AN: This one is a long one for all you beautiful people. Happy Friday!
PS: My language will start to get a bit stronger in the upcoming chapters, fair warning!
LAST TIME
I tossed and turned for hours. Reliving the bombing. Reliving the basement at the Fellowship Church and over analyzing Eric and Bill's actions. It was about 4 AM when I woke up, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling that I looked out the window to see the sky starting to lighten. It came with a peace and sense of power, and as I saw the sun crest over the trees in my front yard, I closed my eyes and whispered:
"Bill Compton, I rescind your invitation".
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So I'll admit. I hadn't really made a plan of action when I rescinded my then "boyfriend's" invitation. I just knew I wanted space, I no longer wanted to be with him, and I wanted to feel safe in my own house again. It seemed like the best course of action. But when I woke only a few short hours the next morning, I realized that I was going to have a very angry vampire on my hands, and I needed a plan.
Whenever I started planning I work with the things I know. I KNOW I don't want Bill in my house. I KNOW given our last conversation there isn't much (if anything) I want to say to him, and I KNOW that Bill mentioned that this blood nonsense would wear off in a while. So my plan thus far was to wait it out. So that's exactly what I did. I kept normal hours, I worked, I cleaned, I sunbathed, and I put 120% effort into restoring my life back to what it was before all the chaos came in.
In that time frame I also planned contingencies. I bought silver bullets. I bought a lot of cheap chopsticks (the perfect sized to fit in my clutch). I bought silver spray and I started researching self-defence. I reconnected with all of my friends and got onto somewhat good terms with them. Sam was the most accepting (of course) of the fact that I wasn't going to cut people out of my life because of their supernatural genetics, but I wasn't going out of my way to keep them in it either. Tara didn't get it but she agreed to support me as much as possible. I didn't even bother with Arlene. I work with her and we'll stay civil when we need to, but that's it.
It was working, I felt better. I felt like me. Bill hadn't been around. Not a peep. No phone calls, no lurking (that I knew of) and no harassment. Maybe he hadn't realized I'd rescinded his invitation? Maybe he did and didn't care. Lousy thing did cheat on me, maybe he crawled back to that piece of work that is his maker. Whatever. I didn't care.
It wasn't until about two weeks after Dallas that the ugliness reared its head again. I had purposely been keeping daylight hours, and was quite put out when I heard the disgusting thoughts of one Bobby Burnham tromping up my driveway towards my stretched out lawn chair one sunny Sunday.
Damn look at those TITS. I guess I can't blame Northman for wanting to keep that around. Nice tight stomach, and I bet the curves are even better on the back end…
I rolled my eyes and tried not to cover my bikini clad form as he approached my chair that I had spread out in the middle of the backyard.
"Bobby" I said with noncommittal acknowledgment. "I wish I could say it's a pleasure. What can I do for you?" I could hear Gran slapping my hand with a wooden spoon for my attitude, but my panties were in a bunch that this jerk ruined my tanning vibe.
"Ms. Stackhouse. You're looking lovely today." I could feel his eyes roam over me top to bottom, and felt like I had just been slimed. EW. I nodded, hoping he would hurry the heck up and get off my yard.
"I've come to deliver this package from Mr. Northman." My eyebrows shot up, and I look over to see he has a large envelope in his hands. Bobby hands it to me and I accept it, noting that it is a blank legal sized envelope, with two clipped bundles and a letter tucked inside, unsealed.
"He asks for your presence at Fangtasia tonight to discuss the contents, if you are available?"
My goodness, is he actually verging polite? What could Eric possible want now? I ponder this for a moment, as Bobby shifts impatiently.
She would probably be pretty fun in bed, don't need brains for that. I bet she tastes as good as she looks. I could slum for a bit, bet I could convince her easily if I wave a fifty in front of her. I could just lick that sweat from her belly button all the way –
"Thank you Bobby. I will see Mr. Northman tonight. You have a good day now!" I say, adding a shooing motion at the end, hoping he will leave as quickly as he appeared. He tucks his hands behind his back, gives a stiff half bow and shuffles away. What a CREEP.
As I hear his thoughts retreat, I quickly take my shades off, cross my legs under me and open the envelope. The two clipped documents are about 20 pages each, and are of a contract for a temporary employee. I put those down on the lawn chair, to read over more carefully later. The third item is a hand written letter, on blank cream coloured card stock in the most elegant calligraphy I have ever seen. Effortlessly elegant, the card has a simple large S in the middle and has been sealed honest to goodness with red wax and some kind of crest. Talk about straight out of a romance novel folks. I realize that my insides started to flutter. What the –
Sookie
I kindly request that you take the time to review the document I have attached. You'll notice it is a casual contract between you and I. After the events in Dallas I believe you require more security for your position that Bill can no longer provide. Please review the documents, make any changes you deem fit, and I look forward to deliberating this evening.
Wear red.
E.N
If steam could blow out my ears, I'd be going off like something out of the Buggs Bunny and Tweety Show. THAT JERK! I was just about to pitch the thing into the pond in the back when something in my gut told me to read the contract. I hesitantly put the letter down and reached for the bundled items I had tucked away moments ago. They seemed to be very legal. I, Sookie Stackhouse, the employee, agree to work the terms outlined by Eric Northman, the employer blah blah blah. Typical labour law stuff, entitled to benefits after statutory probationary period. I skim read most of the first ten pages until I reached the section that said "Duties". I bet he put a sex clause in…or a stripping portion. I thought snidely, going through the items of what exactly this employment would mean. I search and search, and the one page bullet form notes truly just aligned me as an Human Resources employee. Eric essentially outlined my telepathy without actually saying it. Phrases such as "will ensure all employees are experiencing a fair and comfortable working environment" and "will manage any employee complaints, or cause for alarm within the staff as well as clientele" pretty much outline me scanning patrons for him. Hmmmmm, what's the catch? I look at the uniform – business casual. I look at the times and days expected – evenings according to the employee's availability, any longer absences to be approved by the employee no later than 7 days ahead of time. There HAS to be something in fine print that I'm missing. After reading through as much legal mumbo jumbo as I can manage, I decide to tuck the information aside for now. I had agreed to meet Eric no matter what. Why did I do that? I still haven't seen that a-hole since he tricked me. I lean back in my lawn chair and stretch out again, I still have a good 3 hours before I'd even have to consider moving indoors to get ready, so I tell myself I'll enjoy the sun then get to my game plan for the night.
At about 4PM I finally tuck my lawn chair away, and hop in the shower. My skin feels a slight tingle from the nice roast in the sunshine, and I will have a wonderful glow tonight. I have a plan and it's a good one. After feeling so taken advantage of both Bill and Eric in Dallas I have no interest in falling victim to something, I want to go in with my head held high and full understanding IF I am even considering this as an option. I enjoy working for Sam, but I can't deny that my bank account could use a boost.
I take a bit more time in my appearance. That being said, not much, I curled my hair and touched up my toe nails and slip into my outfit for the night. Definitely NOT red. But me and enough of a head turner, if I do say so myself. I throw a set of chopsticks, my keys, lipgloss, ID and credit card into my clutch, slide my toes into a cute pair of high heeled wedges and walk out the door.
Here we go!
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EPOV
I rise for the evening with a spark of curiosity. I had received a text from Bobby confirming that Sookie had in fact agreed to meet me at Fangtasia tonight. Having not seen her since my small deception in Dallas, I was not expecting her to be so cordial. I find myself tapping our weak bond, as I have every night I've risen since then, to find it as it always is – dormant. Such a frustration for me. I realized quite quickly after her ingesting my blood that I could not feel any slight of her emotions, only her location.
I trashed my office for the millionth time that night.
When I had schemed to get my blood into the blonde vixen, I had hoped it would give me some headway into her emotions. A true conundrum for me, I was unused to being unable to glamour her. I was even more unused to her strong repulsion towards me. Even more baffling that she really did seem to be repulsed by me, physically disgusted. An emotion I can never recall enticing from the opposite sex so strongly. I dress for an evening at Fangtasia in my usual garb. Leather pants and a scrap of a vest. I decide to leave more skin accessible in case this evening by chance ends pleasantly. I add combat boots, grab my keys and take my Porsche to Fangtasia, arriving in mere minutes. As I enter through the employee entrance, I type in the pin and use my thumbprint to access my office.
I swing the door open and my nostrils flare. Fairy. I have not scented one in hundreds of years, but I could never forget the sweetness. My fangs drop as I assess the surroundings. Sitting in my chair is none other than Niall Brigant. The Prince of Fairies. He has made himself comfortable, hands behind his head, his long legs crossed on my desk. What the flying fuck?
"Fairy" I growl as Niall acknowledges me with a curt nod.
"Sheriff" he says.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I snap. I have no time for games. This man always has a motive and a plan, and I usually want nothing to do with either of them. After hearing of his breeding plot in the Fae realm a few hundred years ago, I deemed him a fierce but medieval leader that I never wanted to cross. I have seen fairy magic to terrible things, and I do not want my undead existence terminated by a Tinkerbell.
Niall uncrosses his legs and sits up to face me, tenting his fingertips together as his elbows come to rest on top of my desk.
"I've come to discuss my great granddaughter" he says. I notice his eyes have turned an icy blue, and that there is a small wind in the small room now. My mind is reeling.
Who have I slept with….Who did I take blood from….no one who was as tasty as a fairy, that's for damn sure. I would've remembered that! All of a sudden my mind hits a wall – SOOKIE. I knew that girl was more than meets the eye, but this complicates my plan. Instead of registering my shock, I simple cross my arms and cock an eyebrow.
"Should I know her?" I ask, my infamous smirk now firmly in place. He's going to have to work for this one if he's kept this secret hidden so long.
"I would hope so since you recently gave her your blood." He sneers. Gotcha Fairy. So he is talking about Sookie. Again I cock my eyebrow.
"I was unaware that any human in this realm had any relation to a highly respected supernatural such as yourself. Whatever do you wish to discuss?" I try not to lay on too much sarcasm to the thinly veiled insult. Niall seems unphased, but his eyes are still glowing, the breeze in my office is another sign that he is attempting to reel in his temper (unsuccessfully). I cannot push him too far before I become a victim of said Tinkerbell magic.
"You will watch yourself Norseman. Playing with the royal Brigant blood line is an act worthy of the true death, and I would find nothing but pleasure in being the one that grants it to you!" As he speaks, the breeze starts to get stronger, blowing the ancient fairy's hair behind him, as he rises and places his hands flat on my desk. He stares me dead in the eyes and continues.
"Sookie is not another conquest, and she is certainly not someone whom you should deem as below you. You will NOT trick my great granddaughter again, do you understand?!" As he finished, he is bellowing, and I am struggling not to stagger back at the great gust of wind that has taken over my office. I nod ever so slightly, and the room abruptly returns to normal, the papers that had started a small tornado all unceremoniously drop to the ground.
"Good. I will take that as your word Norseman. Even you undead know that is not something to be broken. Trick her again, and next time my warning will be fair more entertaining for me." Niall sneers, as he shows me a glimpse of his true fairy teeth. Pointed, rotting, sharp. Before I can respond to his threat, a sharp pop signals his departure. I call to Pam through our bond and she enters, as I seat myself behind my desk.
"Master" she says as she saunters in, dressed in her typical Fangtasia attire of a red corset, fishnet stockings, and knee high leather black stilettos.
"You're looking very Pretty Woman tonight." I snark, nodding towards her boots.
"Julia's got nothing on me" she replies, snapping her fangs "why does it smell so delicious in here? You didn't lay Stackhouse over that desk and bring me here to rub it in did you?"
"No" I respond. "We have a problem".
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SPOV
I pulled into the Fangtasia parking lot at about 10PM. Early enough that there was a line, but not late enough it was a rush. Steeling my resolve, I collect my clutch, and make my way to the front of the line. Given that I have an appointment, I make the bold decision to bypass the line. Much to the dismay of those currently waiting. After a few comments as I walk by, I reach the front the see Pam in all her glory.
"Why Sookie, you are looking quite scrumptious this evening" she says through her fangs, giving me a very gracious once over. "Good enough to eat" she adds with a lick of her left fang.
"Pass" I sass back, "He in?" I ask. She simply nods and points over her shoulder inside.
"Can't miss him. The Viking on the throne" she drawls to me, leaning in as if it's a controversial whisper. She unsnaps the rope and allows my through. I pause in the small lobby after the front door and readjust my dress.
Let's hope this works.
EPOV
After discussing my meeting with Pam I go to enthrall the vermin. Another mundane night entertaining these blood bags. I had just kicked another fangbanger away from me, when I feel the small bond flutter. She's here. I close my eyes briefly and inhale. She's close. Mmmmmmmm. I reopen my eyes and instantly find her long blonde locks at the bar. She is at the back corner, directly opposite my position on stage, so I do not get a full glance at her until she has a drink in hand, and is walking towards me.
My fangs drop. My my my. Vixen indeed.
Sookie has rebelled and worn the farthest thing from my request. White. Pure white, and a sexy pair of gold wedge heels. The dress is rouged and fits her form magnificently. The swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips. She's dangling bait in front of crocodiles. I hear other fangs start to snap down as she makes her way to the dias.
"Little one. I see you have not learned your lesson from the last time you came here." I growl at her, giving her a very thorough once over now that she is directly in front of me.
She puts a hand on her hip, looks me square in the eye and says "We need to talk. Office. Now". And with that she saunters off towards my office door. I blur there, and lean casually against my door as she finished the few steps towards me.
"We could do much better things than talk" I say, leaning down to put my face inches apart from hers. I take another inhale. She doesn't miss a beat before her eyes light with fire and she steps towards me.
"You're gonna tell me why you're trying to trick me" she sasses. I freeze. Has this girl known of her heritage all along? She pokes a finger into my chest and continues "and you're gonna tell me what the hell is going on with Bill".
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THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS!
~ Lea