Author's Note: Okay kiddos, this is a long one. Thought about breaking it up, but then thought why?
Again, I want to clarify that not everything will be cannon. The timeline will be manipulated. All mistakes are mine. I try my best to edit, but with real life I there's little time for me to write, so I apologize in advance for grammar and other little hiccups. Hope you all enjoy, and would love to hear your feedback.
"Good evening Ladies!" With arms stretched out wide, Grady Evans flashed his roguish dimples from his spot in the front of the room. Tall, built and tanned from a summer most likely lounging by his parent's pool, Grady was what every frat boy should be. Hot. But after three years of being together, Evie knew he was also as shallow as the shallow end of his parent's obnoxiously expensive pool. And about as dumb as a box of rocks.
Well, that wasn't exactly true. When they'd first met, he'd shown signs of having some form of higher intelligence. They'd met at the campus library. She'd been an overwhelmed freshman, homesick and ready to start crying all over her art history paper. He'd saved her with a lame joke, and a comforting shoulder to cry on.
After that, he'd made it his life's ambition to keep a smile on her face that year. They'd been joined at the hip. Their friendship inevitably evolving into something more. He'd been her first, but it had been quite clear she hadn't been his. Over the years, the charming young man she'd fallen head over heels for, had morphed into the A typical frat douche standing before her.
The change in him had been a slow evolution. Greek life had chiseled away any linger self-doubt he had in himself. He'd been shy when they'd first met, and adorably social awkward, but that faded away with time. Leaving him surer of himself. Where once he only shared his thoughts with her, he slowly opened up with the support of his house, until he had no problem being the center of attention.
To be honest, Evie had found his newfound self-confidence kind of hot, at the time. Mostly, because she'd still been important to him. But even that had changed over time. Hitting the bar with his bros became his utmost top priority, while she'd been moved to the back burner. His arm candy at Greek mixers. Everything became crystal clear the previous year, when she'd walked in on him screwing the brains out of some girl from a rival house. She was no longer important to him, and his flaws were glaring.
Her first instinct had been to dump his ass. And she had. But he'd been relentless in getting her to forgive him. Pulling out all the stops, it wasn't until he used their past to soften her until she felt pressed to give him a second chance.
It'd been the worst decision she'd ever made. Including getting bangs her Sophomore year.
"Who's ready for the annual junior, senior scavenger hunt?" Flashing a larger than life smile at the crowd, he laughed when everyone clapped and let out excited whoops. "We here at the Tau Kappa Epsilon house are excited to spend a fun filled night with you fine young women from Delta Zeta."
"What about the curfew?" Called out one of her sisters. "How are we supposed to do a scavenger hunt when the gates lock at ten?"
"Never fear my beauties." Grady's best friend Jack spoke up. "We've got it covered."
"What my dear friend means." Grady clasped his hands in front of him, purposely flexing his biceps at the same time. "We bribed one of the new guards. We've got until midnight."
A round of boos filled the room. Raising his hand, Grady called out. "I know. I know. The new rules are bogus. But we won't let them take away our traditions."
The crowd settled down, but still there were many unhappy faces.
"The teams were random, consisting of five brothers and five sisters." Jack spoke up, holding up six envelopes with names printed on them. Everyone shared a knowing look. The teams were anything but random. It had been a long standing rule, that even in the Greek system there was a particular social hierarchy.
Evie knew without a doubt she'd be placed on Grady's team. That being said, it was inevitable his best friend Jack, and VP of the fraternity would be on it too. Thea would've been added because where Evie went, Thea did too. Because Grady was president, it was only proper Kara would be included as well. That would leave two open spots for the ZDs, and three for the Teke's.
The empty spots were highly coveted. And had Evie still been back in high school she may have cared about being part of the elite 'it' crowd. But she was burned out. Tired of the superficial, tedious lifestyle of the Greek system.
Moving across the room, a huge smirk on his lips, Grady played with the envelope as he made his way to her.
"Well, hello gorgeous." The words were drawn out, as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Hey back handsome." Evie forced out, as she returned the hug. Their greeting had once been cute. Now it felt off.
Kissing the top of her head, he shifted to stand beside her, his arm resting lightly on her shoulder. Raising the envelope, he read off the names on the list. "Team number uno. Grady Evans. Jack Clemons. Rick Thompson, Trevor Hamilton, and Chase Collins. For team one's beautiful DZ's the one and only Evie Stackhouse, Thea Bowmen, Kara Harding, Selma Devereaux, and last but not least, Carrie Cook."
As the other designated captains started reading off their teams, they moved to the corner to strategize. Opening the envelope, Grady and Jack shared a look before reading off their objectives.
"Shirt from a bouncer." Grady read.
Jack took the list. "Get matching team tattoos."
"Two members of the team get piercing." Jack grinned nastily. "Below the neck."
Grady shook his head and took the list back. "Team picture with one of the new campus security guards."
"Score a free drink at a bar." Not even needing to look at the list, Jack went on. "Have a stranger do a body shot off one of the team members."
"And last but not least, take a shot at Fangtasia." Grady smirked, before doing a first bump with Jack.
Snatching the list out of Grady's hand, Evie moved her eyes over the words. Stunned, she lifted her eyes to where Grady was watching her.
"Have you two lost your everlasting minds?" Hating that she sounded like her older, Evie slapped Grady in the chest.
"Told you she'd get her panties in a wad." Jack griped with a sour look on his face that Evie would've given anything to slap off.
Turning her heated gaze on the tall brunet, Evie swallowed down the knee-jerk reply to tell the egomaniac to fuck off. It was a well-known fact she and Jack had disliked one another at first sight. Ever since Jack and Grady had met during rush week, it seemed as though they'd been vying for her boyfriend's attention.
"This list is insane." Moving her attention back to Grady she shoved the list into his chest. "What happened to the old one?"
"The old one was boring." Taking the crumbled up piece of paper from her small fist, he took a step forward. "Come on babe. This is our senior year. We just wanted to . . . spice things up."
Blinking slowly at him calling her babe, Evie searched her brain for any other time he had used such a lame and annoying pet name. It didn't take long, because the answer was never.
"This isn't spicing things up." Shaking her head, she looked up at him. Seriously, was the boy she met freshman year still alive somewhere inside of him?
"Killjoy." Jack fake coughed, like he was ten.
"Why? Cause I don't want us to get a matching tattoo?" Looking over her shoulder, Evie could feel the heavy weight of several sets of eyes resting on them. Felt their curiosity start to mount as they waited for what could possibly be an epic blowout. Grady's cheating hadn't been a well kept secret, and many waited to see the nuclear fallout.
Flashing a look at Jack to keep his mouth shut, Grady pulled Evie by the arm to an unoccupied corner. "Don't do this."
"Do what?"
"Start a fight our first night back." Running his hands down her shoulders to her arms, Grady took her hands into his. "We've done crazier shit than the stuff on that list."
"Why Fangtasia?" She'd heard of the vampire bar last year, knew several of the sisters who'd gone there, sloppy drunk and looking for some excitement. They'd come back with stories of the drop dead gorgeous owner, and weird ass patrons. But her curiosity dried up, the second Bill Compton walked into Sookie's life. Ever since his pasty ass returned to Bon Temp, Evie had been up to her eyeballs in dead bodies.
"Is that what's got you all itching for a fight?" Pulling her against his chest he placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I'll keep you safe from the big bad vampires."
Pushing away, Evie looked up at him. The stupid, good looking moron actually believed his words. He must have mistaken her silence as giving in. Because he gave her a grin before pulling her back over to the group.
Kara and Jack were in a heated debate when they returned, bickering over who would be getting the piercing. Thea sent her a look, one that clearly said she was done with this stupidity. With a sigh, she gave her friend a slight shrug. One more year. They'd go through the motions. Thea would keep her parents happy, and she could live the college life her Gran and Sookie lived vicariously through her.
Ωβπ
"It's just a bar." Kara repeated for the tenth time from the passenger's seat, her large brown eyes wide, as all the occupants in the car stared out the windshield toward the building in front of them. Her words had been meant to be reassuring, instead they hung uselessly in the air.
Evie might have scraped up a nugget of concern for her elected president, but Kara's type A personality had been rearing its ugly head most of the night. Failure to Kara, was like wearing clothing off the clearance rack, inexcusable. Because of her competitive, take no prisoners attitude, she had been relentless in bullying everyone to get on the same page.
When the boys refused to budge on the challenges, Evie had looked to Kara to be the voice of reason. But any form of protest vanished the second Grady turned his charm on Kara, who did a complete one eighty, and suddenly embraced the new, idiotic list.
For a night that was supposed to set the mood of the upcoming year, it was looking pretty damn bleak.
After the second bar, Evie was up to her neck Grady and Jack's grandstanding and obnoxious fist bumps. Worse, he'd been flirting shamelessly with Kara since they left campus. It went well past him trying to manipulate the sorority president into compliance, and even though Evie was done with his immature ass, it still stung he was being so obvious about it.
So, when Thea finally conned the bouncer out of his shirt, she bypassed Grady's SUV and went toward Kara's car instead. The change threw off the status quo when Thea followed her, forcing two of the frat brothers to ride with their president.
The fun part about Greek mixers, was the actual mixing part.
"Is my tattoo supposed to itch?" Selma asked, her eyes staring down at her wrist in concern.
"At least your nipple isn't on fire." Thea tossed back, not looking slightly upset when Kara's attention was pulled from the busy bar to glare back at her.
"You do realize you could've just gotten your bellybutton done." Their president said scathingly, still put out that Thea had gone to such an extreme.
"You could've taken one for the team El Presidente, but you were too busy looking like you were going to blow chunks." Thea sneered. "You could've put your foot down before this night even started, but instead you caved and sided with those TeKe assholes." Pausing Thea tore her heated glare from Kara and tossed an empty apology at Evie. "No offense."
Shrugging her slender shoulders, Evie was the last person to be insulted.
"Right. Let's just piss off the best Frat on campus." Kara threw back, her previous unease forgotten.
"There are other unwashed Frat dicks to party with." Thea fought back, unwilling, and unable to backdown.
Leaning her head against the window, Evie forced her eyes shut as tensions mounted inside the car. It weighed down on her, making the air thick and difficult to breath in. The only small blessing was that the other girls were useless sheep and hadn't jumped in, voicing their unwanted opinions.
The sound of a door slamming was a reprieve, and as Evie reopened her bluish-green eyes, she watched as Kara marched across the parking lot where the boys had just pulled in. The sophomore sober driver was looking a little green, as his brothers gave him strict instruction to stay put.
"I can't believe we voted that bitch to be in charge this year." Thea complained, glaring at the brunette.
"I can't believe I got a tattoo." Carrie moaned. "My parents are going to disown me."
"You got it on your left butt cheek." Evie muttered, wishing the night would just end. "So, unless you make it a habit of walking around stark naked, they'll never know."
Not looking convinced, Carrie let herself out of the car and headed over to where the boys and Kara were waiting.
"Is it always like this?" Their sober driver asked in a timid voice.
"Petty, obnoxious and turbulent?" Thea snarked as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Greek life is the best." Her dry comment made the younger girl wince, and Evie shot her a sympathetic smile. She remembered being just like her, with unrealistic ideas of sisterhood and tight bonds. No, it was just a continuation of High School, only with much more alcohol.
Knowing the only way for the night to end was to join the others in the parking lot, Thea and Evie waited as Selma scooted out of the backseat. Moving across the black tar of the parking lot, Evie felt the lingering oppression of that day's humidity on her skin. Lifting her face, her gaze landed on her boyfriend, who was sending one of his infamous wounded puppy dog look.
It was his typical go to when he'd been an absolute douche. He'd used it their freshman year when he'd accidently stood her up because he'd been too drunk after a day of drinking at the TeKe house. Sophomore year he'd come groveling with that particular expression when he'd lost his temper after she tried to point out how his friendship with Jack was toxic and was changing him. Junior year he'd used it so many times, that by the time summer rolled around it no longer had any effect on her. It took a while to realize he never actually said he was sorry after he'd been a jerk, and she'd allowed herself to be swayed by manipulation.
"Last challenge." Looking put out that the night hadn't gone the way he'd wanted, Jack leveled a hard glance toward her, clearly resting the blame at her feet. Had Evie given half a damn what Jack thought or felt she may have felt bad. But over the years Jack had taken being a narcissistic to new levels. "Lets just get this over with."
Looking torn, Grady watched as his best friend turned his back on the group and headed to the bar entrance, before sending her a brief glance. She knew he was waiting for some sort of confirmation that she was over her snit, but she just couldn't. His expression tightened and with a huff, he went to follow his friend.
"Trouble in paradise?" Kara asked in a way she probably thought looked sympathetic, but the spark of hope lit up in his eyes before she scurried off with most of the group.
Sharing a look with Thea, Evie sighed as they looped arms and made their way to where the group was now standing in line. Her eyes skirted over the outside of the non-assuming structure, wondering if in the past it had been some chain restaurant that had died a quick death.
The crowd outside was a shocking mix. Tourists looked around in trepidation, as they rubbed elbows with customers who looked as though they dressed for an anime convention, not a night out on the town. The line inched forward, and soon they were at the door.
"Wonderful. More co-eds." With a bored sigh, the tall blonde amazon stared back at the group with a less than thrilled expression on her face. Black leather encased her imposing frame, making her look like a pissed off dominatrix.
Folding her arms over her chest she heaved a sigh. "Welcome to Fangtasia. You know the drill, no ID no entrance." Putting her hand out, palm up she took one ID after another, looking utterly disgusted with the whole process. "And if you even try to hand me a fake one, I guarantee you wont like the consequences."
With each ID, the woman's eyes flicked from the plastic card, to the person. The act itself wasn't odd, seeing they'd hit at least six bars that night, and had repeated the same process at each. There was an intensity to her method, giving Evie a queasy feeling.
Next in line, Evie hesitated for a moment. Something was holding her back, almost a sixth sense telling her that this one remarkably simple, stupid act could possibly have some dangerous consequences. Shoving down the impulse to back out, Evie held out her license. Frowning, the woman paused before pinning her with a stare. "Would you say Stackhouse was a common name?"
Feeling the hairs on the back of her neck tingle, Evie shifted from one foot to the other. "Not exactly."
Humming, the woman waited for just a beat before flicking the license back. "Have a wonderful time."
Slipping past the guard at the gate, Evie entered the dim interior of the bar, the bass of the music vibrating all the way into her bones.
"Lady's lets get this shit done." Kara grimaces as she carefully makes her way through the crowd, making sure not to let anyone get too close to her. The other girls eye one another, before quickly following. Leaving Evie and Thea by themselves.
"This is like watching a train wreck." Eyes wide, Evie let her gaze wander around the interior. "Like I can actually feel it in my bones that this isn't gonna end well, but I just can't look away."
"I've never thought I'd see so many tourists, rednecks and goths in the same room, at the same time." Thea said opened mouthed, her eyes blinking in shock. "An entire psychology class could revolve around what's going down here."
Everywhere Evie's gaze went, was a sea of black leather and hillbilly plaid. It was a confusing contrast, and no matter how long she stared, her brain couldn't seem to unravel the visual mess it made. Most of the crowd consisted of what one would expect in a vampire bar. Social outcasts who probably dressed up as blood sucking undead long before vamps came out of the coffin.
"If I were to sit on his lap and told him what I wanted for Christmas, do you think he'd give me a candy cane?" Thea's voice caught Evie's attention, pulling her attention from the bizarre scene before her, to the lone blonde man sitting on a stage.
He was everything Bill Compton wasn't. Hot. And it was painfully clear that not all vampires were created equal.
Her sisters hadn't been wrong. The owner was without a doubt a nice piece of eye candy. But his bored expression to everything going on around him, as he stared down at the phone in his hand, put everything in perspective.
Humans were acting like total spazzes where vampires were concerned. The group of tourists in the corner were blatant as they took pictures like they were visiting the Eiffel tower. A few girls who reminded Evie of Dawn and Maudite were rubbing themselves against anyone who they thought possessed a set of fangs.
Turning her head to where Thea was still staring, her eye caught a couple hidden in the shadows, speaking softly to one another. Taking in the female's long blonde hair, and painfully white and red dress, Evie felt her heart freeze.
"Fuck." The word rolled off her tongue before she could stop it, as her hand reached over to clasp onto her friend. "We need to leave. Like now."
"We should've left the second we walked in." Not seeing the shocked look on Evie's face, Thea frowned.
"No, seriously, I have to go." Tugging on Thea she was already headed to the exit. "My sister's here."
"Your sister." Suddenly digging in her heels, Thea looked around the bar until she found the booth Sookie was tucked into. "No freaking way."
"Way."
"Is she with a vampire?"
"Worse." Evie muttered, knowing she was now going to have to explain. "It's her stupid new boyfriend. Who I will tell you all about. After we get the hell out of here."
Turning accusing eyes in her direction, Thea looked torn between shock and betrayed. "You didn't say anything."
"Trust me, he's really not all that interesting."
"Everly Lynn Stackhouse." Her sister's shrill voice cut through their quiet exchange, forcing a groan from Evie's lips before her sister was able to scoot out of the booth and make her way across the room to them.
Dropping Thea's arm, Evie forced a fake smile on her face. "Sookie. What a pleasant surprise."
"I don't know about that." Sookie fired back, her chest heaving in indignation. It was slightly comical, seeing she'd been practicing that same fake outrage since she was thirteen. She'd probably read about some heroine doing the same thing. But from years of experience, Evie knew Sookie would be madder than a wet cat if she laughed at her now. "I'm not all that happy seeing you here when you should be behaving yourself on campus. What would Gran say?"
"Probably the same thing she'd say if she knew you were here." Evie reasoned.
Folding her arms over her chest, only making her cleavage pop over the top of her dress, Sookie gave her a smirk. "Not that it's any of your business, but she knows where I am. But unlike you, I'm here to do something good. I'm here to see if I can find something to clear Jason's name."
"Actually, it looks like you're here on a date." Raising a brow, Evie let her eyes drift over Sookie's outfit. "Let me guess, woodland creatures helped you get ready?"
She knew she shouldn't push her older sister's buttons, that it would've been in her best interest to just take the highroad and make a quick escape, but it had been a long summer, and she was over her Sookie's bipolar temperament.
They'd always had a turbulent relationship, just like most sisters did, but it had taken a turn for the worse when Bill Compton entered the picture.
Speaking of the undead jackass, Evie let out a sigh as he made his way through the crowd, his face tight with indignation. She seriously had the worst luck.
"What is the meaning of this?" Stepping in between the two sisters, he put his arm protectively around Sookie's shoulder. "Everly, what are you doing in a place like this? Causing a scene, no less."
Wanting nothing more than to ask the same of him, Evie swallowed down her reply when Grady looked over in her direction from across the room. Any trace of humor slipped off his face, as his eyes shifted to where Bill was scowling at her. The last thing Evie wanted was to have all her dirty laundry exposed. She'd worked so hard to keep her home life away from her school one.
"We were just leaving." Sending Bill a brittle smile, Evie reached back and wrapped her fingers around Thea's wrist and gave a slight squeeze, praying Thea would play along.
"Perhaps that would be for the best." Bill agreed, sending her the same fake smile back.
Both girls turned at the same time, only to find the tall blonde woman from before, blocking their way out. Her bland look bore down at them, as her eyes moved rapidly from one face to the next. She didn't seem overly impressed with what she saw, as she let out a long sigh and looked down to study her nails.
"Your presence is being requested."
A look of agitation flashed over Sookie's face as she looked up at Bill, who in return looked back down at her. Frustration flared across his features before he caught himself and schooled his face into what he probably thought was a supportive, caring southern beau. Sookie seemed to eat it up, as she gave him a hesitant smile in return.
"Well, you two have fun with that." Giving her sister a half wave, Evie turned back around only to find the tall blonde woman still standing there.
"All of you." The woman purred, the sparkle in her eyes clearly showing how much she was enjoying the discomfort she was causing.
Instinct, and a strong desire to live had Evie searching for the quickest way out. Her eyes darted to the exit, as a chill went up her spine. It seemed the entire bar was watching now, and the only way she saw here getting out of her current predicament was to blow this joint.
"It really is adorable how you think you'd make it to the door." The woman's bland face showed the first sign of life, as the corner of her mouth ticked. "But I suggest you skedaddle up to the stage, Eric hates to be kept waiting."
"I didn't come here to see him." Wincing at how lame she sounded, Evie hated herself more when she took a step back away from the intimidating woman.
"Oh, I know." She sighed. "Some scavenger hunt shenanigans at the local University. You're not the first group to come by tonight."
"Everly." Sookie gasped from behind, totally scandalized.
"I know." The woman's eyes flickered over to where Sookie was standing, pinning her with a heavy gaze. "The absolute horror. College kids going to a bar, drinking. Whatever is this world coming to?"
"Sookie, we cannot ignore a summons from Eric." Evie could barely hear Bill's voice of the thrum of the music, and she wished him luck. Sookie wasn't known for picking up on social cues. She seemed to skip through life, doing what she wanted, when she wanted. Someday, her cluelessness was really going to get her in trouble.
But to her utter shock, Sookie gave Bill a hesitant nodded. His momentary look of relief vanished when he looked Evie's way. "Let's get this over with."
Thea seemed the first to move, but the woman's words stopped her in her tracks. "Not you."
Feeling Bill's hand on the small of her back, Evie jumped before shooting him a sharp look telling him to back off. He scowled and let his arm drop.
Looking back to where Eric sat waiting, she let out a sigh and made her way over to the stage. With every step she had to reminded herself she surrounded by a bar full of witnesses. Sure, most were probably mentally unstable, but they still could be questioned if anything should happen.
Right?
Eyeing a young man, dressed in leather chaps and a dog collar, she felt her hope fade just a little.
Grady seemed to wake up from his stupor, as he snapped his mouth shut, and went to move away from the bar. But before he could make it more than a few feet, the bartender was in front of him, blocking his path.
She made it to the stage before her sister or her dick of a boyfriend. He was no longer staring down at his phone but was now peering at her over steepled fingers. His gaze made her uncomfortable, as though he was inspecting her like some fascinating bug he'd found on the sidewalk. Torn between curiosity and slight disgust.
When he was done taking her in, he turned his attention to where Sookie stood, a sweet smile on her face and for a long second, Evie was terrified her sister would drop down into a curtsey.
"Bill Compton, it's been a while." His eyes lingered for a moment longer on Sookie, before landing on Bill.
"Yes." Bill postured. "I've been-."
"Mainstreaming. I heard." Eric finished for him, saying the word like it was something gross. "I see it's going well."
"This is my friend So-."
"Sookie Stackhouse." The woman suddenly appeared by Eric's side. "And her baby sister Everly."
"How do you know our names?" Startled, Sookie stared at the woman.
"I never forget a pretty face." Tapping the side of her forehead, the woman smirked as Sookie squirmed. "You're in my vault."
"Great." Her sister blinked rapidly, like she usually did when cornered. Struggling to find the proper way to reply, she repeated herself. "That's just great." Turning her eyes to the blonde man, she threw out. "It's nice to meet you."
"Well aren't you sweet." He responded dryly.
"Not really." Both Stackhouse sisters replied, and Evie ignored the dark scowl her sister sent her way.
"So, two Bill?" Eric smirked. "I didn't know you had it in you."
"What? Gross." Standing up straight, Evie looked from Bill's clamped jaw to Eric's amused expression. "Nope. That's not . . . Bill Compton you better tell him the truth."
"Interesting." Eric grinned as he leaned forward.
Stepping forward, Bill spoke quickly. "Both are under my protection."
"Protection?" Intrigued, Eric looked like he was playing a verbal chess game, and it was clear Bill wasn't doing so well.
Reluctantly, Bill sighed. But before he spoke, he sent an accusing look at Evie, as if somehow, she'd done something wrong. "Sookie is mine."
Leaning back in his seat, Eric smiled softly. "Is she?"
Perking up, Sookie sent the blonde vampire a saucy grin. "Yes, yes I am. I'm Bill's."
Clucking his tongue Eric turned his gaze on Evie. "And you're . . ."
"Absolutely not his." Evie shook her head while raising her hands up in front of her. She and Sookie barely got along long enough to share clothing, but to share the same men? No freaking way.
Her reply seemed to amuse him, a little, and he looked up at the woman and spoke in some weird sort of language. When they were finished, he looked back at Sookie. "Ms. Stackhouse, I hear you've been asking questions of some of my customers. If you have anything to ask you should ask it of me."
"Well thank you." Sookie replied, like she was talking to Maxine Fortenberry at a Sunday church luncheon. Reaching into her old lady clutch she pulled out two pictures. Before she passed them over, Evie caught the faces of Maudette and Dawn smiling back. "Do you recognize either of these girls?"
Oh, what the fuck Sookie? Evie thought in horror. What the hell was her sister thinking? Evie knew the ongoing gossip back in Bon Temp was that there was a link between the killings and vampires. But she wasn't entirely sold on it. It didn't make sense, a vampire killing someone without even taking a sip was like a druggie killing their dealer without taking their stash.
Jason was innocent. Well, he was innocent of killing anyone. And at this point the police had buckus in the way of actual evidence to pin the murders on him. So how her older sister thought it was a good idea to come prancing into some a vampire bar, asking questions about girls who may or may not have visited, was beyond Evie's comprehension.
Worse, what was Bill up to? Bringing her sister here, knowing she would be asking questions, stupid insane questions that could get her killed, it was beyond insane.
"This one offered herself to me." Pointing one of the pictures, his expression not revealing a thing, Eric went on. "I found her too pathetic for my intentions."
Evie didn't even need to look. There was little doubt he was speaking about Maudette. It was sad really; Evie could remember a time when Maudette had been sweet. Sure, it was like ten years ago, when she was like twelve and the now dead woman had been in High School. Fresh, young with a full future ahead of her, Maudette had been the town's sweetheart. Somewhere between then and her untimely death Maudette had been beaten down, until she all but gave up.
"Now this one however I have tasted." Looking up from Dawn's picture, the blonde vampire looked unapologetic. Sookie winced, some of her bravado evaporating away.
"Well thank you so much for your time." Could her sister ever be normal?
Rolling her eyes at the ridiculousness of it all, ready to return to her friends, Evie froze when Eric's nordic blue gaze moved back to her. "What about you?"
"Me?" Eyes wide, Evie shook her head. "I'm good. I have zero questions about who has or hasn't come to your bar."
Unlike Sookie, she wasn't stupid enough to question a vampire about any recent murders in her hometown. Instead, she was the idiot who was here like a thirteen-year old on a dare.
"How far have you gotten on your little scavenger hunt?" He asked her this like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Oh, this particular group is a rather competitive lot." Pam purred, handing him a crumbled up piece of paper in his direction. Her eyes moved from the top of her head, down her body. "Want to show me the new jewelry?"
"What is she talking about?" Sookie whispered, not so quietly.
"Interesting." Eric nodded. "A shirt from a bouncer, check. Get matching tattoos, check -."
"Everly Lynne!" Sookie shouted.
"Jesus Christ Sook, I got a tattoo. It's not like I participated in an orgy."
Standing up, Pam chuckled. "Oh, I might like this breather."
"Anywhere interesting?" Looking over the paper at her, his gaze causing a flush to burn at her cheeks, Evie fidgeted. "It's nothing big, just a small one on the back of my neck."
His look was expectant, as he waited for a heartbeat of a moment before heaving a long sigh. Twirling his finger, he sent her a searing look when Evie didn't immediately respond. It wasn't until Bill nudged her from behind that Evie moved. But not before giving her sister's boyfriend a dark look.
Seeing Bill was going to be of no use, Evie took a step up closer to the stairs that led up to the stage. It felt wrong to turn her back on a vampire, but not feeling that she had any other option to turned. She wished she hadn't worn a bohemian style tank top, and shorts. But the humidity was still stifling after the sun dipped from the sky, and the thought of wearing anything else sounded torturous.
Moving her waist length waves over her shoulder, the same color as her sister's, Evie locked eyes with Thea, trying to pull some strength from her best friend. Instead of strength, her friend looked torn. As curiosity and fear warred on her tanned features.
Her fingers shook, as she struggled to find the edge of the tape covering the edges of the small bandage. The slight sting of her flesh being tortured yet again caused her to wince. But the soft breeze against her back had her forgetting the pain, as the flush moved from her cheeks and burned a path down to her neck.
"Interesting choice." His voice low, barely loud enough to hear over the horrible techno music, but the humor was hard to miss.
"It's a Greek symbol for family." Grady, her tall stupid barely boyfriend spoke up, gaining Eric's attention.
"No." Eric replied simply from behind her. "Actually, it doesn't."
"Evie is a history major." Grady argued back, clearly ignoring the pleading look Evie was shooting him. "She read all about it last year."
"Oh really?" Strong cool hands moved to rest on her shoulders. "What would you say if I told you, it's an old Nordic rune for femininity." His thumb moved softly up her neck, and over the tender skin.
"No way dude." Grady sputtered.
"More accurately, it represents feminine fertility and the vagina, dude." Even though she couldn't see his face, she could hear the sneer in Eric's voice.
His hands lifted, and though she hadn't felt him move, she had a feeling he was no longer there. Chancing a look over in Grady's direction, she saw the conflicted look on his face as he looked down at the bandage on his forearm.
"So, where were we." Eric asked from his original spot, and after one last glance at her friends, Evie turned back to face him. "Oh, this is good. Member of the team gets a piercing, beneath the neck, check."
Before Sookie would say anything, Evie sent her a look that clearly said she hadn't been the one, and to keep her big mouth shut. Eric saw the exchange and looked disappointed. "Team picture with campus security, boring but also checked. Score a free drink, check. Have a stranger do a body shot off a team member, sadly not checked."
His head snapped up, and a purely sadistic look passed over his face. His eyes took her in, and Evie felt her heart literally stop beating inside her chest when he blatantly licked his lips. "Well, I can help rectify that."
"That's not necessary." Evie quickly blurted out, taking a step back. "Really, I'm sure you're real . . . busy running a bar and all."
"What kind of host would I be if I didn't see to the needs of my patrons?" Eric replied just as quickly, clearly enjoying the unease he was creating.