When I woke, I was freezing and had to pee. It took me a second to remember where I was as I tried to snuggle further into Eric's cold, hard body. But there was no warmth to be had from Eric, of course.
I reached down to the floor and turned on the flashlight before getting off of Eric who was actually an excellent mattress in spite of his cool temperature. I climbed the steps and opened the door, but quickly closed it behind me since it was already morning. I could see the interior of the house better in the early light than I had the night before.
The house was empty and cold. The gray sky showed through the gaping hole in the living room ceiling and part of one wall had crumbled from the rain damage. I avoided the debris on the floor and found my way to a bedroom and then a bathroom beyond that. I turned on both faucets at the sink, but nothing came out. Okay, so I guess it was too much to hope for running water here at my own private Hilton Hotel.
I went back out the front door and walked past the car and down a little slope, following the sound of running water that wasn't helping my very full bladder, and came to a lovely little creek where and found a bush to squat behind.
I was thirsty but wasn't sure if I should drink the water in the creek. I opted not to and went back up to the car. I fished my keys from the pocket in my shorts and opened the trunk. There was the navy blue dress I'd picked up from the cleaners after wearing it to church last week and the old quilt I kept in the trunk in case of an impromptu picnic.
I pulled the quilt out and went back to bed. I woke a little later, warm this time underneath my old quilt, and turned on the flashlight to study Eric's face. He was obviously in his daytime rest, but I could see that he was sick like Bill had been. His skin was very pale and there was just a kind of a haggard look to him. I wondered if vampires all over the country looked like this now. I felt guilty because I'd fallen asleep before offering him my blood, which he clearly needed.
I was hungry and wondered how much cash I had with me. I got up and set the flashlight on the washing machine and opened my purse, found my wallet and counted out sixty-seven dollars. I had a credit card, but didn't think I should use it. I'd seen enough spy movies to know I could be tracked through my credit card use if the bad guys were smart enough. And I had a feeling these bad guys were plenty smart.
I went over to Eric and reached into his pants pockets. Nothing. I felt behind him and into first one back pocket and then the other. No wallet, but wow, he had a lovely behind. I figured that the drainers had most likely robbed him as well. He wasn't wearing a watch or jewelry, so we had nothing of value to sell either. My own watch cost me eleven dollars at Walmart. I wondered how long we could hide here with sixty-seven dollars.
I was starting to feel overwhelmed with no money and a sick vampire and some scary people looking for me, but I remembered hearing somewhere—an old Star Trek movie I think—survival is the first order of business.
I went upstairs and got into my car and drove away in search of food.
I was careful to take note as I found my way to a main road so I could get back to Eric. I drove east for about ten minutes until I came to a tiny little downtown not unlike the downtown of Bon Temps.
I parked the car and got out to walk, passing Magnolia Grove Post Office and several small shops that were closed (it was only 9:30) before coming to a small white house that had been made into a quaint little restaurant. The sign out front just said "Amelia's."
I stepped inside and wished I'd at least run a brush through my hair. I was still wearing my Merlotte's t-shirt and shorts and probably looked like I'd slept in my clothes because I had.
I found a seat at the counter and a woman about my age with short brown hair approached me with a smile.
"Coffee?" she asked.
"Thank you, yes."
I ordered eggs and toast and grits and watched as a young man worked the kitchen alone. The brown-haired woman waited on the tables. This had once been a very nice little house. The living room and dining room had been gutted and opened up and the kitchen had been expanded and now it was a big open room with booths lining the walls. The people looked just like Merlotte's customers.
As I got my coffee refilled, the brown-haired woman said, "I'm Amelia."
"Sookie. Nice to meet you." I immediately wished I'd thought of a fake name. "I love your place here."
"Thanks. It's my dad's, actually. But I run it. You from around here? I haven't seen you before."
"No, I'm visiting my uncle. I'm from Shreveport." I wasn't used to lying—making up a life, and hoped it didn't show.
"Oh, great. Who's your uncle?"
"Bartlett Hale." Okay, so he was dead, but he had really been my uncle.
"I don't know him. Where does he live?"
Oh great, this was one of those towns where everybody knows everybody else. "Out by Hummingbird Road. I'm helping him fix up his house."
"Well, that's great. I hope we see more of you in here." She was wondering where Hummingbird Road was.
Amelia went back to her other customers and I finished my breakfast. She was bussing a table in the corner when I heard a glass break and she said, "Shit!"
I watched her holding her hand as she ran into the kitchen and over to the sink. The cook went to her and they ran her hand under the faucet for a minute until Amelia sat in the floor. The poor cook looked up and out to the dining room for some help.
I looked around and everyone was just looking into the kitchen, but no one was moving.
I got up and went into the kitchen and crouched beside Amelia, who was holding her wrist. Her thumb was dripping blood onto the floor and she looked very pale.
"I hate the sight of blood," she explained. "I'm feeling a little woozy."
"Just lay back," I said.
She flattened out onto the linoleum and I found a roll of paper towels, tore one off and began to put pressure on the cut on her thumb. Blood didn't bother me, obviously, or I wouldn't have had a vampire boyfriend.
A heavyset woman with blonde hair came into the kitchen and asked, "Is she okay?"
"Yeah, but I think she's going to need some stitches. The cut's pretty deep," I explained as I squeezed Amelia's thumb. The bleeding seemed to have slowed down.
"Want me to run you up to the emergency room, hun?"
"That would be great," I answered before Amelia had a chance to.
"I can't leave. I've got a room full of customers. Jake can't handle everything," Amelia said to no one in particular.
"I'm a waitress," I said. "I'll stay. Don't worry about a thing. We'll handle it until you get back. Right, Jake?" I looked up at the cook who looked a little panicked.
"Right. Don't worry, Amelia," he said.
"Are you sure?" she asked me.
"Absolutely. Here. Let's get you out to the car." I helped Amelia stand up and she squeezed her thumb as I released it. "Where are you parked?" I asked the blonde woman.
"Out front."
We got Amelia to the car and I assured her again not to worry. Then I went back in and got to work.
Jake was already cleaning up the broken glass and I went into the kitchen and cleaned the blood and washed my hands thoroughly before going out into the dining room to assess my customers.
For the next few hours, Jake and I took care of everyone. I was a little slow since I had to look up the prices on every ticket, but nobody complained. When people came in and asked where Amelia was, I just said she had to run out for a bit.
Amelia returned during the lunch rush and came to me as I was adding up a ticket.
"I can do that. Thank you," she said. She took over tallying the tickets and ringing the sales up while I continued waiting on the tables.
As the rush waned, she told me she had indeed needed stitches and showed me her bandaged hand.
"I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here. I can't thank you enough."
"It's no problem. I was happy to help out." And I was even happier to have a pocket full of tips.
As I cleaned off the last table, Jake set three bowls of vegetable soup on the counter and poured three iced teas. We sat and ate our lunches together, satisfied that we'd averted a little disaster here at Amelia's restaurant.
Jake was doing the last of the dishes when I excused myself to use the restroom.
"Just go through the office and use the bathroom behind it. Jake's going to mop the one out here," Amelia said.
I went in the direction she'd gestured and found the little bathroom beyond an office.
When I came out, Amelia said, "What can I do to repay you for today?"
"Actually, I have a strange request."
She cocked her head and waited.
"Could I possibly take a shower? I noticed you have one in that back bathroom and my uncle's house … well … it's being worked on, and the plumbing is out of order."
"Of course. Help yourself. There are clean towels in the cabinet underneath the sink."
The hot water felt heavenly, and then it felt rather yucky putting my clothes back on. I stole a squeeze of toothpaste from the medicine cabinet and did my best to clean my teeth with my finger. Then I brushed out my wet hair and went back out to the dining room. Jake was mopping the floor and Amelia was counting the money in the cash register. She set a little stack of bills on the counter.
"This is for today," she said.
"Take out enough for my breakfast and lunch."
"Employees eat free." She smiled a very sweet smile. "I know you're here to help your uncle, but would it be possible for you to come back tomorrow? I'm not going to be able to function well enough to wait on people for probably a week or maybe more. I guess I'll need to find someone, but until I do, can you come back?"
"Sure thing. What time should I be here?"
"We open at 7, so maybe a quarter 'til?"
"Sounds great."
I took my little stack of money and said good bye to Jake and Amelia after getting directions to a Target.
Then I went shopping.
I bought a tiny battery-operated alarm clock so I would wake up in time to get to work in the morning, several pairs of panties and two bras, another pair of shorts and three t-shirts, and a pack of little ankle socks. I decided candles were more economical than batteries for my flashlight, so I added a box of candles and a lighter for the basement. I also got a toothbrush, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, disposable razors and deodorant. I tossed in a case of bottled water and a flat bed sheet and headed for the check-out.
When I got outside, I found a pay phone and got the number for The Shreveport Times. I called the number and loaded the phone with change. I asked to speak to a reporter that handled vampire news and a man introduced himself as C.J. Hinkton.
"I'm at a pay phone, so I have to be fast," I said. "Please listen carefully. Somehow True Blood has been tainted with silver nitrate, poisoning vampires. When the vampires are weakened, they're drained and their blood is sold. Look into the death of Bill Compton in Bon Temps. The drainer who was arrested died in jail in Shreveport before his trial and I don't think it was a suicide. The BVA is in on the poisoning and so is the D.A. of Shreveport, Michael McManus."
"Who is this?"
"I'm afraid to tell you my name. Be very careful. These people are dangerous. I'll try to call you again tomorrow and see what you've found out."
I hung up and retrieved the coins that were returned to me. Then I drove back to Eric, my very sick vampire.
