Chapter 2

Payton's escape

Payton slipped out of her shack in the early morning hours the next day while it was still dark outside. She carried with her just a backpack which contained the only valuables that she couldn't part with which were her books and the few personal items that she always brought with her. She wore freshly laundered clothes that had been dried outside in the air. She had also carefully bathed before leaving using Dove unscented soap. Charlie had told her that there wasn't much that could deter the sensitive nose of a panther. There were all kinds of myths out there about how to disguise your scent from tracking animals, but in truth there was very little that actually worked. Scents could even be followed across water because part of your scent was dispersed into the air itself. Payton paused a moment and rubbed some pine needles and leaves over her, hoping to further mask her scent. She tried to stay in the open and didn't go into the woods. The crowded area of the forest with trees and bushes seemed to keep a scent from being dispersed and would make it easier for those panthers to track her. So, she stayed to the dirt road and tried to go as quickly as possible. She didn't expect to be missed for a few hours since most of the citizens of Hotshot weren't known for being early risers. With any luck, she thought, she could reach a main road before she was missed and hopefully she could catch a ride into Bon Temps itself. Maybe, there was a bus back to Shreveport. She hated to call her neighbor for help. He was a kind older man who sometimes took it as his duty to check on her because he worried about such a young girl living all alone. But, she didn't want to put him in any danger if she didn't have to.

Payton breathed a sigh of relief when she finally made it to a paved road. The sun was well up now and it had taken her longer than she thought it would to get this far. She wished that there was time to pause and enjoy the scenery because this area was pretty and for the most part a unspoiled place. She looked to the left and to the right and tried to remember which direction that the town was in. Darn, she thought, she didn't remember. She had almost never come to Hotshot before. Charlie always came to visit her. A part of her always knew that he was embarrassed about his origins and he did his best to keep her away from his relatives. But, he shouldn't have worried about that. Both she and her mother had accepted Charlie as he was and loved him.

With a sigh, Payton turned to the left and began walking along the highway. It was early and there still wasn't any traffic on the road. But after about a mile, she heard the approaching noise of a car from behind. She was gripped in a moment of fear. She had assumed that they would hunt for her as panthers, but what would stop them from getting in vehicles and patrolling the roads for her? This approaching car might not be the rescue she was hoping for. She stood with her heart in her mouth. But if she ran and hid in the trees, she would miss an opportunity that could take her miles away from here. As she stood forlornly in fear, the vehicle became visible. It was a new black pickup truck. Payton let out a sigh of relief. She knew such a fancy truck was well above the means of anyone living in Hotshot. She held up her hand and the truck slowed down for her. She walked to the passenger side window and saw a handsome young man with blonde hair. He was wearing a tee shirt and what appeared to be very tight looking jeans. The man flashed her a pretty smile.

"Hey, there," he said. "What are you doing all alone out here? Did you have a breakdown?"

Payton's instincts told her that this man was not a danger to her person. Maybe just to her virtue, she thought with a smile.

"It's a long story," she replied. "I need to get back to Shreveport. Is there a bus or something in town?"

"No, I'm afraid not," he replied. "I'm heading into work, but I can drop you off at Merlott's. Surely, someone will be heading that way from there this morning. You're welcome to use my phone to call someone from home."

"I...I'm all alone," said Payton.

"Well, that just ain't right," he said. "Pretty girl like you."

He flashed her another smile and said, "Hop in, Merlott's is just a couple of miles down the road."

Payton climbed in and closed the door. "I really appreciate this, Mister?"

"Oh, sorry, my name is Jason Stackhouse," he said, pulling the truck back onto the road. "And what's your name?"

"I'm Payton," she replied.

"Now, that is a strange name for such a pretty girl, but I like it."

As Jason drove, he studied Payton out of the corner of his eye. "So, how did you end up all by your lonesome on the side of the road?"

Payton didn't answer and she fidgeted nervously. Jason turned to look at her and said, "You're not in any trouble are you?"

"No, of course not."

"I would drive you myself," he said. "But, I have to show up for work this morning."

"Oh, no, this is fine," replied Payton. "You don't realize what how much you are helping me."

She gave Jason a weak smile and he turned his eyes back to the road. He wasn't the brightest, he told himself, but it seemed to him that his pretty passenger was hiding something.

Arriving at Merlott's, he escorted her inside and got Arlene's attention. Merlott's was open for breakfast and was full of the locals.

"Arlene, can you show Payton to a seat and bring her whatever she wants for breakfast?" said Jason. "On me."

"Oh, I couldn't impose anymore on your kindness," replied Payton.

"It ain't nothin' and I still haven't managed to get your phone number," said Jason with a wink.

He sauntered off and Arlene took Payton to a booth.

"Watch yourself with that one, honey," said Arlene.

"He's been very sweet to me," replied Payton.

Arlene smiled, "He's been sweet with just about every girl in town. What can I get you?"

Jason approached Sam. Sam was behind the bar counter and stocking supplies. Jason walked up to the bar and got his attention.

"Morning, Sam," he said.

Sam turned around and replied, "Morning."

Jason leaned in over the counter. "You see that girl over there in the booth?"

Sam turned his eyes to the direction that Jason indicated and saw a girl that he had never seen before. She was wearing jeans and a simple cotton top in a baby blue color.

"Yeah."

"I found her along the side of the highway this morning," said Jason. "She says that she needs to get back to Shreveport. Do you think that you can find her a ride?"

Sam gave the girl another glance. "Oh, I don't think that will be any problem. I'll take care of it myself."

"I knew you would come through," said Jason. He pulled out his wallet and put some cash on the counter. "That should cover her breakfast."

Sam watched as Jason sauntered back to the girl and bid her farewell. He could tell that Jason was turning on the charm. The girl responded with politeness. But, it seems that she was one girl who's head wasn't turned by Jason's good looks because she didn't give him any more than common courtesy. Sam took a sip of his coffee and gave the girl an appreciative glance. He could see why Jason was so interested. You didn't find lost, beautiful girls along the highway everyday. And, they certainly didn't show up everyday in Merlott's either, he thought. And that was a damn shame.

Lafayette was cooking bacon in a large skillet on the stove in the kitchen. Normally, he would be working on the road crew, but this was his day off. So, he was pulling in a double shift here at Merlott's to earn some more money. Keeping his mother in that fancy clinic was costing him a fortune. Even with working two legitimate jobs, he couldn't afford to keep her there. Letting the state take her was not an option, he thought. Now, he and his mother had a strained relationship and that was putting it mildly, but you don't turn your back on family. So, he dealt drugs on the side. More and more, he hated this aspect of his life. And he wasn't sure when that change had come about. Maybe it started when he was forced to do it by Eric Northman. He couldn't say no to him, now could he? He remembered those weeks spent in that vampire's dungeon. A shiver passed through him. He was sure that Eric Northman planned to kill him, but had relented because he thought he could prove useful to him. That little taste of his blood always ensured that Eric Northman had a leash on him. Lafayette was startled when he heard a voice addressing him.

"Why, hello boyfriend," came a girl's voice.

Lafayette turned and saw the girl from Hotshot standing in front of the kitchen window. His eyes widened, but she only gave him a smile.

"Is this what you do when you aren't working for His Royal Highness?" she asked.

Lafayette didn't need to ask who she meant. "Uh...yeah."

"He paid me a visit last night," she said.

"Oh, he did?" replied Lafayette.

"Don't act so surprised," said Payton. "I know that you told him all about me."

"Look, I'm sorry-" began Lafayette.

"Don't worry about it. I can see what you have to deal with."

"What did he want?" asked Lafayette in curiosity.

"I think that he wants to be my boyfriend or master. I think in his mind that those two terms are one and the same," replied Payton.

"Oh."

"He also says that he has a way of getting what he wants," said Payton.

"He does," replied Lafayette. "I would tell you to save yourself a lot of grief and just make it easy on yourself."

"Like you did?" asked Payton.

Lafayette flinched and looked down.

"I'm sorry, that was rude of me," said Payton. "I have no right to judge you."

Lafayette heard the sincerity in her words and looked back at her.

"You can tell him for me that I didn't need his help getting away from Hotshot, so the answer to his offer is still no," said Payton. "Goodbye, Lafayette, and good luck."

Lafayette watched her walk away and didn't think he would mention her to Eric, unless he asked about her. But, Lafayette had a feeling that he would. Hearing his bacon sizzle, he turned back to the skillet.

Sam brought over a full cup of coffee to Payton. She looked up at him and he noticed that her eyes were a pretty blue and rimmed with thick, dark lashes. They were almond shaped and slight tipped up at the corners. It was an exotic feature and he found himself just staring back for a moment.

"Hello," she said.

"Oh, sorry," said Sam with an embarrassed smile. "I'm Sam Merlott."

He held out his and and Payton hesitated before taking it. He felt her flinch slightly in his grip and she quickly withdrew her hand.

"Jason tells me that you need a ride back to Shreveport this morning," said Sam.

"Yes, I'm afraid that I'm stranded here," she replied.

"Well, we can't have that," said Sam. "I'll just tell Arlene and Terry that I'm leaving and we can go."

"Mr. Merlott, I do appreciate this."

"Call me Sam," he said.

Payton watched him get up. He had sandy hair and blue eyes and knew how to work a pair of Wrangler jeans, she thought. What was with this town? Was there something in the water that was responsible for all the good looking men? Except, whatever was responsible didn't extend to Hotshot. She repressed a shiver. There was no way that she was going to stay there. Her eyes studied Sam. He was also a shifter who seemed to prefer dogs. She had caught a glimpse of an attractive collie-looking mutt when she had touched his hand. She looked down to her plate. She had also got the impression of some sort of darkness from him. She withdrew her hand before she received anything else from him. The less one knows, the better, sometimes.

Going outside to his vehicle, they were stopped by the loud approach of an old pickup. It barreled through the parking lot and came to a skidding stop in front of them. When Payton saw Felton jump out of the passenger door, she gasped. Sam sensed that Felton was not a friend and stepped in front of Payton.

"Hey, now, I don't want any trouble here," said Sam.

"Well, you'd best mind your business, shifter," said Felton. His angry eyes focused on Payton and he added, "Because Payton is our business."

"I don't think that lady wants to go with you," said Sam.

"I won't tell you again to stay out of it," replied Felton.

"I'm not going back," said Payton. "Are you people crazy in the head? I'm not one of you."

"You can leave when we say you can," Felton.

Sam moved to Felton, but Payton grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Yeah, hide behind a woman, coward," hissed Felton.

Sam tried to shake off Payton's hands, but she held on. "Sam, stop. I can handle him."

Payton looked at Felton and a look of determination came over her face. She began speaking and her voice was the only thing that broke the silence that had fallen over everything. Sam nervously noticed that the birds had stopped chirping.

"Shadow help me this way

in hope that you will surely stay

no harm or illness come to me

as long as you are here

so mote it be."

Felton had visible paled as she had recited those words. Payton looked down at the ground and, as Felton did, he saw her shadow grow larger. It moved even though Payton stayed completely still. It reached out it's hand and it moved across the ground towards Felton. He gave a startled yelp and jumped out of the way. Looking back at Payton, he saw her give him a little smile.

"You have no idea of who you are messing with Felton Norris," she said. "My mother taught me all sorts of things."

The wind began to blow and it whipped in a circle around them. The shadow seemed to move across the ground with a life of it's own. Felton retreated back to the running board of the truck. When he looked back to Payton, she pulled a watch out of her jeans pocket. Felton's eyes widened when he saw it.

"That's mine, how did you get it?"

"Maybe, I conjured it out of thin air with my magic," replied Payton with a smile. "I have something of your person, Felton Norris. And if you don't stay away from me, I will use this to cast a spell on you. All your bad deeds will come back on you times three."

Felton jumped into the truck and hissed, "Witch."

The truck drove off with the back wheels kicking up a cloud of dust. But, the wind died down immediately. Payton stuffed the watch back into her pocket and looked to Sam.

"I really just stole the watch from him," she said with a fleeting smile.

Payton then noticed that Lafayette was watching from the corner of the building. When he realized that she could see him, he dropped his cigar and rushed back inside the building. Payton turned a questioning glance on Sam.

"I hope that you are still going to give me that ride, Sam Merlott," she said.

"Would you turn me into a frog or something if I didn't?" he asked.

Payton smiled. "Now, why would I do that when you're perfectly capable of doing it yourself?"

A/N: Unfortunately, I think that Eric will find out about what Payton did and will know that she is a witch or at least has a knowledge of magic that she received from her mother. She didn't conjure up anything but a protection spell and she only threatened Felton when I'm sure that she had the knowledge to give him a seriously bad day.