AN: Have I told you all just how amazing you all are!? Thank you so much for all the positive feedback on this story! Love seeing so many of you returning for more! Gives me warm fuzzies! :D

Enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading!

Chapter 2

SPOV

"Oh, shit," Amelia sighs out, looking out our front window with a frown as I'm skipping down the stairs, all ready for my upcoming meeting with the Area 5 Sheriff.

"What?" I ask, plodding over to join her. I follow her gaze and a matching frown covers my own face as I see the cause of her annoyance. "Damn it," I sigh out, seeing my irritating, vampire neighbor, Bill Compton, strutting up the front porch steps.

William Compton, a civil war vet, and just over one hundred years undead, moved in to his old, ancestral home just across the cemetery from us a few months ago and has become most insistent about trying to offer Amelia and I his protection in this dangerous world of supernaturals.

He's nothing more than a nuisance and if he really thinks I'm dumb enough to believe a vampire as young as he can protect me, he's even more dim witted than I'd originally pegged him to be. Besides that, he's a nobody in the vampire world, having no power and absolutely no type of authority. Just how the hell does he really think he could protect either Amelia or I? By shooting his fangs and hissing at a potential threat? Yeah, not likely.

"Ms. Stackhouse, Ms. Broadway," his drawling voice sounds as he knocks lightly at the front door. Amelia and I share an annoyed frown before swinging open the door, hitting Bill with a dual, annoyed glare.

"What is it, Bill?" I question curtly, seeing uncertainty flash through his dark eyes.

"Good evening," he drawls out as I fight back an eye roll. "I came to inform you both of my leaving," he states as a small smile perks at my lips. Thank God, let's hope this is a very long, very extended vacation. "I shall be leaving for Peru to begin work on a very important project for the Queen of Louisiana," he informs us, puffing out his chest as a smug grin crosses his face. Apparently he is very proud of this slight rising in the ranks of vampire hierarchy.

"Ah, well, safe travels there, Billy boy," Ames throws out as I have to bite back my laughter watching Bill's annoyed scowl.

"Yes, Bill, best of luck," I tell him, not really giving two shits as he nods to me, a small smile forming over his face.

"I just thought you should know," he adds as I have to fight back an annoyed sigh. "As I will not be available to assist you should you find yourselves in any danger."

"Sook and I can handle ourselves just fine," Amelia assures him as I nod my agreement. I see Pam's flashy, pink minivan speeding up the drive then and a smile pulls at my lips. I don't think I've ever been happier to see my roomie's girlfriend. Bill turns and a deep scowl forms on his face as he watches Pam throw her van into park before sliding from the front door, clad in a sharp, pastel pink, skirt suit.

"Bill," she greets curtly with a raised brow. "I certainly hope you aren't annoying these young ladies," she adds, making her way to the porch as Bill visibly cowers under the harsh gaze of the Sheriff's child.

"I was just leaving, Pamela," he mutters as Pam's grin widens.

"Good, ta-ta, Billy boy," she taunts, wiggling her manicured fingers at him before Bill is speeding back to his house in a blur of movement. "I really hate that slimy prick," she mutters as Amelia and I grin, nodding our agreement. "You're looking scrumptious this evening, my pet," she purrs then, eyeing my witchy friend hungrily as a smirk perks at Amelia's lips.

"Ditto," Amelia replies, stepping forward to wrap her arms around her girlfriend's neck before running her fingers lovingly through Pam's long locks. The two are soon kissing and I look away, giving them a bit of privacy to greet one another properly as a small smile curls at my lips. They're just too cute together.

"We'll finish this later, pet," Pam soon purrs as I look back to see them sharing a yearning look. "Unfortunately, business calls," she sighs out as I give her a sympathetic smile.

"I could drive myself if you two want to spend some time together," I suggest as a grim expression falls over Pam's face and she shakes her head at me.

"I don't think so, sweetness," she says with a small smile. "I've got orders and I don't think Eric would appreciate me sending you off on your own," she informs me as a small frown forms on my face.

"I'm a big girl, Pam, I can take care of myself," I insist, feeling a bit like a broken record at this point. Pam's smile widens as she slings her arm over my shoulder, pulling me into a half hug.

"I don't doubt that for a minute, cupcake," she assures me. "But orders are orders and we shouldn't keep the Sheriff waiting," she insists as I let out a sigh, nodding my agreement.

"Oh, fine," I grumble somewhat moodily as Pam chuckles lightly, sharing an indiscernible look with my roommate. "See ya later, Ames," I call with a wave as Pam proceeds to lead me towards her minivan.

"Bye, you two, have fun," she calls as I look back to her, frowning slightly at her over enthusiasm. God, I'm really feeling moody tonight and I have a feeling my upcoming meeting with the exasperating vampire Sheriff is to blame.

Pam and I enter her van together and I click my seatbelt firmly in place before clinging tightly to the door handle, already knowing what is to come before Pam is rocketing us off into the darkened night, driving like a bat out of hell as per usual.

"So, what's this meeting all about anyways?" I ask, hoping to distract myself from my vampire friend's insane driving. Pam glances over to me with a small frown, shaking her head.

"I really think Eric should be the one to explain it to you, sweetness," she tells me as my brow pinches in puzzlement. This doesn't sound good, not at all, and the uncharacteristically solemn visage on Pam's face only serves to confirm my worries.

"Is everything okay?" I question somewhat nervously, wondering what kind of danger I may be entering into this time around.

"Not really," she sighs out, subtle worry lacing her words. "Just promise me you'll take it easy on him, sweetness," she beseeches as my brows rise in shock. "He may not show it, but he's pretty fragile in light of certain circumstances," she informs me as I raise a disbelieving brow at her, finding it hard to believe the thousand year old, Viking, vampire Sheriff could be so deeply affected by, well, anything really.

"If you say so," I answer somewhat curiously as Pam nods firmly. The van slows then and my brow pinches in confusion as I look over to see the lights dimming across the dashboard.

"What the ever loving fuck?" Pam groans out irritably, smacking the steering wheel as the vehicle comes to a stop, stranding the two of us in the middle of the marshy bayou. "Oh, fuck a zombie," she whispers as I smirk over at her. "I don't suppose you know anything about vehicle maintenance?" she asks as I shrug to her.

"We can take a look, my brother taught me a thing or two about cars growing up," I inform her before the two of us are exiting the van together. I open the hood and look over the components with a slight frown. "Everything looks fine, Pam," I tell her, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. "It's probably just your alternator," I inform her, recalling having a similar issue with my own car not so long ago.

"Ugh, you've got to be fucking kidding me," she growls out, whipping out her cell phone before punching in buttons at blurring speeds. I let out a sigh, realizing we'll likely be here for a while as I step to the side of the road, looking out over the moon washed bayou with a small smile. Say what you want about the backwoods of Louisiana, but I don't think I'll ever grow tired of the natural beauty of this place.

I hear Pam bitching into her phone and a smirk pulls at my lips, feeling sympathy for whoever is on the other side of her tirade as I spot something strange moving in the distance. What is that? I squint into the darkness, watching curiously as whatever it is moves steadily closer.

I gasp then realizing it's a person and not just any person, but apparently a very naked, very female person who is currently trailing ever closer towards us. I rush forward then, fearing for the apparently distraught woman's safety. But as I draw nearer, I slow my steps upon seeing the huge snake coiled around the naked woman's form. What the hell?

I drop my mental shields then and my face pinches in confusion hearing the strange, foreign, chant-like mantra coming from the odd, nude woman's mind. Just who and perhaps more importantly, what, the hell is she? I start backing up slowly then as an absent smile comes to the dirt covered, nude woman's face as she strokes her scaled companion lovingly.

"Tell me, do you have business with the Northman?" she questions, tilting her head as she eyes me curiously. I nod to her, continuing to back away nervously as a wide, almost feral grin comes to her face. Uh, oh, I really don't like that look.

"Sookie!?" I hear Pam calling out behind me as the strange woman raises a hand that is suddenly sprouting huge, razor sharp talons. Oh, fuck! I spin on my heel, sprinting back towards the van before a burning pain slices through my back.

"Pam!" I scream out as my body is wracked with unfathomable pain. My body slams into the dirt covered road and I find myself writhing in agony as liquid fire is searing through my veins.

"Oh, fuck!" Pam cries out as I see her crouching down beside me. "Where'd the bitch go?" she asks as I bite down a welling scream, shaking my head as I have absolutely no idea where that crazy bitch could have taken off to. "Shit," Pam whispers as she scoops me up into her arms, bringing a scream of agony from me as the pain somehow increases with the slight movement.

"Oh, God! Pam, I think I'm dying!" I cry out as she rushes us back to the van before gingerly laying me out on the backseat.

"Hold on, sweetness," she tells me before slamming the door and getting behind the wheel once more. She turns the key in the ignition and the van thankfully starts right up as Pam proceeds to speed us off into the night.

Small whimpers of pain are escaping me and I have to bite down hard upon my tongue to keep from screaming out as every bump we hit is sending waves of excruciating pain through my entire body. Dear God, what the fuck did that crazy thing do to me?!

Pam is on the phone again and I grip onto the soft material of the seat tightly, trying to keep my breathing steady through the agony as I hear Pam talking heatedly to someone. My mind is unable to process her words in my current state, but I can only assume she's ensuring my care as we continue our speedy traverse, hurtling towards, what I hope is safety.

"How we doin' back there, cupcake?" Pam questions and I find I can only groan in return. "You just hold on, I've called the doctor and she's gonna take a look at you, alright?" she informs me as I nod slightly, before grimacing as even that slight movement increases my current pain. "That Ludwig is a crabby little bitch, but she'll take good care of you, I promise," she swears as I snap my eyes shut, praying I can just pass out and finally end this torment, even if only for a short time.

The van is finally thrown into park and I momentarily wonder where we could possibly be before the van door is thrown open to reveal the vampire Sheriff who is looking down to me in…concern? Strange, I must be seeing things in my fragile state. He proceeds to lean his towering form lower, reaching out and gingerly lifting me into his arms and I can't hold back the pathetic whimper that escapes me as he proceeds to stand with me held in his arms.

"It's alright, Lover, I've got you," he whispers against my ear and my face pinches in confusion hearing the obvious care lacing in his words. God, I must be hallucinating, is my last thought before the darkness thankfully takes me over.

AN: Uh oh, Sook's already in trouble! Good thing she's in capable hands!

I promise to keep updates just as frequent as possible, as it may not always be quite this quick! :)