Alright guys, here's the next chapter. Thank you so much for your reviews and everyone else who took the time to read my story. It keeps my muse going ;)

Enjoy!

Chapter 2:

The sun was already low on the horizon when I made my way back inside the house from the backyard. After having the lunch shift that day I'd been in desperate need of some serious tanning and a little quiet time. After the last couple of days I'd definitely earned it. My mind wouldn't shut up so my thoughts were swirling round and round inside my head.

Work had been especially excruciating. The time had seemed to stand still and I felt twitchy and anxious the more I looked at the clock on the wall. When I had finally made it home I couldn't get into my bikini and out the back door fast enough.

While I had been lying on my blanket and absorbing the last rays of sunshine I had recalled how the night before had ended:

After Eric left our booth I downed my drink in one big gulp and then asked Bill to take me home. Before we could make it out of the bar though I heard a very disturbing thought from one of the patrons. He was an undercover cop and had already called in back up after finding a vampire feeding on the human Pam had so elegantly kicked with her stiletto. The man had a disgusting anticipation about the hefty fine the owner of the bar would have to pay for that infraction.

Panic rose up inside of me, "I have to warn Eric," I said, my voice shaky with anxiety.

"Why?" Bill's tone was sharp and his gaze fixed on me intently.

I didn't answer him. Instead I made my way through the crowd in search of Eric. As if sensing my approach he looked up from examining the phone in his hand, Pam was nowhere in sight. I jerked my head in the direction of the door and moved my lips in silence, exaggerating their movement as I said "cops". He either understood what I said or the distress on my face induced him to take me seriously. Either way he eased smoothly out of his seat and made his way to the door, Bill and I were not far behind him. Before he slipped through the door he gave a sign to Long Shadow and then propelled the bouncer outside with us.

As we rounded the corner of the building the other vampire was nowhere in sight and Eric was leaning against the hood of a beautiful red corvette, waiting for us. He seemed relaxed: his long legs stretched out with the left one crossed over the right.

Only the fire in his eyes betrayed him and I knew he was ready to pounce in a split second. Anybody stupid enough to cross him in this mood would be very, very sorry. And I understood I had to tread carefully with this situation.

"What's going on," he asked with a chilly, yet curious tone.

"There's probably going to be a raid," I answered and searched my mind for a good explanation. I hated lying but I had no choice or I would have to give up my secret. And I did not want that: not there and then at any rate.

Eric arched an eyebrow, "How do you know?"

I hesitated for a second before I went for a half truth. "There was a cop in there. I recognized him from when I had to pick up my brother at the Shreveport PD." I really had picked my brother up at the station once. Dear Jason thought it would be a brilliant idea to push his brand new truck to its speeding limits. But he was stupid enough to get caught.

"He could just be a patron like everybody else tonight. What compelled you to think there's going to be a raid?"

Think! Think! "Do you really think he would go to a vampire bar on his night off, dressed like a tourist in an ugly Hawaiian shirt and shorts, shifting nervously in his seat while watching a vampire follow the fangbanger Pam kicked earlier into the restrooms?" I cocked my eyebrow and dared him with a look to say something to the contrary.

Apparently he dared. I could see in his eyes that he wanted to contradict me. Before he could open his mouth though, I shut him up with a desperate look and an eye roll in the direction of a surprisingly mute Bill who was standing slightly behind me and to my left. I hoped he couldn't see my face because I didn't want him to know that something wasn't right.

Besides, the sirens in the distance spared me any further explanations. They were the signal to go anyway. Eric got in his car and was off into the night faster than I could say "ready, set, go!"

Bill and I did the same and we were leaving the parking lot by one exit just as the police were coming in by the other.

As I thought about that in the light of day I couldn't believe that I got away with that little lie so easily. With Bill I could pull it off – maybe – but with Eric I didn't think he would be that easily swayed. Did I want to sway Eric though? The thought about lying to him made my stomach knot uncomfortably. No, strangely enough I wanted to tell him the truth and even more strangely I knew with an uncommon degree of certainty that I could trust him. I wanted to trust him! Huh, how could that be? I hadn't even known him for 24 hours yet.

That made me think about my plans for the coming evening. I had decided to leave an hour before sunset. That way I could check out the Shreveport library for new books regarding my studies and most importantly, Bill wouldn't know where I went and couldn't follow me there that easily. I was killing two birds with one stone.

My god, I felt like a spy with all that sneaking around to avoid my neighbor.

My gran was already making dinner as I entered the kitchen and it smelled wonderful. Her cooking was always the best. "Hey Gran," I said and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hello sweetheart. Did you have a good rest?"

"Yes, thanks."

"Dinner is almost ready."

"Okay. I'll just freshen up and be right back."

It took some doing because I had to hide the bruise Bill had left on my arm and I didn't know what to wear but within 15 minutes I was back in the kitchen with my hair brushed, make-up on and wearing a bright yellow knee-length, eyelet sundress. It had a prettily scalloped surplice V-neck – at the front and back – and hemline; and a ruched waist. The dress was one of my favorites and I thought 'what the heck'. I had no appropriate clothes for a vampire bar and I didn't want to look like a fangbanger anyway. What had Eric said? 'I looked like a white candle in a coalmine'. So, why not wear something similar. Why not give him a splash of color in his dull, monotonous environment.

"You look pretty," Gran said as I reentered the kitchen. "What's the occasion?" She eyed me curiously with a hint of disapproval, probably because I was showing too much skin for her liking. I ignored the look. I was a woman of the twenty-first century, not a housewife from the 1950s. Heck, I'm not even a housewife now and I definitely do not have June Cleaver Syndrome!

"I'm going out: I met someone last night at the bar and he wants to see me again."

"But I thought you are with Bill? How can you meet with someone else?"

Sigh. This was what I had been afraid of. My gran somehow got it into her head that Bill was the right one for me. She thought he had all the right attributes for a man: he was a gentleman, he had manners, was old-fashioned and courteous. And that was all she was seeing, or all he was letting her see any way. But not me: I was aware of his flaws and they made me cringe on the inside just thinking about them. I did not want to live like a doll stuck on a shelf for display then be brought back down for show, all dusty and wrinkled. No, thank you!

"I'm sorry to tell you this Gran but Bill and I are not in a relationship and we never will be. I know you like him and I'm really sorry to disappoint you but I saw a side of him yesterday that I'm just not comfortable with."

As I feared, disappointment rolled over her face but to my surprise it was gone just as quickly and she seemed to shrug it off, "Your judge of character has never failed you before so I will trust you on this. I would like you to consider giving him a second chance though." I snorted silently. No way in hell was he getting another chance. "Can you tell me what happened last night then? Did you find something out?"

Another sigh. "No. At least not about the murders or Jason. That was pretty much a dead end. Where is he anyway?"

Gran sighed, "You know your brother. When I called him earlier he said that he will be staying with a friend so he will have an alibi for the next murder."

I closed my eyes and slowly counted to ten. Sometimes I couldn't believe that we were even related to each other. "And could this so called friend get killed for a specific reason?"

Gran's face fell and she whispered, "I don't know, Sookie. I sure hope not."

In that moment I could have slapped myself, and my brother, for adding to Gran's sorrow. Damn you Jason!

We continued to eat in silence for a minute or two before Gran seemed to shake herself out of her solemn mood by taking up the previous conversation, "You said you met someone last night?"

I was thankful for the change in subject, "Yes, I did. His name is Eric and he's also a vampire. He's actually the owner of the bar. We had a pretty interesting conversation to say the least."

She studied me curiously, "And what is he like? You must really like him if you want to see him again."

I blushed. "Yes, I like him. He's… the complete opposite of Bill. He's very tall, has long blond hair and a wicked sense of humor.

"What's more he's beautiful, and he knows it!"

Gran looked skeptical, "Just be careful, Sookie. He sounds like a player. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I know, Gran. And I know he's a player but something tells me he is also different. I don't how to describe it. It's a feeling." And this feeling had hardly ever steered me wrong. It had guided me safely through my life, at least up until then.

"So what is this vampire bar like? Were there many vampires? Did they bite anyone?" There was a twinkle in her eyes as she fired her questions at me. When her curiosity was piqued she looked like a young woman again; always ready to learn something new.

A pang of melancholy settled in the pit of my stomach. Small things like that always made me realize that time had flown by. And that my gran was getting into her old age. You could see she was getting slower and needed more and more rest in between the tasks that she had done with a spring in her step just five years ago.

Shaking myself out of my funk I laughed at her childlike behavior. "Honestly Gran, it was not what I'd expected. It was worse!" I told her what the bar had looked like to me: the décor and the people in it. "The people they call fangbangers, they're desperate to be bitten. They threw themselves at the vampires like they were worshipping ancient gods. It was quite pathetic."

"You shouldn't judge these people, Sookie. You, of all people, should know that. If they want to behave like that it's not your problem. You shouldn't look down on them," she chastised me with a stern voice and a fierce look on her face.

I hung my head; to still be admonished, at the age of 25, by an old woman was quite embarrassing. "I know, Gran but it's hard not to. You didn't see how they behaved and hear what they thought. I don't need to tell you what I have to go through every day in order to not judge people by what I hear and still act friendly.

"Honestly, they're getting on my last nerve. All the bigots and small-minded people in this town don't deserve my respect. And I still have to act like I don't know anything about it. Do you know how hard that is?" I tried desperately to get her to understand my point of view and what I saw in her eyes soothed me a little bit. I didn't want pity for my disability, quite the contrary, but Gran still saw the world – even after all these years – through rose-colored glasses. She always wanted to see the good in people even if they didn't deserve it but I knew it was far from reality. And it was hard to break her out of it.

"I know, Sookie, I know." She had a faraway look on her face but before she got into it too deep she turned back to me and smiled. "Come on, darling. Eat up; you need your strength if you want to compete with vampires."

The mood broken I laughed at her antics and did as I was told.

I heaved a big sigh of relief as I parked my old car in the parking lot at Fangtasia. The hour long drive had seemed to go on forever, especially since I felt like I was being watched. Invisible eyes were glued to the back of my skull but when I looked into the rear view mirror no-one was following me.

Even when I cast out my mental feelers I got nothing. It had even continued while I browsed the shelves in the library. It was probably just my paranoia creeping up on me though. Could you blame me? After all the talk about blood the night before and the secret and creepy behavior of Bill I was feeling on edge. But I had gone to Fangtasia for answers that night and, come hell or high water, I was going to get them! I would not be leaving without them!

I tried to clear my head as I made my way to the entrance. Judging by the large queue of people the evening was already in full swing. For a moment I didn't know what to do: line up or walk right past them? But then I told myself that Eric had asked me to return, therefor we had an appointment, right? Right!

Fortunately the bouncer from the night before remembered me and after I told her my name she let me walk right in without comment. Obviously I was expected.

I had a sense of déjà-vu as I entered the bar. The scene was exactly the same as before: Dim lighting, shadows and vampires mingling with black clad fangbangers. If this was Eric's daily life he must have been bored to death. Even I was bored after just a few minutes. I couldn't imagine how he could endure that every day, every week - for years.

I spotted him in the same booth only he was alone this time. It must be reserved for him because it was slightly separated from the others and you could look out over the whole room. Eric looked as bored as I imagined he would. He sat slightly sideways and had his right elbow on the backrest and his head rested on his fisted hand. He looked as if he would fall asleep any second. Oh yeah, I could sympathize with him.

The sight of him also started a fluttering in my stomach. I dismissed it as my being nervous about being alone with him.

Just then his nostrils flared and his head snapped up while his posture straightened like a lazy lion suddenly sensing its prey. His gaze found me as I made my way over to him. Taking in the way I was dressed his eyes went wide and his fangs snapped down. Damn, he was a beautiful creature. And he obviously appreciated my outfit. Well, mission accomplished! I couldn't hold back the smile at his reaction.

Eric was out of his seat and standing in front of me in a split second. My heart leapt into my chest at his sudden movement. He seemed to enjoy my reaction as I could see his pupils dilating and his features changing to a blissful expression. He circled me once, then twice, taking everything in. Yes, definitely a lion eying its prey. What kind of prey though, I couldn't decide yet: Dinner or potential fuck buddy? Probably both!

Hmm, here kitty, kitty!

He stopped in front of me again, "Ms. Stackhouse, it's a pleasure to see you again," he purred. It sent shockwaves immediately to my pleasure center.

Oh yes, definitely a big kitty. Can I pet you and scratch your belly?

He placed a large hand on the small of my back, "Come, sit with me." He guided me back to his booth and took a seat next to me after he let me get in first. A moment later a waitress came up to us and I ordered my usual gin and tonic.

I let my gaze wander over the room. You could see everything going on from that vantage point. But even from there the bar didn't look any more exciting.

Eric must have guessed my thoughts because he eyed me curiously while he asked, "What do you think of my establishment?"

How do you answer that question without offending him? I cleared my throat nervously, "I think it's… interesting." I could not prevent the crinkling of my nose.

Eric let out an amused sound and smirked at me. "Come now, you don't need to go easy on me. I'm not some delicate flower who is unable to bear criticism. Lay it on me!"

I blinked in surprise. Was my expression that obvious? I pursed my lips. Okay, he asked for it, "Alright. I think this monstrosity of a vampire bar – as you call it – is the stereotypical expectation of inferior human minds. When they think vampires they see dark, brooding and undead things, which sleep in coffins or crypts and hang around cemeteries for entertainment. This bar represents exactly that: dark colors, dim light, gothic-couture and brooding vampires on the prowl for their next victims." I snorted. "And I think that's exactly what you intended to accomplish. I mean, look at them, they are all very willing, desperate even, to be bitten. They present themselves on a silver platter and are even happy about it. I find it disgusting. And come on, what is it with all this black? Is it the new fangbanger-couture? It must be depressing to not even see the slightest splash of color in the room. And from your expression earlier, when I came in, you must be bored to death by it. I can't even imagine seeing this every day. So to sum it up: I find this establishment of yours boring, disgusting, depressing and disappointing."

"Ouch, that was harsh," he said in mock hurt.

My eyebrow rose up, "You asked for it!"

He chuckled, "I guess I did but you were right with everything you said. I opened this bar knowing exactly what the people would expect a vampire bar to look like. I saw the gap in the market and took the opportunity. And that's all it is, an investment, a moneymaker. The humans asked for it so why not give it to them?"

I never thought about it that way. Yes, the business was obviously booming and if I estimated him right he was very good at making money. Why not satisfy the people's curiosity and give them what they want?

I nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, you're right. There are always two sides to a coin."

"Exactly! Besides, this way I have better control over my vampires and who they take for a meal. In here they can meet willing humans and don't need to go out in the dark streets, preying upon unsuspecting und unwilling victims."

I never would have thought that Eric would be that talkative. Don't get me wrong, I was quite pleased that he was willing to share that kind of information with me and let me see a glimpse of his vampire's mind but from what I saw last time he didn't like having to explain himself. Or it could have been that we had been in the presence of other vampires, especially Bill.

The waitress came back with my drink and after thanking her I took a sip and thought about his last comment. The way he said 'my vampires' struck me as odd. There must be a deeper meaning behind it; like he was their superior or something.

Meanwhile Eric studied me very thoroughly, with a predatory look on his face, "I have to say, Sookie, you look beautiful in that dress, even more so than yesterday. It's not every day we see such a sweet and innocent girl walk into a vampire bar and definitely not dressed like this. It's like a fresh summer breeze in the first rays of sunshine," he said in a quiet voice.

I was stunned speechless for a moment and had to take deep breaths to stop my eyes from getting moist. My heart was racing. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought he was capable of such compliments. "I think that was the best compliment anybody has ever given me," I whispered.

Eric couldn't hide his surprise or pleasure, "Then it was my pleasure. It should be a crime to not have people appreciate your beauty. Are the men in your town blind?"

Blind? Pah, no they were definitely not blind. They're just too afraid of 'Crazy Sookie' and the gossip that would follow if they ever made a move on me. They may have thought I have a great rack and would have been good enough for a one-night stand but I was the black sheep in town. It would be disastrous for their reputation. Hah, yeah right! If they only knew. Not that I would start something with any of them anyway.

I scoffed, "I'm from a backwater town in the middle of nowhere with a lot of rednecks. What do you think?"

"I think they are all fools. Is that why you're still a virgin?"

I blanched. How the hell did he know that? Was that another vampire-smelly-thing or was I acting and talking like a virgin? I didn't know which of the two was worse. It didn't really matter, either way it was embarrassing as hell. My face must have been as red as a tomato right then. "I don't think that's any of your business buster," I exclaimed through clenched teeth.

Eric just grinned like the Cheshire Cat. I wanted to slap him. "My, my, Ms. Stackhouse, red is a good color on you. Maybe I should make you blush more often. It's very enticing."

I decided not to take the bait because I knew he just wanted to get a rise out of me. Bastard! "Well, Mr. Impossible, at least I have color on me," I said with a flutter of my eyelashes and my own silly grin.

Oh, that got a reaction out of him. It was almost comical what little things could bring a man to his knees. Eric's reaction was minimal but he looked at me with a fire in his eyes that dampened my panties in only seconds. It was embarrassing and exhilarating at the same time.

He gave me a knowing smirk and I took a drink to distract myself. A change of subject was definitely in order. I figured then was as good a time as any to ask the one question I had desperately wanted an answer to since the moment I met him.

I took a quick look around for prying eyes and ears and leaned toward him. For some reason I didn't want anyone to hear, "Can I ask you something… personal," I murmured.

He mimicked my posture and murmured right back, "You can, but whether I answer or not is another matter."

I remembered the odd image in his eyes and looked at him, searching for it. "The sea was your home, wasn't it? When you were human?"

Eric went rigid.

Uh oh! What did I say?

I couldn't read his expression. His face was completely neutral and he was sitting in the booth like a marble statue. Nothing moved. It looked quite eerie. You couldn't mistake him for anything other than one of these Adonis statues – only with Eric's head on it.

When he finally did move it was so minimal you could have mistaken it for a breeze or a flutter of a butterfly's wing. He looked at me intently, "Why do you say that? What did Compton tell you about me," He asked tensely.

Did I make a mistake by asking him? I didn't see the harm in my question but then again, it could be some weird vampire no-no that Billy Boy 'forgot' to tell me. Well, too bad, not my fault. I will forward the complaint in the morning!

And what was it about answering a question with a question again? Didn't we have this discussion already? Apparently old habits die hard but I let it slide. It was not the time to start that again. "He just told me that you are the oldest vampire in the bar." I hesitated.

Eric stared at me closely and made a motion with his hand for me to continue.

I sighed. I know I probably sounded like a complete lunatic in confessing this, "I don't know how to describe it. It's like I can feel it. The first moment I saw you I could tell you are old. I could see it in your eyes. They reminded me of ocean waves. And it was like I could taste the salty air on my tongue." I looked at him curiously and a little anxiously. "Am I right?"

He blinked once, then again – almost owlishly. He needed a moment to answer me: It was like he had to contemplate whether or not to answer me at all. "Yes, you are correct. I'm what you humans these days call a Viking. I spent most of my mortal life at sea."

My eyes went wide in astonishment. "Then you must be about 1000 years old!" All of a sudden I was very excited about all the possibilities.

"So they say," he murmured, smirking.

I didn't know what to make of that comment so I ignored it. I was too excited to meet someone so old anyway. What he must have seen. All the history stored away in his memories. Oh, I couldn't wait to pump him for all the details.

Eric elegantly got out of his seat and stood up, then held out a hand for mine, "Come, I think we should continue this conversation in my office."

I gulped. Does that mean kitty wants to play or does the vampire want to talk business? Maybe he wanted to combine business with pleasure. My brain couldn't decide whether that was a good thing or not. Nobody would see or interrupt us. My pleasure center had no such problems. She did a happy dance at the thought and mewed repeatedly while holding out her behind towards him like a lioness in heat: Here, kitty, kitty. Maybe I should call her 'Cookie'. I shook my head at the image. My hormones were as out of control as a tropical storm.

I took his hand, regardless.

And into the lion's den I went!

Cookie was purring happily.