"No, no, no, no!" I shouted at my computer as I watched the small, portable device shut off. The past five minutes of me hitting it definitely didn't communicate through the computers thick hard drive. My column for our town's newspaper was due by midnight tonight, but it seemed as if my computer was silently protesting what I had written.
"Still glad you're a reporter?" My twenty year old brother, Daniel smirked.
I slightly smiled back at his smug face, "Still glad you're a virgin?"
As the last word fell from my mouth I felt the unwelcoming hit of paper on my head. Looking back, I saw Daniel running towards his bedroom clutching a newspaper – ironically the one I write for.
It had been almost six months since the day Daniel and I moved to a little town outside of Shreveport, Louisiana. Part of the reason was for my brother to attend a nearby college, though getting a job offer here was my ticket. Leaving my past 24 years behind in Portland, Oregon was more than alright for me. I knew that town more than I'd like and the people there were beginning to irritate me. My family – or what was left of it – was far too easy to leave behind.
My selfish father left our family when I was just 8 years old, to live with some mistress in Southern California. His random phone calls and cards are his shitty excuse for making up lost time. He always sounded so sympathetic in his writings, but I knew better than to believe that lying bastard. I tried so many times to forgive him, but it was hard – especially since he didn't truly make the effort to see me or my mom again. My mother never left us, but she wasn't exactly there either. Her total number of marriages had escalated to six, two of the men looked like a washed up cars salesmen with the scent of musk oozing out. She really did try to give my brother and I all she could, but that meant staying out late with "friends", and working endless job after endless job. I knew she never toke the whole motherhood job seriously, though after my father left I couldn't blame her.
As I slowly watched my mother revert to a midlife crisis, I swore to myself that I wouldn't end up like her. I took my studies and school seriously, took as many dance classes I could a week that would get me out of the house. I rarely, if ever, partied and I preferred to be invisible amongst the other pupils. My friends were great, but the guy I lost my virginity to in the backseat of his car junior year wasn't.
The more I grew up and was made aware of how my life was starting to form, the more I knew I needed to get the hell out. Luckily, being a reporter was a great career choice – thanks to the vampires coming out of the coffin – literally. Due to their breaking news, I had a new story each and every week. Whether it was about those who hated the vampires or whose body was drained completely, I always had something to write about.
"I'm going out with some friends Nora, I'll see you later!" My ambitious brother shouted as his darted through our front doors.
At quickly glanced at the clock that hung so lifeless on the wall – it was only 5:26 pm.
"Where the hell is he going at this time?" I mumbled to myself as I rapidly hit the power button on my computer. With a sigh of defeat, I slammed my computer closed and decided a nice trip to the bar was in order.
I carefully drove onto the gravel that lead to Merlottes, the local and quite rambunctious bar. I had made a few friends there, but nobody who I felt extremely comfortable around. There was a peppy blonde waitress, Sookie who was the first person to introduce herself to me. Her child-like attitude wasn't soothing, but the more time I spent with her the more I liked her. Then there was Tara, an outspoken bartender who was most definitely not afraid to tell you the truth. Her honesty was a bit too much most of the time but that girl would never betray a friend. Lafayette and Sam were too very different guys – which I loved. Sam was known to be a downer, especially when talking about Vampires and Lafayette was the one person you could go to if you felt like shit.
I walked in and sat down at my usually stool, glancing around at the full house Merlotte's was use to.
"Anything to drink, Nora?" Sookie widely smile at me as her blonde ponytail bounced around.
I shook my head and smile, "just a water, please."
"You come into a bar and the only thing you order is water?"
"I'm sorry, how about a bottle of Tru Blood? Cold, please." I replied sarcastically.
Sookie smiled as she repeated my very short order back to me and took off towards the bar.
"Hey beautiful, did you hear about them naughty little Vamps down in Texas?"
I jumped a little in my seat as I saw the overly outgoing face of Lafayette.
"Let me guess, they have their own porn industry?" I winked.
Lafayette raised his eyebrows, "Girl, they already do. You should come over and see my collection sometime."
Half-smiling, I shook my head. I never understood everyone's fascination of the living dead.
Well, that was a lie.
It was a shock when the announcement of their coming out two years ago aired, but it really never fazed me that they were living among us. Maybe it was because I never personally saw one, or I wasn't one of those "fangbanger" girls. To me, the vampires were just looking for a game to play with humans and I knew we didn't stand a chance. I am all pro-vampire rights, but the fact that they easily could snap at the smell of human blood scared me.
"Hello, anyone there Nora?"
Lafayette looked annoyed at me as he was now just inches away from my face.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I nodded, "Yeah, sorry just uh…"
"What's with your brother?" Lafayette interrupted again.
I smiled, "You know he is straight-"
"I know," Lafayette shrugged, "but man, those hazel eyes and dark hair you both have are might fine."
I playfully hit Lafayette on the shoulder, "that is my little brother! You sick pervert."
"Me? The sick one," Lafayette looked in disbelief, "Your brother is the one running about in Vampire clubs."
I choked up on the water Sookie had slid next to me just mere seconds ago, "What?"
"Oh girl you didn't know?"
I shook my head, "Please tell me you're kidding."
"I wish I was." Lafayette looked half-sympathetic.
"Why didn't anyone tell me? How long has he been sneaking around to go to these clubs?"
Lafayette shrugged, "We all thought you knew. He's been going for the last month. You're telling me you honestly never questioned to what he does at night."
"Well of course, I'm not his careless sister. He is always hanging out with the same group of guys."
"Honey, think about it. Horny, single, adult males. They ain't going to any yoga class," Lafayette smiled.
I could feel my once calm mind start to panic, "He is safe right? I mean, if he has been going for so long, surely they don't want t eat him?"
"I'm not going to sugar coat it for you. But it doesn't matter how long you go to those clubs – sooner or later they won't want you no more."
As if on cue, the door to Merlotte's busted open and I walked Sookie's vampire lover, Bill.
He looked impossibly more tire than usual, his eyebrows were furrowed and his walk was demanding. I quickly glanced the room to find Sookie, but before I was able to speak her name I could feel Bill standing right next to me.
"We need to go, now." Bill whispered, but his voice was drenched with a commanding tone.
I looked at Lafayette, then back to Bill, "Why? What's going on?"
"Your brother drew too much attention to himself, the others are extremely unhappy."
The others? Damn it, I knew exactly who Bill was talking about. It wasn't the lame Nicole Kidman thriller movie, it was the vampires. Right about now I was hoping Sookie was reading my mind and knowing that I could use about a whole bars worth of alcohol right now. But her ability was useless now, as I felt Bill drag me outside. His hand gripped my arm so tight, that I knew my brothers situation had to be bad if even Bill was pissed.
"Where are we going, Bill?" I tried to bravely ask as I kept up with his steps.
His no reply only concerned me more and the darkness of the sky helped mix my emotions. I didn't know exactly what to feel now, how the hell was a human like me suppose to help my little brother?
As I reached the passenger's side door of Bill's car, I quickly let go of the handle.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Until you tell me where we are going," I tried to calmly speak, "I'm not getting in the car."
Bill let out a sigh, "somewhere you are not going to like."
"Where?" I tried to politely ask, though my voice was a little more harsh than I expected.
"Fangtasia."