Ghost in the Machine – True Blood

"So," Pam gave Christine a slow smile as she pushed the drink across the table towards her. "You're after a vampire consultant for a novel?" Christine stared for a moment, before she realized Pam must have overheard that before making her presence known.

"I have a completed novel, and two incomplete sequels." Christine sighed heavily. "I was actually halfway done with writing the second book when I realized that I just wasn't going to be able to finish it." She shook her head and blushed. "The timing of the reveal was, ah, a bit inconvenient for me." She gave Pam a sheepish smile. "I'm sure they weren't thinking about my career when they did that, but it wasn't my best year. The contract fell through and I had to shelve the project." She glanced around the room. "What I need is a vampire that can give good criticism, and what would be perfect is a woman with a few years on her, who was around when it was all a secret." She moved her eyes back to Pam. Pam had a small smirk on her lips.

"What have you written? Anything I might have read?" Pam asked and Christine found herself blushing a little.

"I'm not horribly famous. I tend to write fantasy romances." Christine sighed and felt awkward as she shared her pen name.

"I am going to have to look you up." Pam leaned forward, her tone an obvious seduction.

"Don't rush." Christine gave Pam a soft smile. "It's kind of nice to talk to a woman who doesn't think I'm secretly everything my characters are."

"Sweety, I don't need fantasy women, I make my own fantasies come true." Pam's confidence, and the deepening of her voice had Christine swallowing and glancing away, a little surprised at how strongly Pam made her react. Pam was a fantasy woman, as far as Christine could tell. Christine also realized that perhaps this was more than just flirting and her heart hammered just a little at that thought. Pam's knowing smile was intimidating, but Christine gave her a shy smile back.

"What does being a consultant entail?" Pam leaned forward and Christine did her best not to look at the cleavage Pam's new pose revealed. She explained about what she really needed, and after a minute or two it started to feel like a business meeting. Pam nodded at times, asked questions about writing in general at others. Christine sat there in the middle of a vampire bar and she was having more fun talking with Pam than she'd had in a long time. Pam's break had to have been over a while ago, but she continued to stay with Christine.

"I have someone in mind that might be willing to help you out." Pam spoke after glancing over at the bar. Christine looked over there as well and could see the bartender was trying to get Pam's attention. "I have tomorrow off, so why don't we meet and we can talk about it?"

It would have been nice to say more, but clearly Pam's break was over. "Sure. Hey, if you want we could get some dinner too? I've only been here a week and I don't know where the good restaurants are."

"Oh sweety, you are just so adorable." Pam gave Christine a strange smile. "Give me your address and I'll pick you up around seven, and see if I can find a restaurant for you." Christine pulled out her wallet and grabbed one of the few business cards she had for making connections, and flipped it over. She wrote her new address on the back and handed it over.

"Call me if you can't make it, or if you maybe want to come over earlier." Christine hoped she didn't sound too desperate, but she'd love to have more time with Pam.

"I don't believe I'll be able to get there before seven, but thanks." Pam smirked at her and then walked off quickly to deal with whatever the bartender was wanting.

After a sigh at seeing Pam walk away Christine glanced around the bar again, and grimaced when she saw the telepath was gone. She'd missed her chance to get her number. Christine made a mental note to ask Pam if she knew that woman later as well.

When she got up to leave the man on the throne, Erik, gave her a smirk and a wave, causing a few of the humans around to look at her. Christine just gave a weak wave back and made her way to the door. Pam wasn't working it, so Christine felt a little disappointed as she left.

Voice finally spoke up as they were pulling out of the parking lot. "I thought you might like her." Voice sounded a little smug actually.

"She's really cool." Christine admitted and found herself smiling as they drove away. She had a date, granted it was a bit of a working date, but still a date.

….

It vaguely counted at morning, as it was nearly afternoon, when Christine decided to get some chores done. The house was tidy, she'd never really had time to mess it up and the woman who loaned it to her had obviously cleaned it up for guests. The exercise routine that Voice had created for her was done. Christine felt nervous excitement at the thought of Pam coming over and didn't want to sit and wait all day, so she grabbed her car keys and headed out to do some grocery shopping.

Voice was normally a friend, a trusted advisor, but at the grocery store Voice was always slightly odd. Christine didn't understand why Voice seemed to be almost a vegetarian at times, asking for this or that vegetable or fruit. They shared Christine's taste buds, but Voice was happier with a salad than a steak any day.

As Christine put the lettuce in the cart she started to consider something else they'd share and found herself blushing a bit. Voice spoke to Christine's thoughts. "I like Pam, I was hoping you'd spark her interest. If that grows into something I'd be thrilled."

Whispering quietly while pretending to be focuses on the bell peppers, Christine asked, "So you knew about Pam beforehand?"

"I know just enough about her to find her intriguing. I wanted to meet her." Voice admitted and Christine suspected the entire trip to Louisiana was in search of Pam, but she couldn't find it in herself to be upset with that. She agreed with Voice so far, Pam was intriguing. "There is a lot more to her, but I'm thinking she'll probably bring it up soon." Voice's words were a bit haunting as Christine wouldn't mind hearing everything Voice knew about Pam now, but Voice wasn't going to tell her. Voice just said Pam clearly wanted to wait, and that it wasn't like Christine was eagerly telling Pam about Voice. Some things just have their right times, and it just wasn't that yet.

Christine wandered the bakery section in a bit of a daze, considering that Voice had mentioned actually telling someone about her. Ever since Christine woke up with Voice, the rule was to tell no one, so the thought that they might even consider saying something at some point was a surprise.

She was pushing her cart past the cold beverages when Voice spoke up again. "If you will be working with a vampire soon, you should at least have some True Blood to offer." That got Christine to stop walking and stare at the display. For all she knew she might have someone visiting as early as tomorrow night, she really should have some of this stuff.

Christine moved closer and studied the bottles, wondering how much she needed. She didn't really want to have to buy this too often. Picking up one bottle she turned it over, looking for some sort of expiration date. Once she found out how long the stuff lasted she looked across the aisle at the cases. Christine would feel more comfortable working with her consultant at the house, so she better stock up. She picked up the case and slipped it under the cart and continued on with her shopping.

She only focused enough to shop and find things she was looking for at the unfamiliar grocery store, but as she moved to put the True Blood on the conveyer belt, she felt a little conspicuous. Glancing out at the sunny day she smirked at her own thoughts of what people might assume. The cashier didn't even blink at her purchase and it was all loaded up in the cart in next to no time, but it was when Christine started through the front doors that Voice spoke, her tone commanding. "You have to go passed them." Voice didn't sound happy and Christine was able to read the Fellowship of the Sun tshirts of the men outside with a petition. She didn't agree with any of their views, but Voice made her think she was about to face the Klan. "Don't act suspicious and if they stop you or talk to you, do exactly what I say."

Christine was sure she went a little pale at the tone of voice and implied threat of the situation, but she put both hands on the handle of the cart and pushed on the rest of the way out the door. Now she could see how obvious her True Blood purchase was, taking up the bottom shelf yet again.

"Would you be willing to sign a petition banning Vampires" He continued, but Voice was quickly instructing her and Christine gave as authentic of a smile as she could and listened to her.

"Sorry, just visiting. I'm Canadian." Christine nodded as friendly as she could and her lie sounded more real than her lies normally did under stress. She pushed on, getting passed the doorway and to the crosswalk into the parking lot.

She was just reaching the first cars in the lot and cursed how she'd parked further away to get the lone shady spot as she had much further to go now. When she heard fast footsteps behind her, Voice pleaded with her to relax, it seemed counterintuitive, but Christine did her best to relax and not seem like she expected trouble. When a teenager ran past her Christine felt like sagging in relief, but she kept going to her car and loaded up her purchases. The True Blood went in first and was promptly covered up with other bags.

"Why were you so worried?" Christine asked Voice as she got into the car, letting out a long held breath and relaxing just a moment, before starting the car.

"Those bigots are willing to murder people, vampires, anyone that doesn't agree with them." Voice told her and Christine glanced back at the clean cut choir boy like men at the door, the ones Voice was worried about. "I've seen their type before, and I know for a fact they are dangerous."

Christine pulled into traffic and struggled with the idea. She'd seen some bigotry on television, heard comments that made her cringe at times, but nothing like Voice was talking about. It took a few hours for the event to be shoved aside for now, but she knew she'd have to think about it some more later. Christy, instead, started to think about what she should wear. She had no idea what kind of restaurant Pam was taking her to.

….