As soon as they hit the parking lot, Eric took the lead. He wove through the cars in the strip mall parking lot, heading for the far end where he always parked his car in a puddle of light where almost no one ever parked at night. His car was worth too much to risk getting a scratch on it from some drunk fangbanger or worse yet, banged up by a car door from some annoyed designated driver.
He'd only recently purchased it too, after having given Lafayette a car in an understanding that the man would help Eric push an illicit drug in the area. Since then he'd purchased a brand new silver Stingray Corvette, low slung to the ground and looking as angry as any Viking's vehicle should look. He'd chosen silver because it looked good at night, glittering under the streetlights as he drove around Shreveport. The colour also reminded Eric of the shade of the sea on a cloudy day. A good car to go a-Viking in, even if that's not what he did anymore.
It glistened under the halogen lights at the moment, black-tinted windows beckoning to him. But as he continued to eat up the distance between the bar and the car, he realized there was another car sitting next to his. His pace slowed, at first frustrated that someone decided to threaten the safety of his car by parking so close to it. But as he scrutinized the other vehicle he realized the black convertible sitting next to his sexy Corvette was a much older sibling to his car.
His boots clunked against the asphalt as he hesitated, and then he sped up, going vampire quick across the parking lot so he could check the other car out.
"Do you like?" Lucifer asked, far too close for him to have walked at a human's pace. Another show that he wasn't a regular mortal. Eric was pacing around the black Corvette, admiring its curves, the chrome, the tuxedo black paintjob that shone even brighter than Eric's car. It was gorgeous, a testament to American design and machinery. "A 1962 Corvette C1, first generation," Lucifer boasted. "A bit cramped for the drive I went on, but I do love her."
Eric's head shot up from looking at the car as Lucifer's words sank in. "She's yours?" Eric asked. The convertible top was down and Eric could see the leather interior matched the black paintjob. He stepped back from the car, admiring the whitewall tires and chrome. Lots and lots of chrome. This Corvette was a car of the night—a perfect vehicle for the devil to be driving around in. Sexy, sleek and promising a good night with power beneath your fingertips.
"Of course she's mine," Lucifer said, coming to stand next to Eric. "I'm going to guess the silver one belongs to you?"
Eric nodded, still transfixed on the classic car. He was jealous, he realized. He loved new technology, and his Stingray had all the bells and whistles, but this car had class. He peeked a glance at Lucifer in his black suit jacket and white dress shirt and knew the man would look perfect behind the wheel. The image of the two of them heading down the dark highway toward Bon Temps, the wind in their hair, came to him. His fangs popped out involuntarily and Eric kept his mouth shut, not wanting Lucifer to know. He felt the pain of his fangs digging into the inside of his lower lip and the tang of his own blood on his tongue. The idea of them alone in that car was intoxicating.
"I had hoped as much," Lucifer was saying. "You looked like a man who could enjoy a top quality vehicle. It's a bit new for my own taste but still quality workmanship. A shame it doesn't have a ragtop though."
Lucifer rocked back on his heels, hands in his pockets to look disarmingly charming. "So where are we going, Viking?"
"A good question," Eric said. He couldn't think of anyplace in Shreveport to take him to. The only property he owned here was Fangtasia, where both he and Pam spent their nights in their coffins. But he wasn't about to bring Lucifer down to the dungeon. Or hold a conversation with him in his office. He wanted to be somewhere that Pam couldn't eavesdrop on. And he certainly wasn't going to take the other man into his arms to fly him to one of his nicer properties elsewhere. No, certainly not. Eric's fangs remained firmly rooted in his lower lip.
The only place he could really think of was Bon Temps. Not because of Sookie, certainly not. But there was a lovely cemetery right there, snug between Sookie's house and Bill's house. And having Bill close by could be useful, so long as he didn't know they were there until they might need him. Bon Temps was small, and when it wasn't rife with supernatural politics and murder, it was actually quite a nice place to visit if you were looking for solitude. Or to make love under the Spanish moss down by a bayou. Or to swim in the water and dare the gators to fight a vampire.
Besides, if he let Lucifer drive, it would be a long enough trip to Bon Temps for Eric to enjoy the car. "I know a place," Eric said. "It's quiet. Not too many people around. But it's a bit of a drive from here."
"Well I certainly hope so," Lucifer said. "Because no matter which car we're taking, it'd be a shame if it was just down the block."
"Which car will we take?" Eric asked, eyeing them both.
"I hope you don't mind if I suggest mine," Lucifer said, moving toward the driver's side door. "It's a perfect night for the top to be down, don't you think?"
Inwardly glad that Lucifer had spoken up, Eric moved around the car, happy to slide onto the leather seat and buckle himself in. The leather was cool against his fingertips as he touched the interior and when Lucifer started the car it growled to life. The engine rumbled as Lucifer carefully backed out of the parking spot, taking care not to get too close to the other Corvette. A considerate devil.
"Did you park so close to me because you hoped it was my car?" Eric asked, curious.
"More because if your Corvette was parked there, it was a sure bet mine would be safe next to it. But I am delighted to know we've similar taste in cars." Lucifer came to a stop at the exit of the parking lot and looked to Eric expectantly.
"Ah . . . turn left here," Eric said. "Go straight down to the end of the road and then make another left." He tried to pay attention to Lucifer's driving, but he was fascinated by the dash in front of him. Everything was displayed in the centre of the dash, rather than behind the steering wheel, and Eric appreciated that each individual gauge and instrument was lit up. Everything about the car was meticulously perfect, showing Eric how much the devil appreciated it. That smooth skin showing at the base of the other man's throat told him the man was meticulous about a lot of things. Again, Eric's fangs slipped out without warning and he repressed a shiver as he imagined more buttons being opened on that shirt.
He slid a glance sideways.
Yes, before the night was through he was intent on opening that collar wide and enjoying himself immensely.
Eric continued to direct Lucifer until they were out of the city and on the way down the blacktop toward Bon Temps. It was warm out and far above them the stars winked between the trees as they travelled down the highway at a comfortable rate. There was companionable silence in the car for a while as they drove through the night, but when Lucifer's hand hit the stick shift in between them, Eric became increasingly aware of how close they were in the car.
The C1 was a gorgeous car but Eric was surprised that either of them had any legroom in it. It was close confines within and the back of Lucifer's hand slid against Eric's thigh on occasion as he left his palm against the knob of the stick shift. Eric glanced down and wondered if he was reading things right. The man had been flirting with him the day before—but had disappeared the moment Eric had reached for him.
"What's special about Bon Temps?" Lucifer asked when they passed a sign telling them to turn off in order to reach the small town.
Eric considered the question for a moment. "Actually, it seems the epicentre of supernatural events," he said. "The amount of shit that's gone down in this tiny little hamlet is obscene."
Lucifer down-shifted the Corvette, his knuckles pressing against Eric's leg as he did so, and then turned off the two-lane highway and onto the back roads that led to Bon Temps with Eric pretending he wasn't becoming uncomfortably turned on in the seat next to him.
All the same, Lucifer glanced at Eric with a smug smile on his face as he finally lifted his hand from the stick shift, putting his hands at a perfect, exemplary ten and two on the steering wheel. "You shouldn't tease a vampire," Eric said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, and why not?" Lucifer asked. "It seems fun."
"Once a vampire has an idea in his mind, he might not be willing to say no if someone changes their tune," Eric replied.
"Who says I'll change my mind?" Lucifer shot back. "Assuming you know what I'm asking."
Eric huffed, not willing to play Lucifer's cat and mouse game. When it was the devil playing the game, who was the cat and who was the mouse? Besides, the light banter wasn't helping the discomfort in his pants at all.
"Whether I know what you're asking or not, you're putting a lot of faith in my self control. You'd do better to understand that I'm a predator."
He pointed for Lucifer to take the next turn off and they switched onto an even darker road.
"I'm not worried, Viking. And do you know why not?"
Eric grunted, not wanting to show interest.
"You've asked if you're damned," Lucifer continued, pretending he'd said yes. "I assume it means you've done things that should bring you to hell when you die."
"That's my point," Eric replied. "I'm a cruel and heartless bastard. All vampires are."
Lucifer shook his head, his face dimly lit from the dash. "But the fact that you asked tells me you fear what will happen if you are damned."
"And?"
"If you fear it, you probably want to avoid it," Lucifer said. "And while I'd happily go back to hell just to greet you when you get there, I'd much prefer spending time with you up here instead." Lucifer flicked his gaze toward Eric. "And I assume you probably feel the same way, no?"
Eric inclined his head silently.
"So attacking the devil wouldn't exactly help your quest to not end up on my doorstep, would it?"
Eric snorted a silent laugh. He couldn't argue that point. Despite his warning to Lucifer, he was finding himself greatly enjoying the conversation. His fangs were perpetually out and he was thankful it was dark in the car. He desperately wanted a taste, feeling a hunger he hadn't had since he'd drained an entire fairy. But he was entertained, all the same.
"Turn left here," he said, and soon was directing Lucifer slowly past Sookie's house—what used to actually be his house—and to the small parking lot for the Bon Temps cemetery. Lucifer turned into the dirt lot and creeped the C1 up to the edge of the fence. The engine turned off and the two men sat in silence, listening to the ticking of the engine and the steady susurration of the crickets. It was dark here in the parking lot, the sole lamp having been burned out or shot out some time ago, but Eric could see small spots of light beyond the fence. For those people of Bon Temps who enjoyed visiting their dead loved ones in the middle of the night.
Bon Temps really was a weird town, wasn't it?
Feeling awkward, Eric popped open the car door. "Shall we go for a walk?" he asked, not knowing how to segue back into the conversation they'd been having at Fangtasia.
"Of course," Lucifer replied, sounding eager at the idea.
The two men got out of the Corvette, both stretching to their full height as they escaped the close confines of the vehicle. Eric gestured for Lucifer to follow him and then led the devil into the graveyard.
How weirdly perfect was this night?
Since I've been consistently dropping a chapter every second day, I felt it only fair to give a warning that I will be on vacation for the next two weeks, starting on Saturday. I plan to write while I'm away, but I don't think I'll be posting as regularly as I have been. If I'm lucky, maybe I can squeeze in an extra chapter tomorrow. :)
Thank you everyone for reading!
Got any song title suggestions for chapters? I'm open to hearing them!