Sorry about the delay. For some reason, I was having trouble uploading the file on here.
Anyways, thank you guys so much for your amazing reviews/story alert/favorite story adds. It means so much to me to get such amazing feedback! =D
Enjoy the second chapter!
We all hopped in Ray's car and he drove through Dallas, ending up downtown. Ray took a right into the parking garage of a huge high-rise, which I guessed the Laroques of Dallas called home.
"This is where you live?" I asked in disbelief.
"Sure is, sweetie!" Carrie replied enthusiastically. "Something wrong?"
"No, not at all. I'm just not used to a building of this size. We don't have any of these high-rises down in Bon Temps."
"Trust me, Annabel," said Shawn. "You're gonna love this place. We've got an indoor and an outdoor pool plus an arcade with an air hockey table. It's just like living in a hotel."
"Sounds promising."
My aunt, uncle and cousins brought me to an elevator where we went up thirty five floors before stopping. Man, I can't imagine going grocery shopping while living on a floor this high. All of that constant going up and down, up and down would drive me insane. I followed them down the hallway a ways. Shawn was right, the place was like a hotel. It even had that generic carpet, wallpaper, and carefully placed glass tables propped up against the walls holding vases full of flowers.
"Here we are," Ray announced. He singled out a certain key from his key ring and jammed it inside the lock. With a swift turn, he unlocked the door and opened it, revealing the most upscale apartment I'd ever seen.
I stepped inside and the sweet scent of expensive candles and fresh flowers hit my nostrils. The candles and vases of wildflowers sat on every coffee table in the living room. Over on the other side of the room, a huge window replaced an entire wall, offering a breathtaking view of downtown Dallas. I rushed over to it and stared outside, being careful not to the spotless glass.
"Nice view!" I exclaimed.
"I know, isn't it lovely?" Carrie asked. "Its even better at night when all the lights go on."
"I'd imagine it is." I turned around to face the rest of the room. Over to my right was the kitchen, which looked like it came straight out of an issue of Better Homes and Gardens, with the cherry wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and a marble top island with bar stools. Next to the kitchen was the living room, which was white and sparkly with every sense of the word. The floor was so shiny and dark that I was afraid to walk on it, thinking I'd put a big scuff mark on it. The sofas and chairs were a pristine snow white color and very rectangular and modern. They looked uncomfortable. "Your home is so lovely. Are you sure you're still okay with me staying here temporarily?"
"Oh, don't talk like that, Annabel," Ray said. "This is your home now and you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like."
A warm smile stretched across my face. "Thank you so much. It means so much to me because Lord knows I certainly can't afford my own place just yet."
"Don't be thanking us, sweetie," Carrie said. "We're family and that's what we do for each other. Now come on upstairs and we'll show you the rest of the apartment."
I followed them up the iron staircase which was located next to the kitchen area. I never realized a single apartment could have two levels.
The upstairs area wasn't as dazzling as the main living area. It was just a hallway with four bedrooms and a bathroom.
"Here's your room," Carrie announced, then opened a door, exposing a bedroom with a large window that offered the same spectacular city view. It was empty, save for a full-size bed and cardboard boxes that took up every available corner. "All of your things arrived just before your plane landed."
"Perfect timing," I said.
"Well, we'll leave you to unpack," said Ray.
Later on that night, I had unpacked most of my belongings and decorated my new room, in a failed attempt to bring Bon Temps with me. I sat up in bed at one o'clock in the morning, just staring at the framed pictures of my family and friends while hugging my favorite teddy bear from my childhood. Pathetic, I know. I should have grown up and acted like an adult, but I felt so lonely. I only spent one day in Dallas and I hadn't even started my new job yet, but I wondered if I had made a huge mistake when I left home. I held my teddy bear close and started to cry.
I couldn't even sleep. Believe me, I tried for hours. For the last month, I'd been having severe nightmares. They were so terrible, that they occurred a few times a week and they prevented me from getting a full night's sleep. I came to the conclusion that stress from moving to a new city and starting a new job caused them, but tonight's dream was the most terrifying one yet.
I saw my cousin, Shawn sitting in a dark room by himself. Out of nowhere, two tall and sinewy men grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out of the room. I saw how fearful and petrified he was, but I couldn't do anything to stop it. The next thing I saw was blood. Gallons of dark, crimson blood flooding my unconsciousness, spilling everywhere. For a moment, I saw myself and I was drenched in it. I resembled Carrie from that Stephen King novel. Then I saw Shawn. He too was saturated in blood, his body being torn apart by some unseen force, screaming in agony.
It terrified me because I thought that nightmare would come to life. I didn't mention that many of the strange dreams I have really happen. They're called precognitive dreams and they are a phenomenon that can't be explained. One night, I'll have a dream involving something horrifying like a plane crash or the murder of a specific person, say a blonde woman in her early forties who died of stab wounds, and I'll hear a similar headline on the news a week later. But I have dreamt of happy things too, like one of my friends getting a raise at work or a marriage proposal. I had a dream that Arlene's then boyfriend, Rene Lenier, proposed to her, which did happen. Unfortunately, that plan did not go through. Long story behind that.
If I had only a handful of these dreams, I would call it a coincidence. But I've had too many, so I have to believe something strange is going on.
I should also mention that I can sense the emotions of others. Just by closing my eyes and concentrating, I can tell almost exactly what a person is feeling, regardless of what they tell me otherwise. I have the strongest connection with blood relatives and very close friends whom I have known for a long time.
As cool as my "abilities" might sound, I don't enjoy revealing this to other people. I guess I just don't want to be labeled as a freak. However, I do have Sookie to talk to. She's a telepath, so she is unusual like me.
Anyways, back to my latest dream. It seemed so realistic that I awoke, gasping and on the verge of tears. I immediately ran down the hall and peeked into Shawn's room to make sure he was there. He was sound asleep in his bed, so I silently snuck back to my bedroom, where I tried to get back to sleep.
That was a lost cause, however. So, I pushed the blankets off of my body and climbed out of bed. I opened the curtains to look out at the city. Even though it was the middle of the night and most people would be asleep, the lights were still sparkling as if it was early in the evening. Must be the vampires going about their daily, or should I say nightly lives while the human population slumbers.
With a sigh, I slinked out of my oversized t-shirt and pajama shorts and threw on a bra, a black tank top, dark grey fitted sweatpants, a fitted sweatshirt, and my favorite Puma sneakers, grabbed my purse, and quietly headed out the front door. Since I was unable to sleep, I might as well go out and explore Dallas. No need to worry about me, though. Carrie armed me with a can of mace for use against a human attacker and a silver chain to subdue a hungry vampire looking to make me his dinner.
I decided to take a walk for multiple reasons. One, because it is the best way to take in the sights and sounds of a new place. Two, because my new apartment building was located right downtown, so there was no need to drive. And three, because my car, which arrived in town the day before, was parked the parking garage and who knows what sorts of things lurk in there at night. I certainly didn't want to find out.
I stepped out into the night and was immediately overwhelmed by how busy everything seemed. People were still out and about at that hour. I didn't realize it then, but most of them were probably vampires. The futuristic buildings I passed were so gigantic that they appeared to be swallowing the streets below them. Those skyscrapers were brightly lit up, which made the metropolis look like a miniature New York City.
I turned onto a smaller side street, just strolling around, when I passed a darkened alley. I didn't think too much of it until something emerged from the shadows and pulled me in. I barely had any time to react before I felt cold fingers push my hair to the side and a sensation of a mouth nearing my neck. Then, I could feel two razor-sharp things just about to pierce my flesh. I knew what it was.
A vampire. And he or she was about to bite me.
I screamed and tried to run away, but I was unable to move. I didn't mention that vampires have inhuman strength. Reaching for the small chain in my purse would prove to be useless.
"Stop now," said a stern female voice.
I quickly turned my head to find the voice. Though barely visible in the darkness, I could make out the tall and lithe figure of a woman with dark blonde hair.
"No! This one is mine," said the vampire who was latched onto me. His mouth still trailed my neck. His voice dripped like poison into my ears.
"Let her go," the female continued. "Or I will report you to the sheriff. You know the rules about feeding. We don't grab any human we want and suck them dry."
I cringed at the phrase, 'Suck them dry.'
"You are one tight-ass bitch, Dru," the vampire said. He let me go by pushing me to the ground. He must have slinked into the darkness at the speed of light because I didn't see him after that.
"Are you okay?" the woman asked me, offering her hand to me.
I took her hand and lifted myself up. It was ice cold, but that was to be expected. "Yeah. He didn't break the skin."
"Well, I sincerely apologize on behalf of all of my kind."
"That being vampires, right? Just to clarify."
"Yes."
"Don't worry about it. I'm not acquainted with many vampires but I know they aren't all bad. One of my good friends has been dating one for a while and he's a nice guy." I realized I was rambling stupidly without even properly introducing myself. "I'm Annabel, by the way."
"Drusilla. But call me Dru. It sounds less old fashioned and more modern."
"Okay, Dru." Drusilla? That is a very old fashioned name.
"May I ask why you're out by yourself in the middle of the night, Annabel?"
"Insomnia, I guess you could say." I wasn't about to tell a vampire about my horrifying nightmare.
"You're new to Dallas, am I right?"
"How do you know?" Am I that obvious?
"Come with me." She motioned with her hand and I followed her out of the alley and back onto the streets.
"When you've been around for a while, like me, you can pick up on these kinds of things. Do you know what I mean?"
"Like you can smell a person's fear and apprehension?"
Dru laughed slightly. "Sort of. Plus, I can tell by your accent. Louisiana, right?"
"Yeah. Wow, I'm impressed." We walked for a few moments in silence. "Hey, Dru? I want to thank you for saving me from that vampire. I could have been his snack." I cocked my head up at her. Sometimes, it sucks to be only five feet, two inches. Looking up at people, rather than down, gets to be very old.
"We vampires are governed by a set of rules much like the laws you're used to. If we break them, we will be punished. I was just upholding my duty as a citizen."
I secretly wondered if there was a vampire White House somewhere with a vampire president and a vampire Secretary of State. I mentally chuckled at the thought.
"Where are we going, just out of curiosity?" I asked.
"I was on my way to Nosferatu, the most popular vampire bar in the Dallas Fort Worth area. I should have mentioned it earlier. I'm so sorry." If a vampire could look embarrassed, then Dru was embarrassed.
"It's alright. But are you sure you want to take me to a bar the way I'm dressed?" I noticed that she was dressed rather elegantly in a pair of fitted black skinny jeans, high heels and a sequined shirt fit for a night of clubbing.
She brushed off my anxiety with a warm smile. "Oh, don't worry about it. No one will give you any trouble. But if they do, then they will just have to deal with me."
We then rounded a corner and came up to the outside of a bar, which would look normal had it not been for the sign out front that read "Nosferatu" which was written in black letters and lit up from the back by a red light.
I gulped, feeling anxious once again.
No Godric yet, but I promise he will show up in the next chapter!