Chapter 4 : GLORIOUS DEAD
Tap tap, tap tap, tap tap ! Resounded.
I opened my eyes, perfectly alert, and brusquely sat up on the bed, my legs hitting the ground. I immediatly found the source of the annoyingly rythmic noise. It was a blond woman, walking toward me, her high-heeled, expensive looking pumps hitting the ground with each cadenced step.
She looked my age, with long straight blond hair and dark blue eyes, shadowed with pale pink make up, black eye-liner and mascara. She wore a pastel pink twin set and a simmering white satin pencil skirt. Diamonds hung from her ears and a pearl necklace coiled around her neck. She looked like a cherry blossom with fangs, a swirl of pink and white enveloping her beautifully to hide the hidden thorns. She held two big bags in her hands, the name of a store printed on them: White House / Black Market. I'd never heard of it.
She stopped near the bed and we studied each other in silence. She finally dropped her bags to the floor and I saw they were full of clothes.
« I'm Pam » she introduced herself in a very strong british accent and a bored voice. « Eric's child. I brought you clothes. Knock yourself out. »
And then, just like that, she left. No hello, no goodbye. Bewildered, I blinked in confusion.
« Okay » I muttered, « that was weird. »
I looked around the room, knowing instinctually that Godric wasn't there. I sniffed and listened, trying to determine where he was when a strange feeling came over me. I just knew he was in the family room. I didn't smell him, or hear him, but I knew, with certainty, that he was there.
You know, when you meet someone for the first time, and you just know you're going to love or hate them ? Or when someone is staring at you, and you just know it ? It felt similar, but a lot stronger. There was no logic to my knowledge, but I didn't even have the slightest doubt that I was right, and my maker was sitting on the leather couch, in the family room, upstairs.
Curious, I looked at my Tissot watch, which had miraculously survived my kidnapping, turning, burrial and showering. Paying three hundred euros – around four hundred dollars – for it had definitely been worth it. It was eleven pm.
My stomach tightened and my throat burned. I was hungry. Hesitating, I looked between the bags and the door, wondering what I should do first : take a shower and get dressed, or go upstairs and try a bottle of TruBlood. My dry throat decided for me. I would eat first.
I hurried out of the bedroom and rushed upstairs at vampire speed, stopping when I reached a trap door. I pushed it open, and got out of what appeared to be the basement. I closed the trap door behind me, and noticed that once closed, it was almost impossible to see it . It melted into a mosaïc picturing a waterfall on the floor. Ingenious, I thought.
I walked toward the family room eagerly. I missed Godric's presence and I was really, really, getting hungry. My gums were tensed and seemed to pulse with pain. My fangs snapped down without warning, the pressure I'd felt in my mouth lessening. I gritted my teeth and entered the room.
Godric looked up from his book, unsurprised at my arrival. He laid the heavy, leather bound volume, on the coffee table and walked to me. He took my left hand in his, his skin surprisingly warm, and tugged me toward the bar.
« Come », he said. « It's time for you to try the synthetic blood ».
He let go of my hand, and I felt strangely disappointed. He opened the small fridge's door, and took out a pack of eight bottles.
« All that ? »I asked, surprised. That was four liters of blood, what I'd get by draining a human. Maybe, upon further thought, it wasn't that much.
« Yes and no, this is for you to try every flavor, and see which one sastifies you the most. »
« Ok »
Godric opened the pack and I saw him take out an O+ bottle.
« This is the most common blood-type » he explained. « Most of us seem to tolerate it, even if it isn't anything special. »
I nodded in understanding. Godric uncorked the bottle – which, for some reason, looked like a beer bottle – and put it in the microwave.
« Do not heat it too much. When the blood boils, it looses some of its nutrients and isn't as effective.
Thirty seconds are enough. »
« Okay », I answered through my still extended fangs, wishing, quite ungratefully I admit, that he would just hurry up and give me the damn thing !
There was a ding and the microwave stopped working. Godric grabbed the warm bottle and gave it to me. I took it eagerly, and immediately brought it to my lips. I gulped it down. It was tasteless, really, not bad, but not good either. It definitely didn't arouse me like Simon's blood had. It reminded me of water, in a way. It soothed my thirst the moment it hit my throat, but it was bland. I finished the bottle quickly, under Godric's watchful eyes.
« Very well, it seems you tolerate it quite well. Let's try the O- »
Again, he heated the bottle and passed it to me. It was almost as bland as the O +, but had a strange undertaste, like sparkling water. It tickled my new taste buds. It wasn't good, per se, but it was certainly more interesting than the O+.
The A+ came next. As soon as it got in my mouth, I spit it out in the sink.
« That's disgusting ! » I said.
And it was, it really was. It was way too sweet for my taste, like my mouth had been filled with sugar and butter. And let me tell you, while those too ingredients can be good if used properly, they can become nauseating very fast if you use too much.
Godric looked surprised.
« You like it ? » I asked.
« I do, it's my favourite. I've always had a sweet tooth, I'm afraid. »
« Well, you can have it. »
Godric took the bottle from my hand, and gulped some of the blood down. He paused it on the counter, and put the A- bottle in the micro-wave.
« You probably won't like it either » he warned me.
And he was right. It was even worse than the A+. Like sugar on a high, if that means anything. The B + was next. And it tasted a lot better. It had a slight soarness to it that I liked, it reminded me of lemonade.
« That's better », I said. « It's actually pretty good. »
I drained the bottle, and licked my lips through my fangs.
« Godric ? »
« Yes ? »
« How do I retract my fangs ? » I asked, embarrassed at my predicament.
He looked amused, a small smile stretching his lips.
« Push your tongue against the back of your teeth, on your palate. There is a muscle there that controls them. You'll learn to control them better with time. »
I did as instructed and felt a slight tremor beneath my tongue, before my fangs slid back in. Quite happy with myself, I smiled and Godric chuckled.
« What ? » I asked, wondering what he found so funny.
« I had forgotten how endearing newborns can be. » he answered, while putting the B- bottle in the microwave.
I didn't know wether to be pleased that he found me « endearing » or annoyed that he basically saw me as a cute baby. I settled for ignoring it.
The B- was my favourite so far. Weird, considering it had been my own blood type. It was spicy and danced on my tongue like bubbly champagne. I loved it. The AB+ wasn't as sweet as the A+, but it wasn't something I'd drink everyday either. Maybe, if I craved something sweet, I'd choose it over A+, but I didn't really like it and had trouble finishing the bottle. The AB- came last, and I was sorely disappointed. People thought it would taste delicious because it was so rare, but, while it didn't taste bad, it still had nothing on the B-, or even the B+ in my opinion. There was such a thing as too tasty after all.
« O and B, then » Godric concluded.
« Yeah, B really » I said.
« You can not drink only one type, Astrid. You need variety to be healthy. »
« Really ? Vampires can get deficiencies ? »
« Yes, it weakens us. That is why you must settle for at least two bottled blood type. One simply isn't enough to sustain you »
« Alright »I said.
« Did Pam bring you your new clothes ? » Godric asked.
« Yeah, she did. I didn't look at them yet, though, I was too hungry. »
« Of course. We are going out tonight. »
« Really ? Where ? » I inquired excitedly. I was eager to get out of the house, as beautiful as it was. It felt confining.
« Nothing fancy », Godric answered. « I want to see how you will react to a crowd of humans, so we will go to the closest dinner, before heading to Eric's bar to register you. »
« He has bar ? »
« Yes, it's where he conducts most of his buisness ».
« Why don't we just head there, then ? »
Godric hesitated.
« Eric's bar is...it is a vampire bar. »
« So ? » I asked, not understanding his point.
Godric sighed.
« So, it is full of fangbangers, vampires, vampire wannabes, drug-addicts and maybe even drainers. I do not want to expose you to that sort of crowd just yet. It could be dangerous. »
« How? I mean, I get why drainers would be dangerous, but... »
« It is not only the drainers, » Godric interrupted me, « or the danger you are in. It is also the danger you pose to others. The humans there will throw themselves at you, begging you to bite and fuck them », he crudely stated, « and you are not ready to deal with such a situation. I want to avoid any unnecessary incident, and that is why we will only go to Fangtasia once it is closed. »
I knew he was right, but his little speech didn't make me happy. I had the most childish urge to throw a tantrum and demand to go there anyway, just because I'd just been forbidden to go. I wanted to scream at him in rightful indignation and stomp my feet on the floor until he gave in. But I thankfully checked myself in. The simple fact that the urge had appeared at all showed how right he was. I wasn't ready.
« Fine » I grumbled moodily.
His eyes softened as he looked at me, and he unexpectedly laid a chaste kiss on my forehead.
« What was that for ? » I asked.
« For understanding. Now go get ready. Bon Temps is half an hour away. »
« Bon Temps ? »
« Yes, the town we're heading for. »
My naked reflection stared back at me. The green of my eyes startled me but my gaze quickly turned to my hair. I'd been right, the already light brown had become lighter, taking a honey shade that looked almost red in places. It was very bright, like liquid gold, and it fell down my back in graceful waves.
My hair had always been the favourite part of my body. I'd inherited it from my mother – just like my D-cup boobs, merci maman, that came in close second – and it was naturally wavy and very furnished. I'd cut it once when I was ten because I'd gotten flees, and it looked more like a mane because of its volume than actual hair. The weight provided by length, however, made it look luxurious, abondant without the bushy aspect. As a vampire, it looked so graceful that it might as well have been a wig. It didn't look natural.
I shook my head, and got out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Curious, I took the two White House/Black Market bags and turned them upside down over the bed. The first thing I noticed were the colours : pastels. I didn't like pastels, but it seemed Pam did. Sighing, I resigned myself to do my own shopping at a later point in time. I liked dark colours better – apart from yellow, which I hated in any shade. Purple and brown were my favourites, but not to be found in Pam's selection.
There was only one pair of coton pants, in a light blue. There were three pencil skirts, one in a light pink, another one beige and the third one, a lace skirt, was a proud salmon pink. There were also two twin sets, a white one and a beige one. Three summer dresses – all white – and two sets of undergarments – one a bright red and the other pastel pink - completed my new wardrobe. My sandals stood at the foot of bed.
Sighing, I put on the pink lacy bra – which was my size, surprisingly – and the matching panties. I grabbed one of the summer dresses, and noticed that it was surprisingly sexy. It barely reached mid thigh and hugged my breasts like a second skin. I slid my feet in the black sandals and went back in the bathroom to check my appearance.
The white dress made me look virginal – which wasn't inacurate – but sexy at the same time. I wouldn't have chosen it on my own, but I had to give it to Pam : it looked good. Sexy, but classy. My hair was down, brushing the small of my back, and I decided to leave it that way. I didn't have make up, but I didn't think I really needed it either. Being a vampire did have advantages, after all.
A knock sounded on the bedroom door.
« Are you ready ? » came Godric's voice.
« Yes », I said. « I'm coming »
Godric was sitting behind the wheel of one of Eric's ostentatious sport cars - a shiny black Mercedez Benz – and looked rather tense as we came to small town called « Hot Shot ». As a human, I'd have probably felt tense too, and locked the doors of my car.
The town did not look very safe. In fact, in looked extremely poor, like one of those shantytowns in the Third World. The houses looked ready to collapse, and there were tags everywhere. It looked like the sort of place where desperate people would form gangs in order to improve their living conditions. It was a sorry sight, but I didn't understand why it would worry Godric so much.
« What's wrong ? » I asked.
He turned to look at me for a moment, before focusing on the road once more.
« Attends que nous soyons sortis de la ville. Je t'expliquerai après. » He told me quietly, in french.
For those of you who don't speak french – and I don't blame you, I admit it's not the easiest of languages or the most useful either – he told me to wait until we'd gotten out of town and that he'd explain later.
We drove through Hot Shot quickly, and I saw a few people gathered outside glaring at our car hostilely, but nothing happened. Once we were a good distance away, Godric said :
« Hot Shot is a were-panther town. »
« A what ? »
« Its inhabitants are were-panthers, humans who can turn into panthers at will. »
I was shocked, and for a moment wondered if he was just messing with me. But he was dead serious, pun intended. He really meant that.
« Like were-wolves ? » I asked.
« Yes, although werwolves are another matter altogether. »
« You mean werewolves exist too ?! »
« Of course. There are many types of supernatural creatures », he explained calmly, « not just vampires. The most commons are shape-shifters, like weres. Although true shifters are becoming rare. »
« True shifters ? » I asked, intrigued.
« Yes, they can turn into any animal they wish, provided they have an picture of it. Actually, you will get to meet one tonight. »
« I will ? » I asked eagerly, getting rather excited at this bit of news.
Who knew ?! A whole world of supernaturals ?! That was cool. And it explained the existence of vampires a lot better. We didn't sound so freaky anymore. I mean, if people could change into animals, why couldn't others live forever and drink blood to survive ? It was reassuring to know that vampires weren't alone out there.
« Don't be so excited » Godric warned me. « Shifters and vampires do not along. He probably will not be happy with our presence in his bar. »
« We're going to his bar ? »
« Yes, we are. »
We fell silent once more. Despite his warning, I couldn't help but feel giddy. Wouldn't anyone ? I was going to meet a man who could shape his body into any animal he wanted, be it lion or a bug, or even, why not, a blue whale ? I wondered what he looked like. Did he have any distinctive feature that marked him as more than just human ? Like slit pupils or yellow eyes ? Probably not, I thought. Otherwise, everyone would have clued in that he wasn't normal.
We passed a dark blue rectangular sign that read « Welcome to Bon Temps ». I wondered if the town was worthy of its cheery name. I hoped it did and that I'd spend Good Times here. A song popped into my head at the name and I impulsively started to sing, off key :
Le bon temps, c'est quand ?
Quand on est vivant.
Le bon temps, c'est quand ?
Quand on est vivant, seulement
I heard Godric chuckle as we took a turn to the right and saw he had a smirk on his lips. I quieted immediately and cursed the Michel Sardou for writing the damn song in the first place.
« Sorry », I said.
« There is no need to be, I quite enjoyed it. »
« It was bad », I replied. « I've never been able to carry a tune properly. »
« It was » He solemnly confirmed.
I gaped at him. I thought he'd try to comfort me, tell me it wasn't all that bad.
« You said you enjoyed it ! » I accused him.
« I enjoyed your carelessness » He said.
That made me smile slightly.
« We are here. » Godric announced, while parking the car besides an old red pick-up.
I heard noise coming from my left and saw the dinner. It was a grey sheet metal building with light signs publicizing different labels, such as Coca Cola, Corona Extra and Heineken on the walls. The biggest sign, though, was the one on the roof that proudly read : Merlotte's Bar and Grill. It looked like a family place, used to serve the same faces everyday. They probably didn't like newcomers, I thought, suddenly anxious.
Godric got out of the car, and I followed him. We walked to the door, and, probably feeling my worry through the bond, he passed an arm around my waist before entering the bar.
I was immediately assaulted by the scent of human blood. It smelled so much more appetizing than TruBlood, captivating even. The hunger that had been sated earlier in the evening hit me again full force and my fangs extended suddenly. Fortunately, my mouth was closed,and no one saw them. I pressed my lips hard to hide them and looked around.
There weren't many humans left in the bar given the late hour. It was close to one in the morning, and I saw only three customers, one waitress and two bartenders. My eyes focused automatically on the pulsing veins that slithered under the skin of their necks and I listened to the captivating sound of their mixed heartbeats. Godric squeezed my waist in warning, and I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure.
One of the customers was a middle-aged woman and was clearly intoxicated. She stank of alcohool and sweat, her heart-beat was slower than the others and more erratic. I focused on her and felt my hunger diminish. I caressed the back of my teeth with my tongue and felt my fangs regain their hiding place within my tender gums.
With the barest nod of approval, Godric lead me to the bar under the glare of the two bartenders. One of them was a beautiful black woman, who was holding a glass in one hand and a towel in the other. Her heart had a loud, strong beat, and she smelled much better – and healthier – than the drunk snoozing on one of the wooden tables. I grit my teeth together to stop my fangs from lengthening once more.
The second bartender was a handsome blond man, with blue eyes – currently glaring at Godric and I – wearing a plaid shirt and low riding jeans. The stereotype of the american man, I thought. The only thing missing was the stetson hat and the mustang horse. But the look suit him very well, and I had no doubt that those jeans did wonders to his ass. That thought brought forward a new kind of hunger and I felt my sex pulse painfully. Then, I smelled him, and the lust disappeared immediately.
The man stunk !He smelled like a wet dog. Unconsciously, I wrinkled my nose, trying to get rid of the sent and saw Godric repress a smile at my reaction. We sat on two stools in front of the bar, beside another customer, and Godric cocked an eyebrow at me. I frowned. His eyes shifted slightly toward the stinking bartender, trying to clue me in.
« C'est lui le... »
« Oui »
So, that was the shifter. Not what I'd expected at all. He looked completely normal. The only thing wrong with him was the way he smelled.
« What do you want ? »the black woman behind the counter asked brusquely. « We're closing in half an hour. »
« Do you have any TruBlood ? » Godric asked politely.
« No, we don't ! So get out now, we've had enough fangers around already ! » The black woman rudely replied.
« Tara ! » a woman 's voice interjected, sounding shocked.
The blonde waitress, who was carrying the empty plate of the third customer – who was gone, I'd just noticed – walked toward us with an apologetic expression.
« I'm sorry » she apologized. « We're just all a little stressed around here, what with Maudette's murder and all. I'm Sookie, by the way. It's nice to meet you ».
Murder ? I thought. The town's name definitely had to be sarcastic... Bon Temps indeed !
« I am Godric », my maker answered, before looking at me, obviously expecting me to introduce myself.
« My name's Astrid, it's nice to meet you too », I told her sincerly. She looked nice, after all, and she smelled delicious ! More so than the others. I struggled to keep my fangs retracted even as my throat burned.
« You all vampers ? » a new voice interjected, and my attention was caught by the man sitting next to Godric.
« We are vampires, yes », Godric responded impassively.
« Well, I've got a few questions for you, then » Said the man. « How long have you been in Renard Parish ? »
My eyebrows rose, and I asked :
« Who are you ? »
« I'm Detective Bellefleur, and I'm in charge of the Pickens case » he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
« Andy, you're not on duty tonight, and you've had too much to drink. » Sookie interrupted, trying to difuse the tense atmosphere.
« Get lost Stackhouse, you do your job and I'll do mine », Andy replied.
Sookie huffed, and brought the plate she was holding in what I assumed to be the kitchen.
« So, how long've you been around here ? »
« Three nights » Godric humoured him.
« And where are you staying ? »
« I am afraid that is not something I can reveal, detective. Where I sleep during the day is a sensitive information, and I would not be pleased if it reached the wrong ears. »
Bellefleur went red and looked ready to explode.
« Are you saying you don't trust the police ?! »
« Not at all » Godric replied calmly, « I am merely pointing out that we are not alone in this establishment. »
The detective grumbled before questioning us again.
« Have you ever met Maudette Pickens ? »
« No, I have not. »
« And her ? » Bellefleur asked, gesturing in my direction.
« I've never heard of her », I said. « Why ? What's going on ? »
Godric sent me a stern look that clearly said « Keep your mouth shut ». Well, too late for that.
« None of your buisness, fanger. » The detective replied before focusing once more on his beer.
Godric and I remained there, sitting on our tools, in silence for several minutes. Godric eventually ordered a beer, which he obviously didn't drink. The drunk woman was picked up by her son – who had been kindly called by Sookie – and the bartender named Tara left Merlotte's with a glare in our direction. The detective left a few minutes later.
« We're closing » called the shifter at half past one.
I saw Sookie leave the bar as the lights were turned off one by one. Godric and I got off our stools and headed for the exit.
« You did well, tonight. » he told me with a slight smile on his face.
Happy, and quite proud of myself for the control I'd exhibited, I grinned.
« I wouldn't have been able to keep myself in check without your help », I replied.
« I did not expect would be, however I did not have to use a maker's com... »
He stilled suddenly, not finishing his sentence. I heard a moan coming from the staff parking lot and smelled the most delicious sent ever : blood. It smelled so much better than Simon's. I whimpered and felt my pupils dilate. My fangs extended and my chest heaved. I was about to rush toward the source of the bewitching flavor when Godric ordered :
« Stop ! As your maker, I command you to remain here . You are not to bite anyone. »
And he rushed off in the direction of the moan I'd heard. I remained rooted in my position, unable to move and soon heard a man yell in pain.
« Fucking fanger ! » A woman's voice cursed.
Pain assaulted me. I felt as though someone was strangling me with acid, the flesh melting under the unknown lace squeezing my throat. I brought a hand up, trying to grab whatever was coiled around my neck, but my fingers brushed my intact skin. Nothing was there. I heard Godric hiss and growl, and felt rage course through me even as the pain vanished. The woman I'd heard cursed screamed in terror and I heard a bone snap.
The blond bartender appeared before me unexpectedly, wearing only boxers.
« What's going on ? » He asked, almost growling.
« I don't know. » I replied. « My maker commanded me to stay here. I can't leave. »
The shifter stared at me before removing his boxers. Shocked, I stared at his naked form. Was he some kind of pervert ? Was he going to take advantage of the fact I couldn't move to violate me ? But before I could think any further, I was proven wrong in my assumptions in the weirdest way possible. His naked form seemed to blurr and I heard bones crack under his skin. He shrunk as hair grew everywhere on his naked form and under the space of a second, a colly stood before me.
The dog didn't stay long after his transformation, though. Almost immediately after his front paws hit the ground, he darted in the direction of the commotion.
« Can you stand ? » I heard a new male voice ask.
« I think so », replied Sookie's voice.
« Astrid », I heard Godric call me. « You may come now. »
I felt the pressure that kept me in place lift from my muscles, and hurried to the staff parking lot. My maker was standing next to an unconscious, scantily dressed human woman whose right arm was twisted in an unnatural position. He held a human man by the throat, and watched me head toward him, uncaring of the man's desperate struggles to free himself. There was a bloody silvery chain at his feet.
Sookie was there, too, her lip busted and her eye already begining to colour and swell. She was holding her midsection and leaning on a dark haired vampire's arm. The shifter was no where to be seen.
« What's going on ? » I asked.
« That's what I'd like to know », Godric said, looking toward the human man he was holding.
«Fuck you ! I ain't telling ya nothin' ! » was the human's choked reply.
« They're drainers, » Sookie interrupted, and we all turned to look at her. « They tried to drain Bill, here, a few nights ago and I stopped them. They wanted pay back. »
« Is it true ? » Godric inquired, looking at « Bill ».
« Yes, … What should I call you ? » Bill asked.
« I am Godric, and this is my child, Astrid. »
Bill's eyes seemed to widen as he heard my maker's name.
« Godric ? From Dallas ? »
« Yes », Godric confirmed. « I thank for your assistance. » He continued, glancing toward the chain at his feet.
Bill nodded in respect and smoothly answered :
« It was nothing, sir. I did what any decent vampire would in such a situation »
« I am curious, though. » Godric pursued. « Did you inform your Sheriff of the presence of those two drainers in his area ? »
Bill didn't answer at first.
« Inform Bud ? » Asked Sookie. « He probably wouldn't even care. »
« Bud ? » I asked.
« Yeah, Bud Dearborne, the Sheriff ».
« Not that Sheriff, » Bill informed her. « And no, I did not inform him, as they did not harm me grievously. »
I felt more than saw Godric's displeasure at the news.
« It does not matter, what they did to you. You should have informed him of their existence. What were you doing here at this hour of the night ? » Godric asked with suspicion.
« I asked him to meet me here. » Sookie intervened, her voice tired. « My Gran wanted me to ask him something. »
« She did ? » Bill asked.
« Yes. Well, I'd hoped to do it in better circumstances, but since you're here... When did you become a vampie ? » Sookie asked.
What did that have to do with the situation ? I wondered.
« In 1870 », Bill answered.
That explained the sideburns.
« Did you fight in the war ? »Sookie asked.
« What war ? » I interrupted. I'm afraid my knowledge of american history was limited.
« The Civil War », Sookie answered while looking at me with a scandalised expression.
« Oh »
« I did fight in it », Bill said. « Why ? »
« Look, I don't want to be incensitive and make you remember things you'd rather forget, but, my Gran would be really happy if you could talk to her club. »
« Her club ? » Bill asked.
« Yeah, the Descendants of the Glorious Dead » Sookie informed him. « Of course, you don't have to come if you don't want to. And you don't have to talk about the corpses, the diseases and the famine. They've read it all already. You could just focus on nicer things, like how people lived back then, the soldiers uniform, the troops movements... »
Godric and I watched the strange conversation going on with curiousity, the drainer still trapped by Godric's hold on his neck.
« Would you like me to come ? » Bill asked.
« My Gran would be delighted. And if you want the folks around here to accept you, it would be good for you to go. She's very respected and most people listen to what she has to say. »
« Very well, I will come. » Bill said.
« Oh, and, if you could pass by tomorrow night. Gran would love to meet you and discuss specifics with you. »
« Very well. »
The sound of a car's engine interrupted us. It was the police, and I saw an older man sitted behind the steering wheel, a black woman beside him. The car stopped in front of us, and the two police officers got out.
« What's going on around here ? » asked the man. « Merlotte called to tell us there was a fight ».
« Bud ! » Sookie exclaimed, clearly surprised. She then proceded to explain that the two humans – Mack and Denise Rattray, I learned – were drainers who had attacked her as revenge for having saved Mr Compton, which I assumed was Bill. She told the Sheriff that Godric and then Bill had come to help, and that she was very grateful to us all. The Sheriff huffed at that last bit of information before adressing Godric.
« You can let him go now, Mr ? »
Godric let go of Mack, who was immediately handcuffed by the woman officer.
« Godric Legaulois », Godric answered.
Mack was pushed inside the back of the police car, followed by his still unconscious wife.
« Well, thank you for your assistance, Mr Legaulois. We'll need you to testify, though. Could you come to the station tomorrow ? You too, Mr Compton. »
Both Godric and Bill agreed to the request and the officers left.
« I'll bring you back home » Bill told Sookie.
« You're sure it's no trouble ? » Sookie asked.
« I'm sure. »
« Mr Compton » Godric called.
« Yes ? »
« I will be informing Eric of what happened here tonight. I suggest that, in the future, you keep him informed when you suspect there may be trouble in his area. »
Bill pressed his lips together, looking unhappy. But he answered :
« Of course, sir. »
And then he was in Sookie's yellow car, and started the engine. Sookie smiled at us tiredly and waved us good bye. Godric and I watched the car leave in silence.
« Come, ma fille. We still have much to take care of tonight. »
And we walked towards the black Mercedes Benz, his left hand on the small of my back.
Translation :
Merci maman: Thank you mum
Attends que nous soyons sortis de la ville. Je t'expliquerai après :Wait until we're out of the town. I'll explain after.
C'est lui le... :He's the...
Oui :yes
Ma fille :my daughter
Song's Lyrics :
Le bon temps, c'est quand ?:Good times, when are they ?
Quand on est vivant. : When we're alive.
Le bon temps, c'est quand ?:Good times, when are they
Quand on est vivant, seulement :Only, when we're alive.
AN :
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it was appreciated. I hope this chapter answers any question concerning when the story takes place : it's obviously before Dallas, and the FOTS mess.
Well, the story is starting to become more interesting, isn't it ? We met a whole bunch of characters...
Tell me what you think,
Cristalelle.
PS : Michel Sardou's song : I really hate it ! I doesn't want to leave me alone. For those who are curious enough to check it out, you'll find it on youtube there :
watch?v=WHNuvcPWZEE&spfreload=10
I warn you, though : it's ridiculous, like 70's ridiculous. Beware.