Layla walked into the kitchen later that evening to see Sookie staring at an album. Most of it was blank. Layla arched a brow but said nothing.
"Hey, Sook-"
She was cut off as they both snapped their heads towards the backdoor. Something outside had made a noise. Sookie grabbed a shotgun Layla hadn't even noticed she had and leveled it at the door.
"Who's there?" Sookie called out. The door creaked open a cute, curvy blonde Layla recognized from her visit to Sophie-Anne's walked in.
"Sookie?"
"Hadley?" Sookie said, putting the gun down at once. "Oh my God. Where have you been?" she asked.
"Is Gran here?" Hadley asked. Layla had heard all about the murder of Adele Stackhouse and seeing as this was a reunion of some kind, felt this was a good a moment as ever to back away.
Walking outside onto the front porch Layla grabbed the pack of cigarettes Alcide had picked up for her earlier in the afternoon before he had gone back to Jackson. She had quit smoking before she'd moved to Bon Temps and had only slipped up once after the debacle at the Fellowship of the Sun, but she she needed a good vice, and the idea of becoming a drunk wasn't appealing.
They were still out there. The Werewolves, the Vampires, Debbie Pelt, the Fellowship of the Sun - So much fighting it made her head spin. All she had wanted was to move to a sleepy southern town, finish her book and work on more. Layla had wanted a quiet, simple life. No such luck it seemed. Instead she befriends a mystical trouble magnet, falls into a severely unhealthy and confusing relationship with a narcissistic Vampire, and discovers she herself isn't entirely human.
Layla took another drag of the cigarette, leaning her forearms against the railing. She could always leave. She had enough money, thanks to Eric. She could buy a ticket to anywhere and set up shop. Leave Bon Temps and all it's craziness behind her. It was a tempting thought.
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Sookie stood by the front door and watched as Hadley rushed out. In the distance somewhere, a wolf howled.
"Layla?" Sookie called. No answer came, and Sookie's car was gone. Layla had left.
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Fuck this, Layla thought as she pulled into Fangtasia's parking lot. They were going to be open and they were going to give her a drink, danger be damned. She knocked on the doors, more like hammered on them until Pam finally answered.
"We're closed, little one." she said. Layla gave her a fierce look.
"You're maker screwed me over and put my life in danger for another girl. All I want is a drink, then I'll go back to playing security guard for his precious Sookie." Layla said bitterly. Pam arched an eyebrow.
"Nothing more attractive than a woman scorned. How can I say no?" she said, opening the door enough for Layla to come in. Layla was surprised Pam actually let her in.
"You're not going to get in trouble for this, are you?" she asked, walking behind the bar to make herself a drink.
"I would have gotten in more trouble if I'd denied you entrance." Pam said. "Make your drink and then come into the office. You can amuse me while I do paperwork."
"Fine, but I warn you, I'm not very amusing." Layla said as she walked back to the office. A brush of wind blew by her and even Pam jumped.
"We need sanctuary." Eric said, suddenly slowing and becoming visible to Layla's half-human eyes.
"Oh my God. What have you done?" Pam asked.
"I staked a Vampire. The lover of Russell Edgington." Eric said. Layla's mouth dropped open.
"You did WHAT?" she demanded angrily.
"Are you insane?" Pam asked, sounding just as upset as Layla.
"Where can we go?" Eric bellowed.
"A-a human home would be safest. We've both been invited into Sookie's." Pam babbled.
"I could invite you both to mine." Layla offered quickly. "We could-"
"No." Eric said quickly. "It's out of the question."
"You never panic. Should I be panicking?" Pam asked, sounded panicked. Layla's heart was beating double time and she frowned. Was Eric actually turning down her house as a sanctuary? What was wrong with her house? The dumb blonde waitress came in then.
"Ginger, dear. Where do you live?" Eric asked calmly.
"Across the river in Bossier. Why?" she asked.
"We need your house. Nowish." Pam said, while she and Eric both fussed with getting more appropriately dressed.
"Is it because of the V-Feds?" Ginger asked. Layla's eyes widened and she looked quickly from Eric to Pam and then back to Eric.
"Oh, fuck." Layla said, sinking into a chair. Pam reached into a drawer and tossed clothes at her.
"Tonight, you're on our team. Suit the fuck up."
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Eric had wiped away all the blood spatter and walked out into the main bar in black pants and a black tank top. Pam contrasted him in a bright pink jumpsuit. Layla had changed out of her dingy, borrowed clothes and into the outfit Pam had given her, which was tight leather pants and a black tank top with a silver design on the front. She had already been wearing her combat boots. Along with Ginger, the four walked out into the main room which was now filled with soldiers in black. Thye must have crept in right after Pam let Layla inside. Layla recognized Nan Flanagan as she walked towards them.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Flanagan but the bar is closed." Eric said.
"Thank you. I already ate." she said flatly. "True Blood only, of course."
Both Pam and Layla rolled their eyes discreetly.
"Can't stay out of trouble, can you?" she asked Eric. "The VRA is two states away from ratification. I should be kissing asses in Oregon, not cleaning up after you in fucking Louisiana."
"Oh, I promise. There is nothing amiss in my area." Eric said, pouring on the charm.
"Shut up. You're making my head hurt." Nan snapped. "Officers. Silver him."
Layla watched in horrified silence as Eric was brought to his knees under the pain of pure silver being pressed against his skin. Ginger began screaming.
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Pam and Layla stood by the bar while Eric sat in a chair in the center of the room.
"The downstairs is clean." Nan said, returning from her search of the basement.
"I told you there was nothing." Eric replied.
"It's been wiped."
"Well, I'm a Virgo. I like to be neat." Eric said. Layla's hand balled into a fist. Was he trying to piss this woman off on purpose?
"You're screeching fang-cushion of a barmaid who's been glamoured so much she can't even remember her own last name, does know that no one ever goes down there with so much as a mop and a promise. Suddenly it's as sterile as an operating room." Nan said.
"Doesn't prove anything." Eric said, looking exactly like a guilty teen stuck in the principal's office.
"If only we had a Magister to decide that." she said. Eric slowly raised his head and Nan smiled. "Relax, it's not like you killed someone."
Layla knew he did. She could feel the truth of it in her blood...or maybe it was his blood.
"Just need your official statement. That's all." Nan said, taking a seat across from Eric while officers set up two webcams. Eric glanced at Layla who was chewing on her lip and watching him carefully.
"Webcams. For the Authority." Nan explained. Eric shifted, a little uncomfortable and glanced again and glanced again towards Layla and Pam who were both holding their breath in anticipation. At least Layla was. Pam didn't breathe, being a Vampire.
"Members of the Authority, it's Nan. Can you hear me?" the cold woman said, using a blue tooth device and looking into the webcam to her left. "Good. In regards to the matter of the disappearance of our Magister, last known whereabouts this dump in Shreveport Louisianna, you have before you Eric Northman. Sheriff of Area 5."
The cameras swiveled to look at Eric. Layla chewed on her lip. She wanted to go stand beside Eric but obviously couldn't. She leaned against the bar, watching, waiting.
"Smile for the cameras, Eric." Nan said.