The drive down the dark Louisiana road was tense as I clutched the steering wheel tight. The car was hot, the A/C long dead in the old clunker I'd been driving since I'd saved enough money to buy it when I was 18.
I'd been on my own since I was 18 and old enough to live on my own, renting a slum-hole apartment with the meagre savings I'd accumulated by working minimum wage jobs, sometimes two at a time since I was 14.
The oppressive silence was only broken by the occasional sniffle from the passenger seat. Sneaking a glance, my heartstrings tugged slightly as I took in Jessica's sullen and dejected form. Her pretty blue dress was wrinkled, her hair tousled, and her eyes red from tears as she slumped against the window and cried quietly.
When I'd gotten the phone call just an hour beforehand, I'd just gotten in from another double shift at the local late-night diner and was anxious to sleep, even if it was in my rundown, no A/C trailer. I'd almost ignored the buzzing of my cheap, clunky cell phone until I'd seen the number on display and panicked.
I nearly had a heart attack when I'd answered and heard Jessica's panicked voice as she begged me to pick her up from the party she'd snuck out to, and some boy had tried to take advantage of her.
The drive there had been nerve-wracking and dangerous as I pushed my clunker to the limits and sped to the rich prick's house up in Ellerbe Woods, a wealthy suburb that even I knew church mouse Jessica had no business being in.
I felt my blood boil as I took in the barely forming bruises on Jess's upper arms, small circles that I knew were the by-product of someone holding her too roughly. The rip on her dress's skirt only cemented my assertions.
When I'd arrived at the party to find Jessica sobbing in the arms of one of her girlfriends, I'd been seconds away from hunting the bastard down until the friend had promised that Jess's injuries were the result of a drunk frat boy getting too handsy on the dancefloor and nothing more.
It had only been Jess's sobbed pleas that we leave before her parents - her father - found out she'd snuck out. Whatever had happened at that party could only pale in comparison to whatever her father would do to her if he discovered her 'disobedience.'
Facing forward, I cursed when I saw the speedometer. Usually, I had my gas station visits timed by the hour in an effort to save money, but all the speeding around tonight had pushed my luck to the limit. The needle was dangerously in the red and creeping down by the second.
"What's wrong?" Jess croaked, looking scared.
"Nothing," I soothed, reaching over to pat her arm, "I just need to get some gas."
"Oh," Jess said, slumping back against the window, her eyes glazing with inner thought.
"Everything's going to be fine, Jess," I crooned, glancing at her, "I'll make sure of it."
The drive up to the gas station was deathly silent, Jess's quiet sobs having stopped and been replaced with dead-eyed stares out the window.
Once I had pulled up to the nearest pump, I stepped out of the vehicle exceedingly aware of how empty the old rundown gas station was with flickering fluorescent lights and old pumps covered in dirt and grime.
Walking quickly around the vehicle, I made sure to lock the car doors behind with Jess in the passenger seat. My pulse picked up, and my eyes felt dry as I stared at the surrounding area, my skin prickling.
I wasn't entirely sure what it was that had my senses screaming 'danger,' but whatever it was, scared the absolute shit out of me. The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow as the dial slowly multiplied, clicking in time with my heartbeat.
When the pump finally beeped, indicating my gas tank was full, I breathed deeply and set to placing the gas dispenser back into its slot and speed walking towards the store to pay. I was only a few feet from the door when a whooshing sound had me spinning on my heel and holding back a scream.
The two figures standing behind me were pale, with dark clothing. The man smiled from behind fangs while the woman scowled her red, long nails drumming on her upper arms from their crossed position on her chest.
The man was tall and thin, with dark hair and the disposition of a man who'd faced hardship in his human life, forever painted in his immortality.
The woman was slightly shorter, with pixie-cut dark hair and a thin, leather-covered frame.
"Why, hello there, Pretty. We're going to need to borrow you for a second if that's alright."
My breathing sped up, but before I could even move to run, the man sped in front of me and had me in a tight hold against his chest. He grinned lasciviously, looking down at my cleavage, pushed up by our close positions and the push-up bra I'd worn to work that day in an effort for more tips.
I was so focused on staring into the stranger's dark, malicious eyes that I jumped when the sound of a car door slamming filled the tension-filled, late-night air. Jerking my head to look past the vampire's shoulder, I held back an anguished yell at the image of the female vampire holding Jessica by her throat against my car.
"Jess-" I yelled before the vampire covered my mouth and growled.
"Shut up, blood bag. We have places to be, and I don't wanna bruise the merchandise. But, I will if I have to."
The sound of Jess's muffled sobs and the shuffling of our feet was the only sound to fill the air as the two vampires dragged us to an older model car park in the shadows off the side of the road.
They laid in wait; they'd planned this.
I think I was in shock because, after my initial struggle and the vampire's threat, I froze, forcing the vampire to drag me rather than me walking towards the parked vehicle. It wasn't until I saw the female vampire shove a sobbing Jessica into the trunk that my mind caught up to what was happening, and I reacted.
"No, NO! Stop it!" I shrieked, struggling feebly against the vampire's iron-tight hold.
Instead of arguing, the last thing I saw was the car's trunk heading towards my face fast before my forehead connected, and with a flash of pain, everything went black.
I woke up to the sound of jeering and sobbing, my body aching from hitting the cold cement hard. Rolling to my side, I groaned as I looked around, freezing at the group of vampires staring intently, some jeering and others panting through fangs, obviously hungry.
When I heard the familiar sound of sobbing, I turned to see Jessica kneeling on scraped knees staring up at the group of vampires in horror. Under her breath, she began to pray and beg in a jumble of incomprehensible words. Speech slurred with tears.
I was jarred from my scrambled thoughts when the middle-aged-looking vampire sitting on a throne-like chair spoke up, "You can quit stalling. What you see in this cow, Mr. Compton, is merely a response to stimuli. Humans are quite... primitive... incapable of feeling pain as we do. But you know that. Luisa."
The bitch from the gas station took a step forward, looking eager as she reached for Jessica.
Before I'd realized what I was doing, I threw myself into her path, yelling, "No! Leave her! What the fuck is going on?"
The 'Magister' looked almost amused as he answered my question, "What's going on? Well, it's quite simple, cur, Mr. Compton here broke the law," He gestured to a dark-haired vampire who looked to be in pain, "And because of that, your friend is to be his punishment."
Before I could question him further, Luisa took hold of me and separated Jess and me. In one quick motion, sending me flying several feet away.
Quickly sitting up, the adrenaline allowed me to ignore the aches and pains caused by the fall. I spoke again; if I was going to die, the least this motherfucker could do was answer my questions.
"What punishment?!"
The Magister ignored me, his attention entirely focused on Mr. Compton, "According to our records, you have never been a Maker, is that right?"
The vampire looked pained as he answered stiffly, "Yes."
"Do you know the procedure?"
"Wait!" I shrieked; surprisingly, the vampires all froze, turning their attention to me with narrow eyes, fangs out.
Not allowing that to intimidate me, I continued, "What if I took her place?"
"Well, Mongrel," The Magister drawled, leaning forward, "One of you is set to be turned; it doesn't matter to me which one it is. The other? Well, let's just say we're in need of a midnight snack."
A couple vampires chuckled, smiling my way in a menacing sneer.
Gulping, I flinched back; there was no way out of this that both Jess and I survived.
At least if she turns, she'll have a chance of some kind of life… be brave, she needs us.
After a long moment of staring at the pavement, I looked up at the dark-haired vampire and said, "Take her. Please, take care of her."
The vampire looked shocked until his expression softened, and he replied earnestly, "You have my word."
Nodding slightly, I turned to Jessica, who had finally seemed to snap out of whatever shock she'd been in and was staring at me in horror.
"It's ok, Jess," I whispered, trying to sound confident. I kept my chin high, refusing to be reduced to the scared kitten they wanted me to be, "You'll be powerful, immortal. You'll finally be free."
Her chin wobbled, and she looked devastated and shook her head, with tears flowing. Finally, she choked on a sob and held her hands to her mouth to try to muffle her cries.
She's stronger than she thinks; she'll survive this.
"Proceed, Mr. Compton, I grow impatient." The Magister snapped, leaning back in his seat.
Kneeling down, Mr. Compton looked guilty as he stared deep into Jessica's eyes. Then, after a tension-filled moment, he spoke in a soothing voice, "What is your name?"
"Jessica." Her voice was dreamy and far away.
"Look at me, Jessica. You're safe now. Look in my eyes. Everything will be fine."
Whatever spell the vampire was trying to cast was broken as the Magister spoke up once again, "I hate to interrupt, but glamour is not permitted."
The man looked almost gleeful as Jessica fell out of her trance and began to struggle anew. Her shrieks were loud, and her movements in vain.
"Seriously?!" I yelled, my temper flaring, "It's bad enough you want to kill her; you also want her to suffer too?"
Mr. Compton seemed to share my sentiments, snapping, "She's just a girl!"
The Magister was unfazed, "You are boring me. Shut up and do as you're told."
Mr. Compton tried and failed to smooth Jessica with calming words as she struggled, yelling my name amid prayers.
I felt my eyes tear up and well over, wetness covering my checks and cooling their hot surface.
"It's ok, Jess, you'll be ok."
"No, let go. No, no. Let go of me! No! Stop it! Stop! No!"
I saw Mr. Compton's lips move but could no longer hear him over Jess's pleas. Then, he struck after saying a quick word, tearing into Jess's throat and drinking greedily.
Jess's screams silenced into a hoarse croak, her vocal cords probably damaged by the vampire's rough treatment.
The next few minutes were agony as I was forced to watch as my sister's life force was drained out of her while the crowd cheered and the vampire growled from between blood-stained teeth.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, her cries fell utterly silent, and the vampire ripped into his wrist, holding the bloody limb up to her gaping mouth.
Once the process was complete, he stood with her hanging limply in his arms.
"Well done, Mr. Compton. Ms. Swynford de Beaufort will accompany you to ensure you don't destroy your new progeny before she can rise again."
I looked down at my dirt-covered, bloodied hands, hearing the sounds of retreating footfalls as my sister was carried away.
What have I done?
"As for you…."
My head snapped up only to flinch at the number of hungry eyes and flashing fangs to greet me. Oh god, this was it.
Gathering what was left of my courage, I sat up, looking the closest vampire in the eye and holding it. If I was going to die, let it be with a little bit of dignity.
The blond vampire I was having a staring contest with was tall and broad, with chin-length blonde hair and ageless blue eyes that spoke of countless years.
He's beautiful; a shame he's about to kill me…
Just as I felt the crowd closing in, the blonde behemoth spoke up, his voice deep and cultured, "Magister, if I may?"
"Yes, Mr. Northman."
"I've been in search of a new progeny for a while now; Pam is getting spoiled in her only childhood. Please, let me claim this… girl. She amuses me."
My breath caught in my throat, and I struggled not to run. I didn't know whether to be hopeful or terrified by the blonde's interest.
"I don't know, Mr. Northman, my tribunal is hungry…."
The blonde made a slight bowing gesture and replied, "I was just hoping that after that risky business back in 1837 that you might-"
"Silence!" The Magister called, looking irritated before his face smoothed out, and he grumbled, "Very well, Mr. Northman, consider us square. But remember, in these parts, I am the authority."
The blonde nodded before striding towards me, steps sure even as I struggled to my feet and glared.
"Come, Lilla Krigare."
He held out his hand, palm up and raised an eyebrow in a challenge when I didn't leap to take it.
Taking a steadying breath, I took his hand, marvelling at how cold it was, even with the cool night air surrounding us.
With a gentle tug, the vampire pulled me to his chest and held me in an almost consoling embrace. His eyes were soft as he stared into my eyes, blue eyes curious.
I refused to seem weak, especially not in front of Magi-dick, so I stared back, struggling to keep my breaths steady.
With firm hands, he took the back of my head in one massive paw and held me in place as he ducked down and smelled at my throat.
The dull clicking sound of released fangs had me involuntarily jumping, but he held me firm and shushed me softly.
Unlike Jessica, who looked to be in agony when Mr. Compton bit her, I only felt twin sharp pricks at my throat before I began to feel dizzy.
Swaying into the large vampire's soft hold, I was vaguely aware as the cheers set off again. Too focused on the firm, almost comforting chest against my own and the strong arms that kept me standing long after my legs gave out below me.
It felt like a dream as I felt everything alive; everything human about me seemed to drain out of me like a gentle stream.
It didn't hurt when I finally lost consciousness.
It felt like coming home.
I woke up to a mouthful of dirt. Gasping on non-existent air, I clawed at the darkness. Then, realizing quickly it was dirt, I panicked and began digging. My hands moved frantically through the loose soil.
I was saved from digging too long, mouth full of soil, when a large pale hand broke the surface and grasped my arm in a firm but gentle hold. The hand yanked, bringing me up through the topsoil and into the cool night hair.
Once I was on solid ground, I fell to my knees and heaved, spitting out dirt and whatever else I'd inhaled in my panic. I was vaguely aware of a cool hand rubbing my back soothingly as I finally coughed up the black dirt and, with shaky arms, pushed myself into a kneeling position.
"Breathe Lilla Krigare, focus on me," a deep voice spoke, trying to soothe me. I struggled to follow his instructions. Everything in my body screamed that I could and should trust him.
Maker. Protector. Leader. Trust. Family.
Finally able to catch my breath, I went to fall back on my ass but instead found myself collapsing against a broad, muscular chest. Surprisingly, despite my internal panic and confusion, I didn't struggle when strong arms wrapped around my waist and held me close.
The close proximity did something primal to me, bringing a deep sense of belonging and security that I don't think I'd ever felt in my life, not even as a naive child. Back before my father became an entirely despicable human being and began to use his family as human punching bags.
After a few more minutes of taking deep breaths and getting used to my newly heightened senses, I sat up and tried to compose myself. The night air was so loud, yet so quiet at the same time. I could hear every cricket, every blow of wind, yet I knew that it was a calm, typical Louisiana night. If I forced hard enough, I could hear the sound of cars zooming by down the highway, but we must have been miles away at least, going by the forest and fauna that surrounded my dug-up grave.
My grave. How fucked up is that?
Standing on strong yet shaky legs, I turned to my 'Maker'. He really was gorgeous with his tall, broad frame, chin-length golden locks and unique features that made him look both powerful and beautiful at the same time.
Everything in me screamed at me to go to him for comfort, but I fought that urge. Instead, wrapping my arms around my waist, I mumbled, "Who are you?"
"Eric Northman, Sheriff of Area 5 and your Maker."
"Well, Eric, now what?" I asked, rocking on my heels.
His lips crept up slightly in amusement, and in a deep voice, he answered, "Now, little progeny, we go home, and I get you some dinner. Hopefully, Pam won't be too upset by the new baby."
"Pam?" I asked, shuffling on nervous feet.
"Your new older sister," He said simply before taking my hand in his and gently pulling me to follow him as he marched towards the sounds of passing cars.
I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time when I took in the red convertible Eric had waiting for us. It was flashy to the extreme and obviously expensive.
I guess when you live for centuries, you might as well save up.
I hesitated before stepping into the vehicle, looking down at my dirt-covered clothing and skin. I looked like something out of a cheap horror flick.
You are something out of a horror movie, dipshit.
Eric paused at the driver's side, looking at me. Smirking, he said, "Get in…"
The pause was probing and it took me a second to figure out what the vampire was asking. Startling when I figured it out, I answered, "Grace, my name is Grace."
