Skills and Talent

Hello, everyone. I hope that your weekend was a great one. Here is chapter 5. Hopefully, I'll have a short week and I can post another chapter. I would like to thank each of you for the wonderful reviews, favorites, and alerts. Thank y'all so much for reading my story. And for the reviewer that's worried that I'm going to have Sookie hear Eric with other women, I won't do that. It's never been one of my favorite go-tos for drama either. Happy reading everyone.

Charlaine Harris owns the characters but the story idea belongs to me.

I'm almost at the bar and my first night meeting with the vampires is almost over. There's just a little more story to tell and then I can find out the reason why it was so urgent for me to be here. Are you as excited as I am? I hope so. I hope that y'all stick around as my new life gets going. And you know what? Even though I'm pissed that Pam practically forced me to come to the bar tonight against my will, I can't wait to get there. Anyway, here goes the last bit of my story from the previous night.

Once Eric, Pam, and I were done, I went back out to the bar and those two girls were still sitting there. I thought that Pam said that they'd gone home. Maybe she'd hoped that they'd gone home. I wished that they gone home with the way that they were looking at me. I plastered a smile on my face as I walked in their direction. No point in being rude just because they were. "Hi," I said. "How's it going?"

The one that thought that I looked like a Sunday school teacher asked, "What have you done? Did you fuck the master in order to get the job?" She looked me up and down … not at all trying to hide the distaste that she apparently had for me. "You're dressed like my 10-year-old cousin. She wore that exact same dress to church on Easter Sunday and here you are wearing it for a job interview at a vampire bar. That's an outfit that you wear outside of a vampire bar … like at the library or to church on Easter Sunday. Not Fangtasia. You fucked him, didn't you?"

My mouth fell open from surprise. "How dare you say that to me! I got the job because of my skills and my talent. I would never lower myself to sleep with someone for a job. I value myself a lot more than that, thank you very much. I am a lady after all. You should not let your jealousy cause you to say such nasty things about someone that you don't know."

Her cohort decided to chime in and give her two cents worth. "I can only guess what your skills and talents are." She had the audacity to guffaw. Who does that?

I studied both of them for a moment before speaking. First, I gave my attention to the girl that insulted me first. "You, Liza," I began. "You came here to get the job because you want to meet a vampire that will turn you. You were hoping that Mr. Northman would hire you and like you. You wanted him to like you so much that he'd turn you and keep you at his side forever. You've done this with other vampires but they always send you away after they get what they want from you … blood and sex. You decided that you would change the way you operate this time and yet again, it still didn't work. And you call my integrity less than flattering. Maybe if you'd value yourself a little more, you wouldn't have such problems."

Liza's mouth fell open from shock.

"And you, Doreen, you just need a job. Your mother is ill and you need the money to help pay her medical bills," I said. I looked sadly at the girl. "I know of a place that's going to be hiring pretty soon and it's a waitressing job. He pays $15.00 per hour plus tips. It's a good job and he's a great boss. You'll be able to start tomorrow night if you want. It's a bar in Bon Temps and it's called Merlotte's. I'll put in a good word for you when I call Sam tonight; that's if you want the job. And I'll train you if I have to."

I waited for Doreen to respond but she didn't get a chance to.

"How did you … how do you …?" Liza stuttered.

"Skills and talent," I said as I tapped the side of my head.

"Thank you," Doreen whispered. Her embarrassment was clearly on her face. She was regretting what she said to me only moments ago. "Thank you so much." She took her purse from the back of her chair and put it on her shoulder. She reached over and gave me a shy hug. "You don't know what this means to me."

Smiling at her, I said, "I do."

"Tomorrow night?" she whispered.

"Yeah," I answered. "Here take my number and call me and I'll give you the directions then. And if need be, I can meet you somewhere to make sure that you get to your new job." I took a napkin from the bar and a pen from my purse and gave Doreen my number. I handed it to her with a smile. "And by the way. My name is Sookie Stackhouse."

She closed her eyes as she took it and her mind was filled with many thoughts of thanks and gratitude. When she looked at me, tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Thank you, Sookie," she whispered. "And I'm sorry for what I said. Please forgive me."

"It's okay," I replied. "I'm Teflon."

Doreen understood what I meant by that and said, "I guess you'd have to be."

A shrug of my shoulders was my reply.

Liza was about to say something else nasty to me but Doreen placed her hand on the girl's shoulder and said, "Congratulations. I'm glad that you got the job. It's obvious that you deserve it. Come on, Liza. Let's go."

As the girls walked away, I shook my head. I sat down at the bar and looked at the bartender and asked, "May I have cranberry juice, please?"

He looked at me and nodded. As he poured my drink, he asked, "So, you work here now?"

I nodded. "I do," I answered.

"Well, my name is Long Shadow. Very pleased to meet you," he said as he slid my drink to me.

Lifting my drink to him, I said, "Same here, Mr. Shadow. As you probably heard from Ms. Ravenscroft earlier, my name is Sookie Stackhouse. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

He laughed as he walked away and wiped down the bar.

As I sipped at my cranberry juice, Pam sauntered over to my side and leaned her back against the bar as she rested her elbows on it. "So," she began. "My master is quite taken with you. No one has ever spoken to him the way that you did … and left that office in one piece. Well, except for me but I'm his child and only I can get away with so much."

I rolled my eyes and said, "I find that hard to believe … that no one else has called him out on his bull hockey. Is he always a jerk?"

A ghost of a smile appeared on Pam's face. "Yes," she said. "It's just a part of his irresistible charm. Anyway, when you get here tomorrow night, Eric wanted me to tell you to dress as you did tonight. He doesn't want you in a costume. He likes your look. He is pleased with your uniqueness." She looked me up and down and said, "Go figure."

"Hey," I exclaimed. "You told me that I looked delicious earlier. Boy, are you the fickle one."

"You do look delicious … very delicious," she replied as she licked her lips. "But your clothing choice reminds me of a librarian or a Sunday school teacher. The way that you are dressed now, is how I dress after work. I don't think that the look works here. Eric doesn't agree. He said that it doesn't work for me but it works for you. He said that no one wants to see a vampire dressed like a human with a civil service job."

"Twice in one night," I mumbled as I focused on the description of my outfit.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," I said as I fanned her off.

"Good," she said. "Be here tomorrow at 6:00."

I frowned and said, "I'm not working tomorrow night at 6. I'm coming to read over the contracts and that's it. I will be here after my shift at Merlotte's. I will start working here after my notice is up. I will not begin working here any sooner than that."

"We'll see," she said. She sailed away without saying another word.

We sure will, I thought.

I continued to sit at the bar as I stared out at the patrons. It's not a bad place. The patrons don't seem to be the cream of the crop but it's a job, right? And I've got my foot in the door when it comes to working in the supe world. AND I'll be making $3,000 a week. How sweet is that? I can move out of grandparents' home and out on my own. This is the best night ever.

Just as I put my glass to my mouth, I heard a male voice whispering in my ear. "May I buy you a drink?"

I looked at him and wasn't impressed. It had nothing to do with his looks either. He was kind of muscular and he was cute. He was handsome really. He had beautiful green eyes and I'm sure that his smile was just as nice but I couldn't tell. He was drunk and it was not very becoming. He could barely stand on his own and he had the courage to hit on me. What was I to do with a boy like that?

"No, thank you. I'm driving home and I don't drink and drive. It's illegal. I don't believe in breaking the law," I said. "And I'm too cute to go to jail. I can't be some convict's girlfriend. And I've never seen myself as the lesbian type. That's just not in the cards for me. But thank you for the offer," I added once again.

The boy obviously didn't understand me because he told Long Shadow to give me whatever it is that I want. "It's on me," he said. "Give her whatever she wants. Price is not a concern."

I looked at Long Shadow and said, "Pull out your phone book and call the first jewelry store that you see and get the most expensive diamond that they have. I've always wanted a tennis bracelet."

The man's eyes widened with surprise. I thought that he was going to have a heart attack right there. "I meant I'd like to buy you a drink. I can't afford a tennis bracelet."

I rolled my eyes as I turned away from him. I looked at the bartender and I was in for yet another surprise. I never realized that vampires were so literal until I saw Long Shadow reaching under the bar for the phone book. I had to stop him to keep him from calling the jewelry store. "You don't have to really do that. It was a joke, Mr. Shadow," I said.

And he stared at me as if I was the crazy one.

Sighing, I said, "I don't want the drink or the jewelry, Mr. Shadow and sir, will you leave me alone. I am not interested in anything that you have to offer. Just let me sit here in peace and enjoy my cranberry juice."

"Come on, sweetie," he said as he placed his sweaty palms on my thigh.

I knew that I shouldn't have done it but I socked him right in the nose. "Keep your hands to yourself, sir. I am not accustomed to being manhandled. You will not touch me unless I give you permission and I did not give you permission." I stood up from my seat and tried pulling my dress further down over my knees. "I will not be groped by you or anyone else, sir."

The sweaty yet muscular guy that smelled of liquor wiped at his nose and when he did, he noticed the blood on the back of his hand. I think that was the first time he'd ever seen his blood on his hands. I'm sure he's seen the blood of others on the backs of his hands and possibly on the fronts of his many ruined shirts but never his own. As I said. He's quite muscular.

When he looked at me, he was angry. He grabbed my arm with such force that he pulled me towards him. He drew back his arm and had his hand lifted in the air as if to slap me across the face. I'd braced myself for the sting of the slap and my knee was ready for its target but neither act of violence ever happened. There was Eric and he had his big, strong hand wrapped around the muscular drunkard's wrist.

"You do not come into my bar and attack my employees or my patrons and you will never strike her," he said as he glared at the man. Looking at me, he asked, "Are you alright, Ms. Stackhouse?"

I nodded my head. "Other than my fist hurting from punching him in the nose, I'm good."

"He placed his hand on her thigh … her upper thigh," Long Shadow said to Eric. "He wanted to buy her a drink but she declined. He didn't seem to want to take no for an answer so he … manhandled her." He looked at me to be sure that he got that part right.

"You got it," I agreed.

Long Shadow nodded briefly as he talked to Eric. "He manhandled her. That's when she punched him. He became upset and was intent on causing her harm." He dropped fang as he looked at the drunkard. "I wouldn't have let that happen, Master."

Eric looked me and then at the drunken boy. Anger flared in his eyes. His fangs were in full view and I tell you what. This was the sexiest display I'd ever witnessed. "You touched her without her permission?"

The drunken boy shifted from foot to foot as he shook his head no. "I was only fooling around."

Eric smiled at the man said, "I understand. I like to fool around as well but only if I have the young lady's permission." He then looked at me. "And it is correct that you did not give him permission, Ms. Stackhouse?"

"You are correct, Mr. Northman," I confirmed.

"Long Shadow," Eric said as he eyeballed the guy. "Take this man out back and show him the proper way to behave when he comes into my bar."

"Gladly," Long Shadow said as he blurred from behind the bar. He grabbed the boy by the back of his shirt and provided him with a fangy yet scary smile. "Come with me, my new friend."

The boy never got to answer. Pretty soon, Long Shadow and the boy were gone.

Eric then stood in front of me and asked, "Are you sure that you're alright, Ms. Stackhouse?"

I couldn't speak so I nodded. I'd never seen anything so sexy in all of my life. The way that Eric had taken control was the most erotic thing I'd ever seen. And it turned me on.

A smirk appeared on Eric's face as he stared at me. He moved in closer to me and I swear I melted on the inside. "May I walk you to your car, Miss. Stackhouse?"

I eagerly grabbed my purse from the bar before staring at my hero. "I'd like that."

He offered me his arm and I took it without giving it a second thought.

It was quiet walk to the car. It was quiet but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was kind of pleasant. The night was quiet. The sounds of the bar were fading away. And to make things better, I glanced to my left and I was in awe of Eric. He looked magnificent in the moonlight. I stopped walking and looked at him as he walked ahead of me. "How long have you been a vampire, Mr. Northman?"

He stopped walking and looked out into the night. He turned around and looked at me. He said nothing.

I, at first, thought that I'd overstepped my boundaries. Fintan told me that vampires are very private beings. I thought that maybe he meant about the things that make them special. You know … like being allergic to silver or re-growing detached body parts. That their blood has healing properties. Those types of things. It never dawned on me that their age was that big of a deal but I wanted to know. I went over to stand next to him to let him know that I was only trying to be friendly but I didn't have to. He answered me.

"I'm over a thousand years old," he answered in a hushed tone.

"Wow," I said. "You've seen a lot, haven't you? I'll bet that you've been all over the world. I'll bet that you've done more things than I could ever imagine."

"I have," he agreed. He stared at me for a long moment before speaking again. "You are but a child to me."

"I guess I would be." Though I'm in my twenties, I understood what he meant. I looked at my car and sighed. "Do you like being a vampire?"

A look of curiosity danced through his eyes. "Why do you ask, Ms. Stackhouse? Do you want to become one?"

"Not really. I like who I am. I'm just curious, is all," I answered. I walked to my car and leaned against it as I stared up at Eric. "I figured that since you're the first vampire that's been willing to open up, I'd ask." Then I chuckled. "To be honest, you and Ms. Ravenscroft are the first vampires I've ever met. And you're a lot more open than she seems to be. So, do you like it?"

"I do," he said. "In the beginning, it was a life that I did not expect but it is more than I could have ever imagined. May I ask you a question, Ms. Stackhouse? That is if you don't mind."

"Sure. You can ask me anything that you want. I have nothing to hide. I'm an open book. And, you can call me Sookie."

He blurred to where I was and was soon standing nose to nose with me. "What are you?"

At first didn't know what he meant. I figured that he was trying to be funny but I could see that he wasn't trying to be funny. He really wanted to know and I really wanted to tell him. I was going to lie to him but I thought better against it. I didn't want to start off my relationship with my new boss on a lie. He'd never trust me. And I how could I have blamed him, you know?

I cocked my head to the side as I stared up at him. "I'm part fae. My grandfather is a faery and he married my grandmother. My dad is their son. My mom is all human. I get my extra from my grandfather … not my telepathy though. That comes from somewhere else because no other faery can read minds. I've yet to learn from whom I've inherited this gift."

Eric stepped in closer to me. He tilted my head to side and pressed his nose against my neck and inhaled deeply. I think that I should've been afraid but I wasn't. The thought of being scared of him never entered my mind. Not once. I remained still and let him smell me. He lifted his head slightly and began to smell my hair. And still, I didn't move. He finally whispered in my ear. "Are you afraid of me, Sookie?"

I shook my head no. "I am not."

I could feel him smiling against my hair. "I'm glad to hear that." With that said, he stepped away from me. And then he did something surprising. He offered me his hand. "Goodnight, Sookie, and I shall see you tomorrow night."

"After my shift at Merlotte's," I added.

He laughed but didn't agree with my statement.

I shook my head and his hand and said, "Goodnight, Mr. Northman. It has been a great pleasure talking with you tonight. I hope that we can do it again."

He gave me slight nod as he opened the car door for me. Once I was inside and buckled in safely, he closed the door and waited. I guessed that he was waiting for me to crank my car so that I could go home but you know what? I didn't want to go home. I wanted to stay at the bar and talk to him. I didn't want to kiss him, though it would have been nice. I didn't want to jump his bones as the others as the bar seemed to have wanted to do. I just wanted to talk with him. I wanted to get to know him.

I rolled down my window and looked up at him. "Until tomorrow, Mr. Northman."

I drove away with the vampire staring at me through my rearview window.

I knew at that very moment that I was going to love that job.