant, hovering over her, inches from her face.
"If I were you, I would apologize. Quickly." he advised. Layla's jaw tightened hard. She was crushing her teeth together and her heart was pounding in her chest. Eric lifted a hand to hold her chin tilting her head back. Layla's whole body tightened in an effort not to shake.
"My, my, my. We are stubborn...aren't we?" he said, watching the pulse in her neck. Layla took his distraction to rip her chin out of his hands and reach back into her wallet. Eric watched her, mostly amused, and slightly alarmed that she was able to remove herself from his grip so easily. Layla reached into her wallet and pulled out a tiny card with her number printed clearly on the back along with her name. She usually reserved these for when she met other journalists, but she wanted out and this seemed a good idea.
"Here's my card. When you actually want to ask whatever question it is you're dancing around, call and ask it. I really do have to go, but I apologize for any misunderstanding between us." she said tightly and, she hoped, diplomatically. Eric just stared at her. Layla nodded and then turned to leave. Pam stared as the girl made her way through the crowds.
"Eric, you can't seriously let her go." she said.
"Don't worry, Pam. This won't be the last time we see Miss Dahlin." he assured his blonde companion.
"How are we supposed to deal with a human that can't be glamoured? If she sees anything we either have to kill her or turn her." Pam complained quietly in their native tongue.
"Then let's make sure she doesn't see anything she shouldn't." Eric told her. Over the noise of the club his thousand year old ears could still hear her starting her car in the parking lot. Miss Dahlin...what fun it was going to be to unravel your secrets.