a/n: I apologize for the slower updates on my stories. I had a business trip and right after that last week my mother went into the hospital in critical condition. She is on the mend now but will need a lot of help while she recovers, so my story updates will be much slower.

Chapter 6

EPOV

I went into my daytime rest wishing that I could tell Sookie everything. I wanted to talk to her about how insane it was that Godric looked 17 but was in fact over 2,000 years old. I wanted to tell her I no longer had to sleep in the dirt and that Pam was my sister in the vampire world. I never went to her home though and kept the distance between us.

I knew nothing of this new world I had been thrown into and I could not risk her safety.

The following evening when I rose for the night I went to Fangtasia, since my sister owned the place. I had already decided I needed to establish myself in the supernatural world (yes, Godric told me there was a lot more than vampires lurking in the dark). There was a hierarchy in place and a vampire's age tended to rule their ranking in society. There were a few exceptions Godric had explained and I planned to be one of them. If this was my new life and I had to live without Sookie, it would suck, but I was going to at least kick ass at being a vampire. I had nothing else to live for anymore.

I spent the next two weeks going to Fangtasia every night and observing the vampires as they interacted with humans and each other. I learned most vampires thought of themselves as superior to the human race and also that many of them were just as superficial as humans. They dressed themselves the way they wanted to be seen and remembered. Some older vampires dressed in clothing that spoke of their heritage, whether it be Greek, Middle Eastern, or Native American. Others dressed in the leather badass outfits humans expected to see them in. It seemed those vampires had little plans for their existence and were only worried about feeding.

These nights at the bar alone gave me time to ponder who I wanted Eric Northman to be seen as. I wanted to be taken seriously and not just viewed as a newborn obsessed with feeding and fucking. I also wanted to do more than that. Pam and Godric both owned businesses… maybe I could do something similar. I still wanted to share things with Sookie but I accepted that was a bad idea. I had to figure out how to make my life mean something without her in it.

I arrived at Fangtasia during the peak hours dressed in a tailored black suit and black shirt. My short blonde hair was neatly gelled and I left the light blonde stubble on my face. My hair no longer grew so I refused to shave it off forever. This was the look that would be associated with Eric Northman, hopefully it went over well.

I walked into the bar without waiting in line. I was a regular and now publicly known as Pam's brother, that got me in the door without a wait. As I moved through the throngs of humans clustered near the entryway I felt their eyes on me. I could even smell the arousal from some of the females. However as usual this did little for me. None of these women were Sookie.

I heard a whistle up ahead and Pam made a twirling motion with her hand by the bar. I took that as my cue to turn in a slow circle for her fashion show. I did as requested then walked all the way over once I was facing her.

"Evening Pam" I adjusted my suit jacket and tucked my hands into my pockets.

"Well, well… now this is a brother I can be proud of." She grinned. Once she realized I was not a total idiot she actually seemed to like me. I did not tolerate her bullshit but I respected her and that seemed to be enough.

"I took your advice and decided to grab this new life by the horns. I don't want to be some 'fucktard vamp'". That was what Pam liked to call the vampires she saw as lazy or not good enough to be vampire.

"Good, it's about time I got some family member that isn't a complete cluster fuck. Follow me." Pam led the way towards the stage area.

Some nights the bar had live music but on the unbooked nights Pam sat up on some chair and let the humans gawk at her. I thought it was a strange practice at first but it actually worked. After observing the past couple weeks I watched in awe as humans just stared at her like she was god or they tried to approach her only to be rejected. It was a twisted form of entertainment they seemed to enjoy.

"Sit down, you can be my display for tonight. I have shit to do and you're pretty enough to look at for a man. Plus that broody attitude you have since leaving blondie only attracts the women even more." She motioned for me to sit and grinned sadistically when at least five pairs of female eyes landed on me.

"Do I get paid for this?" This was going to be boring as hell and I needed money since I was an unemployed vampire.

"Of course, you get a percentage of the cover charges we earn for the night, since you're the attraction and all." With that Pam drifted off to her office.

I sat there feeling very uncomfortable with so many eyes on me. It felt like a public speaking class where the speech never ended.

Pam coerced me into sitting on that damn throne for the rest of the week. What can I say, I was desperate for cash. Then surprisingly she informed that attendance had increased for the bar since I started working there. Apparently news of a new vampire had spread and the local fangbangers were curious.

"Get this" Pam chuckled as we sat in her office just after closing early in the morning. "The humans are fascinated by you. They think you're mysterious and brooding, they eat that shit up. So I've leaked the word that you might be a Viking. With your looks no one will question it and they'll be even more obsessed with coming to the bar for a glimpse of you."

I felt a bit like a circus attraction but it was kind of funny how easy it was to pull the wool over some people's eyes. I was earning more cash each night the way things were going.

"That's great but can I bar tend or something half the week? I hate sitting up there while people gawk at me. I feel like zoo animal." I took a sip of the donor blood I had taken from behind the bar. I had free access to the drinks now.

"Fuck no! Eric, people see you as the mysterious and regal being up on that throne. They either want to be you or fuck you. Seeing you bar tend will ruin the image that nice suit has developed for you. In this bar Eric Northman is above servicing humans or being a waiter." She explained as if this was all common sense. "If you want a change you can sit in one of the booths and mingle a little, or even come back here and help with this fucking paperwork."

"Okay…" That seemed like a decent deal. I guess this new image was not so bad. Even the other vampires seemed to respect me more now. "Thanks for helping me out Pam."

She just rolled her eyes. "No sappy bullshit okay?"

"Sure" I chuckled and got up to go home for the day.

I was now renting an apartment from one of Godric's associates in Shreveport. I gave up my old apartment in Bon Temps because news would quickly spread that I was a vampire if I kept going back there. Here the apartment complex was owned by a vampire and only rented out to vampires. Everyone minded their own business and I had not had any trouble yet. I even bought one of those nice travel coffins to sleep in.

A month had passed since I had last seen Sookie. I still thought about her all the time and my withdrawn mood towards women only seemed to attract them more. Along with the fake Viking heritage I was bringing in more customers every week and Pam was delighted.

I had settled into a routine of working the throne or just mingling at Fangtasia. When the fangbangers became too annoying I disappeared into the office and did paperwork for Pam. The rest of the staff treated me like Pam, as if I was their boss. I guess the sibling relationship really meant a lot to vampires. Besides a few scuffles with older vampires attempting to be jackasses simply because I was a newborn, I had no troubles. Luckily those scuffles usually ended with me overpowering them or at the very least holding my own. They were always shocked and I was quite smug with the reputation of strength and power I was quickly gaining. Pam suspected I was gifted with unusual strength since most newborns were not as powerful.

That night I strolled into the bar like every other. I learned to play my role while I was there. I acted indifferent to all of the humans and most of the vampires. I carried myself with an air of authority and definitely a hint of arrogance. As a human I would have despised my current behavior but I was learning it was a great way to survive amongst vampires.

My eyes glanced over the humans as I walked by them towards my corner booth. They all meant nothing to me and I merely raised an eyebrow at two brunettes fawning over me. I sat down in the booth alone as always and let my eyes roam the crowd.

One of the brunettes was daring enough to walk over to me.

"Hello handsome" She slurred and stepped closer.

I remained seated and only glanced at her.

"Wanna get freaky?" First off who said that and second she smelled like booze. I had no interest in her.

When she reached down and touched my leg my fangs snapped down and I snarled at her.

"Get the fuck away from me" I growled in a low voice.

She gasped and stumbled backwards. As I watched her friend gather her up I noticed a blonde head behind them. I immediately focused on the only woman I could see in the room. She was by the bar with her back to me, wearing a light grey top and black jeans that fit her ass perfectly.

It was Sookie.

a/n: it's SOOKEH! =P