All Hell Breaks Loose
Chapter 30: Shine
Sookie dropped her fork onto her plate as soon as she heard the name of the short vampire. She heard Jessica's gasp, Steve nearly slamming his half full bottle on the table and Jason dropping his half eaten burger on the plate.
"I believe they are the ones looking for us," the female vampire in the baby doll dress said. "Or rather looking for you."
"If they are looking for me then they will have to be happy with all of us, Anya," Ismene said and smiled at Jessica and Steve. "I always love seeing baby vampires, so adorable and full of promise."
"Should we push the tables together?" The male vampire asked.
"Oh yes," Ismene nearly gushed. "Lets do that it would be so much easier to talk and it would be like the human teenagers at what they call a high school cafeteria. At least like in the movies and television."
"They do that," Jason said as they pushed the tables together. "I remember doing that."
"Did all the girls want to sit next to you?" The human woman asked. "I know if I went to school with you I'd sit next to you all the time." She did not see Sookie rolling her eyes.
"Some girls and a lot of guys. Most of my team members to be exact," Jason said finished the last of his beer.
"I've been a bit rude," Sookie said. "I know your name, Ismene but you don't know ours. I'm Sookie. This is my brother, Jason, Jessica and I guess you sort of know Steve."
"I guess it's my turn," Ismene said and pointed at the other female vampire. "This is Anya," she pointed at the male vampire, "Valentino." Her fingers pointed at the humans. "Lawrence and Cassidy."
"Here we are," Arlene had returned after everyone shook their hands and said their Nice to meet yous. "One martini and one cosmo." She set the drinks down in front of Lawrence and Cassidy. "And here are the Tru Bloods." She set them down in front of the vampires and placed the one bottle with a straw in front of Ismene.
"Thank you dear," Ismene said and flashed her a large smile.
"Let me know if there is anything else I could get you," Arlene said as she started to slowly back away.
"Can I get a large plate of fries?" Lawrence asked. "Just one big plate and pile em high."
"Sure I'll see what they can do in the kitchen," Arlene said before turning around and practically running off.
"See what I mean?" Jessica said and pointed her thumb at Arlene's direction.
"Just don't ask everyone to flash their fangs at her when she comes back," Sookie said. "I'm sure Ismene is above such childish antics."
"Oh my dear you do not know me that well," Ismene said and chuckled. "But I don't wish to provoke things with those who fear us."
"She has nothing to fear," Valentino said. "Her blood does not smell that good."
"I can't smell anything off her," Anya said as she picked up her bottle. "Not over that perfume of hers."
"I thought that was just me," Steve said and rubbed the bottom of his nose. "Maybe I could put a new kind of fear in her. I can tell her I was once like her. First fearing and then hating all vampires and then-" His fangs came out.
"Nice," Valentino said and gave him an approving nod.
"Oh could you do that to her?" Jessica asked in an excited tone.
"Does everyone act like a twelve year old when they turn into a vampire?" Sookie asked.
"I have been reborn and in a way this is my second child hood," Steve said with a shrug.
"Second child hood, I like that," Jason said to him.
"It seems you are enjoying being a vampire," Valentino said. "I thought you would be more like one of those self loathing brooding types, at least for a few years."
"Now don't get me wrong but it there was a way for me to go back to being a human I would take it," Steve said as he fingered his bottle. "But as I said before I am adapting. Each night is getting more easier."
"I have a question," Jessica said as she stared at Ismene. "Why do you dress like that?"
"Jessica," Sookie gasped and could not believe the lack of tact the young vampire had just displayed.
"Audrey Hepburn was a goddess," Ismene said with her eyes closed and voice full of admiration. "A human goddess but still a figure of beauty and grace and pure class. I have seen all of her movies and Breakfast at Tiffany's is my favorite of hers. In fact it is my favorite movie of all time and I have seen movies since they were invented. I even love that movie more than all the plays and operas I have seen over the centuries." She paused to take a sip through her straw. "Do you love it?"
"Of course," Sookie said. "It was one of Gran's favorites. Every time it was on TV we would watch it and we bought it for her on VHS for Christmas once."
"She wore it out," Jason said. "Sookie and I finally convinced her to get a DVD player."
"You bought it for her for her birthday," Sookie reminded him. "And I got her the movie on DVD."
"It was one of the few movies my parents let me watch," Jessica said. "I remember telling my mama I wanted to be just as pretty when I grew up and then my daddy gave me a lecture on vanity and Jezebel." She shook her head. "I was jealous of the freedom the character add."
"It was one of my mother's favorites," Steve said. "And Sarah's and we would show it to the youth groups on movie night every now and again."
"I always love hearing stories relating to my favorite movie," Ismene said with a slight girlish squeal.
Sookie wanted to push on and ask about what she could do about the Authority and about Russell but she also didn't want to be rude and everyone one was having a good time. They even barely noticed when Arlene returned with Lawrence's fries except for Jason who asked for a refill on his beer.
"I take it you are all Baptist?" Anya asked.
"Baptist and proud," Jason said with a smile.
"Try never to miss a church service," Sookie added.
"Still am," Steve said. "Although the Fellowship of the Sun is non secular Christian. I may not be able to lead a congregation but in my heart I'm still a reverend."
"Never loose the faith," Anya said. "I am a proud Catholic."
"Anya here used to be a nun," Valentino said and gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Ismene still prays to Zeus and Artemis. Lawrence is Jewish and Cassidy is Lutheran."
"I was baptized Lutheran," Cassidy said while using her hand to turn down Lawrence's offer of sharing his fries. "I am a Christian but I don't really belong to any church."
"She likes to call herself a lone wolf," Valentino said and chuckled.
"A nun," Steve said and smiled. "I'm not the only member of a clergy to be turned."
"We vampires had our fingers in the religion pie now and then," Valentino said proudly. "But many do keep the faith."
"It is a bit hard sometimes," Anya said. "Mostly due to not being able to attend a house of the lord."
"But she reads the bible," Isemene said. "She prays and sings and has quite the collection of Christian band CD's."
"Do you have a favorite band?" Sookie asked.
"News Boys are my favorite," Anya answered.
"Hmmm gotta love the News Boys," Steve said and nodded.
"Can never give up on the simple pleasures of life," Ismene said and nodded at Lawrence who as indulging on his fries. "Am I right, Lawrence?"
"Yup," Lawrence said before picking up another fry. "These are my crack and these are some of the best fries ever. Anyone else want one?"
"I'm pretty much full," Sookie said while Jason did take up on the offer.
"You know I'm on a diet," Cassidy said, causing the rest of her party to sigh and shake their heads. "I just need to loose three pounds. That's the last of the weight and that is all." She held up her candy. "This is my non diet treat for the week."
"That's kinda not fair," Jessica said. "You can still eat yummy food but you won't and Steve and I and your vampire friends can't."
"Oh that," Ismene said. "Giving up on the food you loved as a human is one of the hardest things about being a vampire. I found a way around that."
"How?" Sookie asked.
"Mixing the blood with the food," Ismene said. "For example putting the Jell-O powder in blood instead of water, and it doesn't have to be human blood. It can be cows or pig's blood. I even tried sushi a few weeks ago. Just boil the rice in cow's blood and mix more blood with the soy sauce."
"Can you make blood chocolate bars?" Jessica asked.
"Of course," Ismene said. "But I would wait a decade or two before trying that. Even with blood mixed in the human food doesn't sit well with vampire children." She turned to face Sookie. "Lawrence told me about your mind reading. How long have you been able to do that?"
"Since I was a child," Sookie answered. "How did he know I was reading him? Do you have telepathy, Lawrence?"
"I'm a geomancer," Lawrence explained. "I read patterns from rocks and tell fortunes that way."
"He is also tuned into the natural beat of the Earth," Ismene said in a proud tone. "Always knows when a volcano is about to blow or when and where an Earthquake is going to happen." She gave him a light pat. "That's how he was able to know that the volcano would be perfect."
"Mud volcano," Valentino explained. "The mud is nice and cool, perfect for swimming and good for your skin."
"Mud," Sookie repeated. Godric was pointing them into the right direction.
"It is odd at first," Lawrence said before taking another sip from his drink. "I guess those of us with a sixth sense type of gift can tell when others are reading them."
"That would make sense," Jason said. "Do you have any magical creatures in your blood?"
"You mean like a fairy?" Anya asked. "Telepathy is linked with them not premonition or telekinesis or geomancy."
"So you know?" Sookie asked and tensed up.
"Seeing that you can read minds is a given," Ismene said. "I'm been around three millenniums of course I know, but don't worry I know you are not pure being a hybrid." She turned to Jason. "Do you read minds or have any gifts?"
"No," Jason said. "I'm just a plain boring human."
"Don't say that," Sookie said to him. She had gotten into many arguments with him whenever he expressed jealousy in her gift.
"Humans are far from boring," Ismene said. "Lawrence here has his geomancy and most humans tend to lose their special gifts when they get turned."
"I don't have any gifts," Cassidy said in a don't give a care tone.
"You are gifted," Ismene told her. "She's a damn good artist in multiple fields, drawing, sketching, painting, sculpting and using that photoshop on the computer."
"So you do like humans," Sookie said finally taking the reigns and steering the conversation.
"I believe she has established that," Valentino said.
"Because there is a reason we tried reaching you," Sookie continued. "And he is a threat to humans and to two vampires that I care about. The threat is Russell Edgington."
"Oh Russell," Ismene gasped in a sad tone.
"You knew each other?" Steve asked.
"He was one of my greatest accomplishment and now one of my greatest disappointments." She shook her head sadly. "I'm his Maker."