Chapter 43: Teenage Riot
Chow drove Olivia (now sitting beside him in the front passenger seat) all the way to Bon Temps. He didn't protest, ask any questions or raise any concerns about the enemy she made back there - he just drove, fully accepting how she handled the situation. Chow was big on silence. Silence, dark alleyways, and being sexy. Once they got off the highway, Chow started taking the off roads and dirt paths Olivia recognized as being the correct path to Lafayette's house.
"You've been there before?" Olivia asked, interrupting their apparent vow of silence.
"Yes," and he offered nothing more.
Olivia could only think of three reasons why Chow would have visited this little shack in the woods: one, he lied about how many people Eric had under surveillance and spied on Lafayette too; two, Lafayette and Chow were lovers; and/or three, Chow was a supplier of vampire blood. The latter theory would put Chow in the "younger than 100 years old" category which is considered very young as far as vampires go. If this were the case, Chow must have some pretty impressive skills to belong in the Sheriff's inner circle. Olivia also caught herself wondering what effects his blood had. What would Lafayette label him under? The mystery continued.
The car went down the long dark winding road amidst the woods that was Lafayette's driveway. They could hear the party happening before they saw it - there was music blasting loud enough to put any club to shame. Once they reached the bright little house which emanated colorful lights from every window, she could see people partying inside and hanging out on the porch. There were at least half a dozen cars parked around the clearing and three trucks parked back to back up the narrow driveway.
So much for getting here early. Then it dawned on her that even if she got here before the party started and changed to blend in, she still would have been the chick who brought a vampire to a house party. The Escalade was idling far enough away from the house that the people laughing and drinking out on the porch hadn't noticed them yet.
"Would you like to come in?" Olivia asked.
"Is this also off-site work?"
"Err, no. This is a social call."
A burst of laughter came out of the house as if on cue.
"No, I'm good, you go ahead," he said, looking at the house without blinking. "I'll back up and park off the main road. I'll be in the woods if you need me."
"You're going to be out in the woods creeping me all by yourself?"
"Watching," he corrected her.
"Creeping," she insisted.
"I've 'creeped' you countless times."
"That's not better," she gave the vampire a stern look, but he did not budge. "Fine then. I'll yell into the darkness when I'm ready to go home."
Somehow that seemed like an oddly fitting description of her life. Olivia reached around the backseat and grabbed her change of clothes, then stepped out of the car, almost falling down onto the gravel. This damn Escalade needed an airstair.
Olivia approached the house with butterflies in her stomach. She opened the back door that led into the kitchen, hoping to enter the party unseen. Instead, she walked right into the heart of it. Lafayette was making drinks by the sink and Tara was opening a beer bottle against the edge of the kitchen counter. There were at least 6 other people scattered inside that she had never met, all eyed her with curiosity as she entered. She immediately raised her mind shield as high as she could.
"Of course I tell you to dress like a hoe and you show up serving me Manhattan hooker," Lafayette said loudly over the music and voices.
"I had to work, I'm getting changed I promise," Olivia tried to dodge the strangers across the small kitchen towards the hallway. "Just pretend you haven't seen me yet!"
"What kind of work you be doin' dressed like that?" Tara yelled out. "I'm tellin' you girl, this is a sure sign Eric ain't paying you enough."
Olivia shut herself in the small bathroom, muffling the noises. She got dressed quickly, actually feeling thankful to be wearing less fabric. It was quite hot in this house. She could hear the sound of the blender slashing ice cubes and another burst of feminine laughter. As any good gay man would have it, this house was filled with women.
When Olivia returned to the kitchen, Lafayette immediately handed her a giant margarita glass filled with a coral red slushy and a straw. He was holding a tray full of them, giving them out like candy.
"Drank," he ordered, fluttering his heavy fake eyelashes.
Not questioning it, she took a confident sip and immediately regretted the punch of tequila that hit her. The aftermath burned differently, it was warm like a hug, tingling her stomach. She usually wasn't a fan of citrus, but she really liked this one.
"What is this?"
"Cajun margaritas," he yelled out from the living room. "My specialty."
The rest of the party went as well as you'd expect. The more she drank the margarita, the more inefficient her mind shield became. It only took her half a glass to know way too much about the other party guests. Her presence there made Tara nervous. She liked Olivia, but she knew vampires were trouble and thought Olivia was like the fluffy white rabbit who led you down a deep dark hole. It made Olivia's stomach sink a little, but she knew Tara was probably right. She was the only guest who knew who her cousin really worked for, and that he wasn't the town's friendly and independent drug dealer. Tara wished Lafayette would tell her why he so desperately needed the money because it wasn't to live in a better house or buy a decent car. Olivia concluded Tara did not know her aunt resided in a top-of-the-line asylum, and she knew it wasn't her place to say a damn thing.
A man named Jesus was also there, and he had a huge crush on Lafayette who also shared the same mutual feeling. There were sparks in the air every time the two eyed each other across the room. If Olivia was a betting woman, she would put her life savings on betting the two would hook up tonight. A waitress named India was ecstatic about a new girl she was dating, and she was going to ask her to move in together soon.
Olivia couldn't help but chuckle a laugh. Female relationships burned hot and often moved fast as hell, and hers had been no different. Olivia and her (first fiancee) Mariana were engaged after 6 months of dating in college, which in retrospect was kind of insane. The whole thing was a cliche - they met in the dorms, and although Olivia had known for a while she was bisexual and had had experiences with multiple genders at that point, Mariana was brand new at it. She was an international student from Brazil, with beautiful sunkissed dark hair, perfect skin, and green eyes that carried the whole universe in them. She spoke excellent English but her thoughts were in Portuguese - a beautiful language Olivia vowed to never learn. It was the closest she ever experienced not knowing someone's thoughts, of having a normal relationship. But Mariana never came out of the closet, never told her family or friends back in Brazil about Olivia at all. Despite loving Olivia and wanting to stay in the US, she could not go through with disappointing her conservative family. Mariana moved back to Sao Paulo, got a fancy corporate job, and ended up marrying a man, and the last she heard, was pregnant with their second kid. Mariana had been her first heartbreak. It took years for the loss to stop hurting, but Olivia reluctantly understood. Mariana always deeply cared what other people thought of her, especially her family. While Olivia's first life lesson was not to. As a telepath, she couldn't. It was either apathy or insanity.
Olivia snapped out of it and carried on with drinking her margarita and hopping into lively conversations. A man named Emmanuel carried himself well, making new friends all around, but inside he couldn't help but worry about his sick sister. Maudette Pickens was pissed off at her boyfriend and was looking for a revenge hookup. Kennedy Green felt slightly defeated about her sixth failed job interview and was losing hope that there was anyone out there willing to hire an ex-con (she killed her violent and abusive boyfriend in self-defense, only served a year). Tara told Kennedy she'd put in a good word for her in the club if she ever wanted to become a dancer. Kennedy could clean up, for sure, the girl was hella beautiful.
Hoyt was fed up with his overbearing mother and wanted to move out. Jason (who was damn delicious by the way) was pissed off that his grandmother passed away and left him out of the will (yikes). He felt rejected, alone and lost, and utterly pissed off gran had left everything to his sister. Ooh, he was prime for sad sex! Maybe she should hook Jason and Maudette up.
Terry was also here, and he was ecstatic his dog was pregnant - this he actually told her. Olivia wasn't insane to listen to his head ever again. He showed her pictures of his Catahoula Annie on his phone and asked if she would like a puppy.
"Oh my Goodness Terry, I can't take care of a puppy, it's like having a baby," she told him. She never had a pet, or a baby, and had no interest in neither.
"They make great guard dogs though."
She laughed, glancing at the woods outside. "I think I got that covered."
The party went on through the night. They listened and danced to all of Lafayette's favorite 90s pop divas (Whitney, Mariah, Celine, Selena, Janet, Cher) and a whole lot of country. Though Olivia couldn't tell who - it was a brand new genre to her, and one she didn't care for that much. It was funny seeing Tara dance with clothes on for a change and like a normal fucking person. It was even better seeing her have fun.
Hoyt, as she discovered, was Maxine Fortenberry's only son and also her neighbor. He was tall like a fucking tree and had a childish goofy face but he seemed like a good man. He worked in construction during the day, and a mall guard in the evenings, all so he could avoid his mother as much as he could. Olivia didn't blame him, she didn't care for his mother either. Taking the advantage of her newfound handy neighbor, she hired him to finally hang up the pictures, mount her TV on the walls, and clean her chimney. He almost choked on his beer when she said that, but she did really mean the chimney - winter was coming and she had been ignoring all her homeowner duties since the day she moved in.
Olivia felt warm and fuzzy, and not only because of the alcohol. She was lulled by the (perhaps false) sense of connection with these people. She knew so much about them in the mere hours she had been here. For her, feeling a connection was a rare thing, and when it happened it always made me so happy. The small instances where she did not feel alone. She would leave reflecting on whether or not any of this was real and valid or if it only felt that way because she was a telepath and none of these people knew anything truthful or meaningful about her at all for tomorrow. For now, she would just try to enjoy the moment.
Suddenly there were small pops of fireworks outside, but no lights. No one seemed bothered by it, although everyone could certainly hear it. Feeling curious, Olivia headed outside, feeling the immediate relief of the cold and fresh night air. 30 feet east of the house, Terry and Jason were shooting at empty beer cans by the edge of Lafayette's clearing. Apparently playing with guns at a party is pretty standard in these parts. She had a fleeting moment of worry that they could have maybe hit Chow. Her mind scanned the woods, and like a beacon, she found him on the opposite side of the driveways, far away from the line of fire. It was a very strange feeling, being able to tell where he was.
She thought of what Terry had said, about the guard dog. Olivia needed to learn how to protect herself without one. Olivia didn't know why, but she didn't think Chow would be around forever. And she couldn't rely on him or anyone - needing people made you too comfortable, and soft. When they inevitably let you down, you could very well die because of it. She took a deep breath. No time like the present.
"Hey!" She called out to Jason and Terry, who instantly puffed up their chests at the sight of her. "Can you teach me?"
"What- to shoot?" Terry asked her.
"Yeah."
"What does a girl like you need to use a gun for?" Jason asked with a smirk on his face. "You're way too pretty to do something this dangerous."
Terry suddenly looked like someone had turned on his super-soldier operating software. "You're wrong, she should know how to protect herself. You sober enough for this?"
Olivia nodded. She had only one margarita and some water, and she felt fine. Famous last words.
"Here's what you do."
Terry taught her everything about the two handguns he had on him - a Beretta M9 which carried 8 rounds of 9mm, army grade. The other was a Walther P99, 14 rounds of 9mm, German-made. He taught her about safety, how to take it apart and put it back together, how to reload the cartridge and reload the gun. She had never seen Terry so focused and so alive. His army training clearly took over.
The shooting part was the fun part. The recoil was a lot more than she expected, and the shots were much louder than they make it seem on TV. Also, shooting in the dark was obviously hard, but she managed to get some cans at the 10 and 15 ft mark. Anything beyond that, Olivia couldn't even tell where they were. She liked the Walther gun the best because it was much lighter and fit in her palms more naturally. Surprised by her performance, Jason also let her have a go with his shotgun. He taught her how to load and properly hold it, tightly against her right shoulder. You bet your ass he stood pressed against her as he instructed her. A shot of adrenaline took over when she shot and reloaded the gun. It was the most satisfying and powerful rush.
If she wasn't too hungover tomorrow she absolutely would go gun shopping.
Back at the party, feeling more alive and invigorated than ever, she danced her heart away to Cher, screaming the lyrics of Believe with Kennedy and India (did she believe in life after love?). There were shots of tequila, keg stands, lines of cocaine, and other crushed pills. In that, Olivia did not partake as drugs really fucked her telepathy skills. She took Adderall once during finals and she could hear the thoughts of the entire dorm block for 6 straight hours. It was so absolutely overwhelming not having any control of her amplified powers that she almost called 911 on herself. But in the end, she was too afraid of being sent straight to the looney bin.
"So, is yous takin' Jason Stackhouse for a spin or what?" Lafayette asked, holding two different girly-looking drinks, one in each hand.
Way too much baggage. "No, I'm good."
"What, yous only sleep with vamps now? One taste of dead dick and she's ruined for life!" He preached loudly like a pastor in church.
"Lafayette!" Olivia shushed him, half laughing. "It's not like that!"
"Dead pussy then?"
Jeeeesus- "No!"
"Child, look at yous! Beat fuckin' red. So tell me. How was it? Half as good as their blood? Oh, and who was it? The scary motherfucker inside Fangtasia, or the scary mother fucker outside? Those would be my choices if yous askin' me."
Liv could feel her face go hot at the realization Lafayette and Olivia had the same taste in men. She had only had vampire blood twice; once, last night - a drop of Chow's. And before that, a sip of Eric's. Two completely different experiences, under two different circumstances, with two completely different consequences. Now with sex… She would be lying if she didn't catch herself craving him on her lips and between her legs again. But for whatever reason, she didn't feel the same pull towards Chow, despite being practically connected to him by ancient blood magic.
"I don't kiss and tell."
"How boring!" Lafayette cried, taking a large sip of his sunset-colored drink. "But is yous being careful with their blood? It's a hell of a drug, but it can turn on you, baby girl."
"What do you mean?"
"Withdrawal for once. Human blood sustains life, vampire blood is life. How do yous think we are so fucking rich?" He whispered the last part. "Get someone hooked on it then take it away? The emptiness turns people into something dark and nasty. The desperation can make people do ugly thangs. When I cut off Jason Stackhouse last year, the son of a bitch tried to fight the whole town for a week. And I sees the muscles you packin' on your lil frame and I feel bad for the bitch who crosses yas."
Olivia's stomach sunk a bit, and it wasn't because of the tequila. She thought of Debbie Pelt, who must be in the tenth circle of hell right now.
"I don't take vampire blood, Lafayette." Not unless I have to.
"Hey, I ain't one to judge! I do! Just gotta be careful with the vamps and all. If their blood doesn't do you in, their dicks might," and he twirled away into the small living room dance floor.
Olivia couldn't help but laugh. And before she knew it she was talking to India and Tara again, joining a heated argument about the best chicken wing flavor (buffalo, obviously).
These people were nothing but fun. They've known each other since they were kids, all seen each other at their highest and their lowest, and did not judge each other. Once Olivia was too tired and too drunk to stay any longer without falling asleep, she decided it was time to go home. She said her goodbyes to Lafayette (who was too busy making out with Jesus in the corner - called it!), grabbed her bag, and stumbled outside, happily walking up the driveway in the least straight line ever. She saw Kennedy and Emanuel sharing a joint on the porch, Tara and Jason were hooking up in the back of Jason's truck, and Maudette was puking in a bush. Overall, it was a great party. Nothing bad happened. She disappeared in between the trees, relishing the mental quiet of the woods. Still, she was glad she came.
"Your aim sucks," a smooth voice told her from the dark trees.
"Holy-" Olivia gasped at the stranger who emerged from the woods. She had completely forgotten about Chow. He had watched her the whole night. "Don't you sneak up on me!"
He gave her a toothy smile, walking next to her up the dirt road. "Was that your first time shooting?"
Well, well, well, look who decided to be chatty. "Yeah, it was. I can't expect others to protect me all the time,"
"Smart," he agreed. "Relying on others makes you weak."
With that, she agreed wholeheartedly. Walking up the path was becoming increasingly more tiring, so she had to distract herself. "Do you know how to shoot?"
It may have been a dumb question, judging by his tattoos alone. But you know what they say about assumptions.
"I haven't shot a gun since I was human, and that was a long time ago."
"How come?" She asked. "I find it hard to believe it was for lack of necessity."
"Vampires don't use guns."
"How come? Too violent, is it?"
He looked at her seriously. "For one it's not very effective against other vampires. You need special bullets which were only developed after the Great Revelation, and there's a good chance the opponent is fast enough to dodge a lethal shot. As for shooting humans… it's hard to explain."
"Try me."
It's not like their more than perfect vision, and perfect muscle control wouldn't help their aim.
"There's no honor in it-"
Buuuuullllshit. "Since when do vampires care about honor?"
"It's cheating. It's like admitting I am not strong enough to kill a weak creature with my own hands, my own strength. I need a gun to put a human down."
That was… Still a load of bullshit, if she ever heard one. "I don't think honor is the word you're looking for here, Chow. I think you mean vanity."
He lightly chortled, shaking his head. Olivia became officially too tired to walk - her feet were killing her. But she also didn't want to walk barefoot in the muddy pebbly path.
"I'll bring the car over," Chow announced after a moment, and then he was gone with a blur.
It felt very unsettling having someone else tap into her consciousness. She knew he couldn't read her thoughts, but he could read… Something. It put her in a vulnerable position for sure. She had to find out what he wanted from her or with her, and the sooner the better. Three minutes later, a car appeared around the curve, red tail lights illuminating the dark in a hellish glow. He had backed up the Escalade from the road to come get her. Feeling nothing but relief, she hopped inside and sprawled over the backseat, pushing her purse on the floor.
"That was quick," she mumbled, feeling the relief turn to sleepiness a bit too quick.
"We walked most of it. I'm surprised you made it out this far with those shoes," Chow said, looking so tall from where her head was laying.
"I still have my balerina ankles, I guess."
And that was the last thing she remembers before her brain acknowledged the engine turning off and the silence being loud. When she sat back up, they were right in front of her house and Chow had just sprung in front of her, opening the door by her feet. She knew right then and there it was time to face the music. She hugged her purse in front of her, and walked slowly up to her gate, unlocking it. Chow was still following her between the citrus trees of her front yard. Every bone in her body was tired, her mouth was parched for water. Her head still felt drunk as if it were floating on turbulent waters.
She unlocked her door and turned on the hallway lights. "Well, package secured. You are dismissed, good night," she nodded, shutting the door.
His hand stopped it four inches before closing. This is exactly what she feared. She had a choice to make, but it didn't really feel like she had one. When she looked at his dark eyes between the fissure, they were still the same calm eyes that gazed at her all night - no ill intent. What if this was a face she could not read? What if his mind was one not shaken by violence, like her old Mexican Cartel boss? What if evil hid in plain sight all along? What if evil now owned her?
"What do you want, Chow?"
"To be invited in."
"And then?"
His eyes looked deeply at her, reaching for something inside her. She immediately knew what he was doing - he was trying to glamor her. "Invite me inside."
Her heart beat faster. Another choice that felt like no choice at all. Olivia could tell him to fuck off and make another enemy, or she could play dumb. She really regretted not buying that wooden stake now.
Olivia relaxed her face and opened the door. If she were to attack, it would be best if he didn't expect it. So she relaxed her eyes and pretended his spell worked. "Would you like to come in?"
He unceremoniously stepped inside, looking around as if he were at a museum. She could tell he noticed how messy her house was. There were bobby pins all over the floor, her makeup and hair stuff sprawled all over the coffee table, jackets, and purses hanging on the back of the armchair, and a huge pile of shoes in the corner. Why are there always shoes there?!
"I wasn't expecting guests."
"I am not a guest."
He slowly wandered through her living room, eyeing her belongings much as she had done at Anthony Grey's office. She glanced at her phone - 3:34 AM. The sun wouldn't rise for another two hours. Olivia slipped her shoes off and put her purse down on the entry table. She gently closed the front door but did not lock it.
"What do you really want, Chow? Why did you really take my blood?"
He turned around, standing across the room. "Why did you offer?"
"I was… Angry. At Eric."
Chow thought for a minute, being still like a marble statue. "He wants you. You took that away from him."
"Yes."
"And now you want to know the consequences."
Olivia usually liked people who were direct and wasted no time. He, however, was a bit too on target. "Yes."
"I cannot do you harm, and I don't wish to-"
"Well isn't that a relief," she scoffed sarcastically.
He looked nervous for the next part. "But…"
And for once, she knew why. She could feel it through the bond. "You are hungry."
"Between working at the club and watching you, it doesn't leave me with much time to hunt."
She was surprised his phone did not contain a catalog of booty calls who were willing to be eaten at his beck and call.
"You could have picked off a party guest. I'm pretty sure Jason peed in the woods twice."
Chow did not believe her for a second. "Would you have wanted me to have bitten him?"
She thought of Jason's baby blue eyes and Apollo-like face. Why did he care what she wanted? "No."
A long silence followed. Sure the edict of protection dictated 'no harm' but in this context, feeding would not even remotely count. It's vampires - do you really think they give a shit about the well-being of a human? Sophie-Anne just signed the damn thing because Olivia knows too many of her inner dealings and didn't want Olivia to be glamoured, or kidnapped and tortured for state secrets. Though the former one wouldn't have worked, it would have given away there was something more about her, which was probably just as risky for the Queen.
Olivia was afraid if she said no, he would take it by force. In this case, she would have very little to gain by resisting it.
"Fine. But don't expect sex."
"I wasn't going to-"
"And you leave immediately afterward."
"Okay."
Olivia walked over, head holding the most fragile of crowns. This would be the second time she was bitten, even after she swore to herself it would never ever happen again. If she was going to be this involved in the vampire world, she would have to regain control. Clearly withholding wasn't doing her much good.
"And you stop when I tell you to," she warned him.
"Just… Relax." Chow motioned for her to sit on the couch.
This was going to lead to sex, wasn't it? The vampire kneeled in front of her, giving her major Eric Northman flashbacks. She couldn't help but think… If only.
His cold hands touched her bare knees, spreading her legs apart. Olivia shut her thighs swiftly like a forbidden book. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Femoral artery."
The last anatomy class she took was an elective in her sophomore year, so it took her a second to remember where he meant. "Oh, absolutely not."
"The blood flows easier, it will be quicker that way."
Buddy chose the wrong night to cover up his abs, Olivia will tell you that much. Chow gave her a stern look, a degree away from rolling his eyes. He settled by sitting next to her. She knew damn well his next target would be her neck, so she raised her forearm immediately.
"Wrist or nothing."
"You are so bossy, I can see why he likes you."
The words rung in her ears like bells in the church. If Eric liked her, he had a funny way of showing it. Chow handled her right wrist delicately and cradled her hand gently to his lips. There was a deafeningly loud click from his mouth and she could see the piercing tip of his fangs peeking from under his lips. He placed a soft kiss right on top of her veins where she felt a sudden sharp poke, followed by warmth. The fangs cutting through her skin felt like a quick jolt of electricity, followed by a pleasant dull ache. He did not bite down deep, but he definitely tapped into her arteries, as he suckled passionately against her skin, not letting a single drop of blood go to waste. It was an odd feeling, but a somewhat nice one.
A minute passed, and then two. Nothing else happened. Whatever scary nightmare she expected to come, never came. Instead, her body softened. Her bones were tired, her liver was dead, the couch was comfortable, the company now felt… Awkward.
She was half-sitting on the TV remote already, so she turned it on with her free hand. Chow did not seem to care, he was lost in his own little world, between the veins of her arm. Million Dollar Listing was on and Olivia always watched it for inspiration for her future retirement home. This episode had a rich and suspiciously young widow pressuring Chad to find her a beach house in the most exclusive part of Malibu. Not that she ever wants to be on TV again, but she hoped that would be her someday.
And that was the last thing she remembers - her brain went dark again. When her brain turned on again it felt like her head was stuck between the jaws of a vice. Her stomach was missing its inner lining, and her mouth felt as if she had never drunk water in her whole fucking life. Every limb on her body was now made of lead. It was also daytime, the sun bathed the whole room in this warm glow. She was on the couch covered with a blanket, feeling both cold and sweaty. Chow must have tucked her in before he left - and he better have really left and not found the vampire room in the attic.
"Uuuuugghh-" was the sound she involuntarily made when she sat back up, all her joints felt stiff and her stomach was doing painful somersaults in her belly, trying to find something to puke.
Holy fucking hangover batman. God, what she wouldn't give to be 21 again and be immune to alcohol. Right in front of her, at the very edge of the coffee table sat a glass filled with ½ inch of dark crimson liquid. She knew it was not wine. On a napkin next to it she could read a very neat cursive writing that said: "for your hangover".
It was Chow's blood.
Olivia looked down to her right wrist, she could see two very faint purple-ish marks. He had healed the wound before he had left. He also didn't drink her dry and covered her with a blanket before he left. Who said chivalry was dead?
She looked around at her messy house, her brain reminding her she had a fuck ton to do today in preparation for meeting with sweet Pamela. And tomorrow - with the Louisiana gaming commission. Why did she think being hungover today was a good idea again? Something about celebrating being alive? Well, she felt half dead right now, she will tell you much.
There were two options: she would deal with this hangover the old-fashioned way. Drink the coke zero she had in the fridge and watch TV until mid-afternoon and then go through a Mcdonald's drive-thru and eat in her car, exchanging physical pain for the emotional scars of guilt and shame. Perhaps she would even cry if her body could spare the moisture. It would really be cherry on top of this pathetic sundae. The other option was sitting on her coffee table.
Olivia really considered the first option until she remembered her Corvette was too low to reach the drive-thru window and she would have to yell her order, and then awkwardly get out of the car to get her food and pay. Man, she lived a really strange life.
Without second-guessing herself, Olivia downed the thick red liquid that tasted like sweet, but tart like metal and… Magic.
Human blood sustains life, vampire blood IS life.
From the moment it touched her lips, it felt like a soothing potion or like the best coffee she ever had. It invigorated, healed, and washed away all the pain and discomfort. Olivia got up from the couch feeling perfectly fine. Better than fine actually - no headache, no tummy ache, she felt awake, refreshed, sharp, and more like herself than she had in a very long time.
Olivia held the empty glass in her hand, and everything looked so clear to her. This, this feeling right here; this high, this energy and clarity. Vampire blood was liquid confidence, liquid life. It was cocaine and mild ecstasy for the body and soul. No wonder they were so fucking rich.
But she was also no fool. She remembered Lafayette's warning. There was a very dark side to this coin, a very fine line she knew she should not cross. The higher you fly, the harder you fall. Funny thing about lines though - if you had asked her a week ago if she would ever let herself be bit or voluntarily drink vampire blood she would swear she would never. Olivia knew she was doing exactly what Eric Northman told her she was going to do. This world kept pushing her to cross the line, move the goal post, always a little further, a little deeper, a little darker. How far would she go before she lost herself entirely? Before she became lost just like Debbie Pelt?
Olivia reached for her Blackberry and dialed an unexpected number.
"Hello?" Asked a deep and sleepy voice.
She knew she shouldn't be calling him. She knew she had probably done more than her fair share of damage to Alcide's life, but she couldn't help herself. After the week from hell she'd been through, she needed to know she saved at least one person. She needed to know that if she were to ever cross that line, that she would be okay.
"Hi Alcide," she said, feeling nervous. "I was wondering how Debbie was doing."
There were shuffle noises, steps, and doors slowly shutting on the line. Alcide was most probably with Debbie when she called, and he was moving away, taking the call in private. Whatever it was about Olivia, he did not want Debbie to know.
"The vamps seem to be holding their end of the bargain if that's what you're worried about," he said quietly.
It wasn't. "So she's in hell."
"Yeah, it hasn't been a fun time. Not only am I trying to fix her, but I'm also trying to fix you know, us. I'm tryin' to show her I'm here for the long haul."
This should be good news, and Olivia should feel happy for both of them. But the words he used irked her. Debbie was suffering, but he seemed more concerned about the heavy lifting he was doing. That was Alcide though, hero complex through and through.
"That's good to hear," was all Olivia managed to say.
"Debbie agreed to give us another shot if we both joined the Longtooth pack. They agreed to help her get clean so it's been helpful."
That surprised her. He always seemed to be proud about his lone-wolfness. "So how does that work? Is it like rushing a secret fraternity?"
"Way worse."
She was sure he would have to prove his loyalty in some way. Would it require breaking the law? She couldn't see Alcide doing that.
"I'm sure having the support will be great for her. How does your dad feel about it?"
Jackson Herveaux, Alcide's father, was a pack leader in Jackson, Mississippi who raised his eldest to take the reins after his passing. But for whatever reason, the werewolf pack life wasn't what Alcide wanted, and he had been avoiding his own heritage for most of his life now. He moved as far from the claws of his father since he was 18, and has faded into society as a lone wolf ever since, dragging Debbie along with him. Debbie, as it seemed, was not on the same page about being packless.
"He's half pissed off, half hoping I fight Patrick Furnan for the alpha position."
"Well, are you?"
"Absolutely fucking not. Although I don't think Patrick fully believes that yet."
Olivia laughed, enjoying the brief moment of silence they shared on the phone.
"What is it?"
"A month ago you could barely say two words about the wolf part of you to me."
"Which is funny because you're like, the least trustworthy person I know," he said, and from his voice, she could tell he was also smiling. "Olivia, I know we put each other through a lot of shit, but I have to thank you. You didn't have to give me Debbie back."
She didn't really think that she did. Debbie had been there the whole time. She could have moved away, she could have left Shreveport a long time ago. But she tried to hold down a job, she tried to get clean many times before. Alcide just used her flaws to justify their failings. His high-and-mighty attitude never sat right with her. But Olivia was ready to let go. Alcide was not her problem to fix.
"You don't have to thank me."
"Well I am sure as shit Eric Northman doesn't have a benevolent bone in his dead body, so I appreciate whatever it cost you."
It cost her a dance. And then some. "Who said he has anything to do with it? I said I knew someone who knew someone."
"Right. Loyal until the end. He's lucky to have you."
"He doesn't." She said rather bluntly. "Goodbye Alcide. And I meant it in a good way when I say I hope I never have to speak to you again."
There was a long pause. He wasn't smiling anymore."Take care of yourself."
Olivia stood in her living room, holding her phone and staring down at the empty bloodstained glass on her coffee table. She was going to take care of herself. She was going to buy a gun today. And a wooden stake too.
A.N
Happy new year everyone! I hope everyone had a good and restful holiday - I did not, my family is allergic to relaxing and they put me to WORK all week with cooking, errands and doing house stuff. I sewed 6(!) double-lined press pleated curtains for my mother in law and I never want to look at an iron ever again.
I also got into a new book series From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout which I HIGHLY recommend for all True Blood/ Sookie Stackhouse fans. It was spicy as hell and I'm utterly obsessed! I hope to one day publish my own original story, and I can only dream to write a story so good as Armentrout's.
But enough rambling - here we got an all-Olivia chapter! It may seem that not much has happened, but this chapter is absolutely crucial for the next ones. I hope you enjoyed it, as always, leave me a comment below! I love knowing I'm not writing into the void lmao
xoxoxoxo