I didn't wake until late afternoon. The sun was still high. During the daytime shutters with protective UV features encased the building. This was done in case any vampires preferred to skip sleeping, in favor of engaging with one of the many activities hosted. Escape rooms. Bowling. Enjoy a day at the spa. Whatever your heart desires. Bill was awake. Seemingly long before I was. He was dressed as if he had been somewhere. I was greeted with a feast. While Bill chatted on the phone I dug in.

"I'm glad you're awake. Our plane leaves soon. Your bags are already packed."

"Um, I told Sam I was taking the week. I was hoping we could stay. Vacation, you know?"

"Oh. Well, would you rather go somewhere else?"

"Is there any reason we can't stay here? We didn't get to explore the city. I've never been outside Louisiana. "

That last statement sealed the deal. Bill agreed. He called to transfer our flight to a later date. He didn't seem too happy about staying in a territory that wasn't our own.

After eating, Bill and I explored the hotel. I was particularly interested in the indoor botanical garden. The shutters didn't detract from the wonder. Inside a light show fluttered. They made the place come alive with sounds and turned the place into an interactive experience.

Bellow ground level held an arcade equipped with rock climbing, paintball, bowling, laser tag, and a mini-golf course. Bill and I decided to take a stab at a bit of it all. The first thing we did was play a round of paintball with a few vampires from Godric's nest. Right now we're playing mini-golf. He was winning. I accused him of cheating many times.

"It's not my fault that you suck at hand-eye coordination."

"Hey, it went in!"

I jumped up and down. It was my first hole-in-one. Bill lifted me and spun me around before planting a kiss. Just before he put me down I noticed we were being watched. Godric had witnessed my affection. His bare chest and our very own kiss came to mind. A blush crossed my cheeks. Bill followed my gaze. Godric had already turned his head away from us.

"Eric's maker? "

"Yes. He saved me. I got into a fight and was losing. Godric killed him."

"I see. So he's saved you twice since being here."

"What do you mean?"

"Lorena." Just hearing her name set my teeth on edge.

"I didn't need him for that. I had that under control."

"Sissi. You exposed yourself to a nest in a district that is not your own. You already have too many hunting for your head as is."

"I know. Isabel. She was there when Eric and I came to your aid at the queens. She wants me too."

"So you are aware of what you're doing? How reckless you're being?"

"Then do your job. I'm yours aren't I? "

"Yes!"

"Then figure it out!"

"Sissi? Are you alright?"

It was Godric. He came over as my conversation with Bill had begun to gather attention.

"I'd like to know that too." Bill retorted.

"No."

I strolled away from both of them. Why can't Bill just leave well enough alone? I'm trying to relax with him and he keeps digging. Searching for answers. I don't know how to tell him all I've got is questions.

The sun was down. I decided to explore the city on my own. I sent Bill a text telling him what I was doing. Explaining that I was sorry for the fight and needed some time alone.

I found my way onto a street where I found a sleek comedy club. I didn't check who was on set tonight. I just bought a ticket. I needed a laugh. I cut back. Ate a plate of nachos and bought me something to drink. To my surprise someone pulled a chair up to the table I was occupying. Eric found me.

I refused to acknowledge him. Once the set ended I grabbed my jacket and left. Eric continued. He walked side by side with me.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

I removed my headphones from my pocket and placed them in my ears. I kept my eyes directly ahead of me. Just walking aimlessly. Allowing my feet to lead me. We ended up in a funky part of town with mom shops around.

An open sign flashing on a tattoo shop grabbed my attention. I already had one. It was my graduation present. It was a cute little rose with my parents' names written on the petals.

I walked in and looked through a book. I didn't see anything I liked. I wasn't even sure what I wanted. Or why I was here. I sat on a chair just looking through photos trying to find inspiration.

That's when it came to me. I decided to add to my already existing tattoo. Have them clean up the lines while they're at it. I added more roses surrounding a skeleton lady cameo. To the original rose, grans name was added to a petal. I got my nose pierced while I was there. A Nasallang. I'd add a chain once able.

Bill paid for all of it. Eric contacted him while I was being worked on. I made sure to leave a nice tip. The girl that did it went above and beyond. The linework was crisp and the colors more vibrant! The roses were watercolored, the effect made them look bloody.

Eric left us alone. I thanked him for staying with me. He told me the tattoo customs of his people. Tattoos were used as signs for your tribe. Who you were, such as if you were a warrior. Ode to their gods too. While there he got a new one. Some foreign-looking script down his arm.

"Did you have fun? Eric told me he found you at a comedy club."

"Yes. The guy was pretty funny. A few too many sex jokes but eh. "

"You hungry?"

"I could go for more food. "

We caught a cab. My tattoo was still numbed up so I took advantage of that. We found an authentic Mexican restaurant. The rest of the night went ok. Bill finally understood that I'd talk when I was ready and not a moment before. I was ready to go. Bill already had my bags in his car. It took a little over three hours to drive back home. It was early morning. Bill had to complete my aftercare for me. I was too tired to do it.

I spent the rest of the week holed up with Bill. The trip to Dallas had been enough to knock me off balance. A rather large check from Eric arrived on my last day off. Along with an envelope, inside it was a letter and the red book. It felt odd, I remembered tucking it away in my bag... I opened the letter. It was from Godric.

- Sissi Stackhouse. I'm not particularly good with acts of affection but I'd like to thank you. I was furious. You swooped in at Eric's request thwarting my plans. I was ready to die. After I realized how wasteful that would have been.

I've been given a second chance. I don't intend to waste it. I do hope you find comfort, I noticed your time here wasn't up to par. If you ever decide to come back, I'd love to show you a better side of my city. Compton is welcome to attend of course. Oh, your gift was most welcome. I needed to remember my humanity.

P.s,
This seems to have lost you. I found it left at Hotel Carmella. You should be careful where you leave things. Enjoy the stories.-

I thumbed through the book. The card with Godric's number was gone. Did Bill go through my things? I immediately shoved the thought out of my mind. He wouldn't do something like that. He's not Eric!

He managed to make my room safe for him to sleep in. By plastering up the windows he could stay the night. I walked upstairs and into my bedroom. My sleeping boyfriend lay sprawled out. Half his sock hanging. I climbed onto the bed and cracked the spine of the book to read.

It was an old book of fairytales. They were much darker than Disney. I really enjoyed the tales but I didn't get the message. What was Godric trying to tell me? I hadn't realized that Bill was awake.

"Is it a good book?"

"Yes actually. It's just some old fairytales but darker."

"Like Grimm's fairytales?"

"Similar I guess."

"Read it to me."

So I did. Bill laid on my breasts listening to the sound of my voice and my heartbeat. As I read aloud I began to see a pattern. Each story held something in common. A faerie. Is that what Godric was trying to tell me? That I'm a fairy?

We stayed in bed like that for a few more hours. Milking every last drop of time. Bill has taken it upon himself to watch all my favorite tv shows. He enjoys the arts it seems. He keeps trying to drag me to the opera.

While he occupied himself I scoured the web for anything I could find on Faeries. Most of what I found was information about old beliefs and mythology. There were so many different kinds, I'd have to sit down and research.

I really wish I had that card. It would be easier to consult Godric. He could explain why he believed I was a fairy. He said he met one. Maybe he could tell me the story. It was officially that time. I got up to get ready for work.

Merlotte's hadn't changed. I'm not sure why I thought it would but it was still the same ole Merlotte's. The first thing I noticed was that Lafayette had come back to work. That's where I immediately went. He was flipping burgers on the grill.

"Well hello. Where the hell have you been bitch? "

"It's a long story. I'm not in the mood. I was coming back here to check on you."

"One day at a time. The dreams have stopped thankfully. Thank you for taking care of me Sissi. I needed it."

"You're family baby. You know how I am."

I kissed him on the cheek. I noticed in my absence Amy took over my tables. She was cajoling my regulars. She was the new hire after Dawn and Jason's girl.

"Hey, girl." Her breasts hung free in her top. Her nipples were saying hi too.

"Hey, Amy. Thanks for taking care of my tables. "

"No problem babes. How was your trip? Your brother told me you and Vampire Bill were getting outta town for a bit. "

"It's was great."

As the night went on I began to notice that Tara was the only one absent. Jason came on over and saw me. Sam was in, he asked me about Dallas. Where the hell was Tara?

Some ruckus brought me out of my thoughts. Something was going on between Arlene and Lafayette.

"Hey. Hey. Cut it out. What's with the catfight?"

"You deal with him. I'm not getting cursed out again."

Arlene left. She's been particularly sour since René. His reputation has followed her. Apparently, he was a really big deal and had the FBI looking for him. He had murdered over thirty women. She hasn't been able to find a man that wasn't a creep since. Arlene isn't the type of woman that can stay too long without a man around.

"What happened?"

"Excuse me Sissi. Aye Excuse me, who ordered the hamburger with AIDS?" Lafayette shouted as he walked from behind the kitchen.

He was making his way over to a table full of white men. Only two of them looked familiar while the others were strangers.

" I said, Scuse me. Who ordered the hamburger with AIDS?"

Royce Williams. One of the resident drunks. He and his buddies decided to make a scene by telling Arlene that he wanted a deluxe burger but didn't want it made by no AIDS having Fag.

Royce has a reputation for hating vampires. He had been the one to spread the rumor that it was Bill that killed Maudette and Dawn.

"I ordered the hamburger deluxe."

"In this restaurant, a hamburger deluxe comes with french fries, lettuce, tomato, mayo, AND AIDS! DO ANYBODY GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?"

"Yeah! I'm an American, and I got a say in who makes my food!"

"Well, baby, it's too late for that. Faggots been breedin' your cows, raisin' your chickens, even brewin' your beer long before I walked my fine ass up in this motherfucker. Everything on your goddamn table got AIDS."

"You still ain't making me eat no AIDS burger."

"Well, all you gotta do is say hold the AIDS. Here."

Lafayette licked the Mayo off the bun and shoved it in Royce's face. This caused a fight to break out. All the tables occupants had matching red welts forming on their faces.

"Bitch, you come in my house, you gonna eat my food the way I FUCKING MAKE IT! Do you understand me? Oh and Tip your waitress." Before walking back to the kitchen he dumped the rest of the beer onto Royce's lap. I walked off after him.

I grabbed his things and mine. Sam understood, I drove Lafayette home. I'm sure he was probably in the mood for a drink after that. Before leaving for home I decided I'd swing by Tara's and check on her. When I got there though that plan turned into something else...

I could hear them arguing before I even knocked on the door. I started banging tying to break in. It was Eggs who opened the door. He was only wearing gray sweatpants.

" Were busy, leave. "

I shoved past him in a fury, I found Tara on her knees holding her arm close to her chest. Eggs tried to grab me but he had another thing coming, I held my hands up, my light at the ready and he backed off

." Go outside! Touch me and see what happens"

He was smart enough to not argue with the bitch with glowing hands. I grasped Tara. I noticed there was glass on the floor. Dishes had been thrown.

" Tara look at me." It took a long time but when she did I saw she had a black eye and her lip was cut... " How long has he been beating you?"

She refused to talk so I took matters into my own hands. I found their room, I packed a bag. When I came back she was waiting for me.

" It started after I moved in with him...He blacks out, at first it was minor things. He wouldn't come home on time or he would forget things and would wake up not remembering who I was. He started hitting me."

She started to cry, none of what she was saying made any sense. So I just held her. Thankfully Eggs had left. I hurried her into my van and we were off.

I began to turn on Lafayette's street and she tried to grab the wheel. We swerved and almost hit a tree.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?! Are you trying to kill us?!"

"I don't want Lafayette involved."

"Were either talking to Lafayette or the police, which one is it?"

She got her bag and we knocked on his door, unbeknownst to me Lafayette had a boyfriend... his name was Jésus. I pushed past him.

" Lafayette get your ass out here now."

He was cursing and fussing but when he came out of his room to see Tara he rushed to her side.

" I'm going to kill him."

Lafayette and I set about assessing all the bruises and injuries she had. Jésus left out of respect for family issues and told Lafayette he would call him to make sure everything was alright.

I gave Tara a sleeping pill, once she was asleep I delved into her subconscious. To see what had been going on. I saw eggs standing over Tara with a knife talking about how he would feed her to Maryann. Benedict was still experiencing that maenad's effects even though his brain had been wiped.

All of the times he would 'blackout' the next day he had no memory of it. I didn't know how to fix this... the first thing I knew I had to do was explain this to Lafayette.

The easiest way would be for me to show him my memories. For some reason. I've always been able to connect to him. Whether it was because of me or because he too was a bit psychic.

Lafayette could pick up on spirits. He hadn't seen anything, just knew when they were around. However, I could always tap in and make his abilities stronger. I placed my hand in his and allowed him to view my memories over the past few weeks. Detailing all he had missed. Lafayette just sat in silence.

" We can't tell her that shit, Tara will lose her mind."

"I don't know what to do then. I mean should we call the cops? Make a report? Handle it ourselves? I mean she's not going back there..."

"You said that Eric wiped the memories of everyone in town right? Can he do it again? Take away the memories of Eggs, tell her she got in an accident, shit, she beat up enough already. It's believable." Before I could answer I got a call from Bill.

"Love, I was just calling to check on you. I stopped by Merlotte's to pick you up. "

I explained the situation to him and he agreed that if we wanted to wipe her memory he would do it. Lafayette wasn't too keen about being around Eric or any vampire association but at least he knew Bill wouldn't hurt him.

Bill arrived while I was nervously eating chips and discussing with Lafayette how we were going to get rid of Eggs. I couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible, maybe if Tara remembered what happened she wouldn't have put up with him...Lafayette opened the door for Bill and invited him in.

" How did all this happen?" Bill questioned once he caught sight of her.

" I believe Maryann still has a hold on him even though she's dead. He still has blackouts and during he becomes a complete monster. Tara's memories convey that this has been going on since she moved in. At first, he just acted strangely then it escalated into violent outbursts."

We caught Bill up on some of the ideas we had. None of them were particularly that great. We could kill him. Tell the police. Or we could glamor him, drug him, and then ship him on his way to a different state.

Each of these options leaves room for mistakes. If we kill him, we could get caught. If we tell the police we don't know if that will do much. There was also the chance he gets out and comes after Tara again. Who's to say that if we glamor him that it will work. He's obviously still remembering Maryann!

"Just tell her he left and I'll dispose of him. I'll make sure there is no trail that could lead back to you."

Bill explained he's done it before. That was the best option, Lafayette wasn't too happy but he agreed, I think he just wanted to do it himself. I can understand the temptation. I had no choice but to kill Renè but at the moment it felt good. He killed Gran!

But after it haunted me, seeing his stabbed body. Sometimes I still had nightmares. So that is what we set out to do. Of course, plans don't always go right. While we were getting prepared. The sound of a vehicle pulling up set a mood of dread. It was Eggs, he was in his pickup truck. He got out and I noticed in tow was a rifle. He shot at the door... "Tara! You're Coming Home!" His voice was mocking.

Bill wasn't having it. Just before Eggs could fire another round, he was on his knees with Bill about to snap his neck. No one realized that Tara had been woken up, she grabbed Lafayette's gun off the wall and fired two shots. His blood splattered all over Bill and Benedict went limp in his arms.

Tara was doubled over in tears, she had finally lost it. Her whole life was filled with violence. Lafayette muttered to her and held her. Well, we no longer had to plan... but we certainly had to clean up. Luckily no one came outside, Bill started cleaning up the body and I cleaned the gun. His corpse was stored in the truck at the moment.

"Tara, we can make this go away. If you want. You don't have to remember any of this." She smacked me.

"I loved that man. He may have beat me...but I loved him."

I didn't respond, there was no reason to. She was in pain! Lafayette told me it was probably best for us to leave, I agreed with him. Bill went over every aspect making sure that no evidence was left and then drove me home after he disposed of the body and truck. I didn't dream that night.