𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐏
i do not think i'm easy to define. i have a wandering mind. and i'm not anything that you think i am

THE NEXT AFTERNOON, the three friends were at the house, hanging out in the living after they had went out for lunch. Both Sookie and Tori were very excited because Tara had finally told them she was moving in with them.

"I still haven't moved into Gran's room," Sookie told her. "But you go ahead and take mine and when I get back, we'll celebrate properly. Until then, happy birthday." She then handed Tara a present with a huge smile on her face.

Tori grinned happily. "When we get back, we're going to celebrate big time!"

Tara laughed and opened her gift to reveal a picture of Tara and Sookie as children with a younger Adele. Even baby Tori was seen being held by Adele in the picture.

Tara had tears in her eyes, "Oh, Sook!" She bit her lip as she looked between them. Both girls have lost their parents and then their grandmother.

Sookie took in a breath before tears started to fall. "I miss her so much."

Tara let the tears fall and leaned over, pulling the cousins into a hug. "I know. I do too."

Victoria chewed on her lip. "I know I haven't been here for years, but... Adele was family and I regret not spending much time with her."

"Oh, sweetie." Sookie wiped Tori's tears away. "She loved you very much."

"I loved her, too." She sighed and then pushed her emotions to the back of her mind. Now was not the time to cry.

Tara wiped her eyes and leaned back into the couch. "So, why'd y'all pick Dallas for your trip?"

"Bill has some business there," Sookie said lightly, not wanting to make it a big deal.

Tara looked between them before growing angry. "Oh, hell, do those vampires wanna use your mind reading again?"

"Bill will be there to protect us," Sookie said as sat up, glancing over at Tori who scoffed.

"I don't need protection," Victoria muttered under her breath, pouting. But, then her mind went back to all the times she was hurt in the process of trying to help someone. Her eyes widened before she shook her head, ignoring those moments. She is a bad bitch and she don't need no body.

Tara grew frustrated as she glared at the blonde. "Why are you even with this guy if me makes you do these things? The sex can't be that good."

Sookie nodded. "Oh, it's pretty good. And I love him."

"Well, yeah, but—"

Sookie shook her head and interrupted her friend, "You can't just sit around saving your heart for some perfect idea of a man who's never gonna come along. Life is too damn short. Besides, Bill's not making me do anything."

Tori sighed and bit her lip. "We both agreed to do this to save Lafayette."

Tara's eyes widened at the mention of her cousin. "Lafayette?" Her voice broke slightly.

The blonde gave her a questioning look, "He didn't tell you?"

Tara looked like she was on the verge of crying again, "Tell me what? I didn't even know he was back. Is he okay?"

Victoria frowned. "We took him home, and we haven't seen him since."

Sookie was frowning as she said, "He was shot and chained up in the basement of Fangtasia."

Tara grabbed her phone from the coffee table. "Oh, hell, he better answer his phone."

Victoria blew out a breath. "Tell him that once we get back, I want to check in on him. Please."

AFTER TARA HAD ran to go see Lafayette, Sookie and Tori had to go to work.

"Hey, Terry," Tori leaned up against the window that separated the bar and the kitchen, a big smile on her face. Are there any lunch specials?" Sookie was right beside her, her head tilted much like a puppy.

Terry stopped cutting the cucumbers and looked up at them. "I think I got everything I need to make Jailhouse Chili."

Sookie frowned. "Are you sure? Because last time, you forgot the corn chips."

"Shit!" He cursed, making them both flinch in surprise. He sighed as he saw their faces and said, "Right. We'll just call whatever this turns out to be Terry's Scramble. Scrambled Terry's Scramble."

The blonde sighed. "Hush."

Terry shook his head as he continued cutting the cucumbers. "I just don't know if I can do it."

Sookie and Tori frowned, glancing from one another then to Terry. "Do what?"

Terry gestured around, "Run this place when Sam leaves town. It's too much pressure."

Victoria frowned. "What? Sam's leaving?"

"He's supposed to be this morning," Terry states just as Sam came out of the freezer, looking a little frazzled.

Sookie set her brown eyes on him, confused and surprised. "Sam, were you gonna tell us you were leaving?"

He scratched his head. "You weren't here." He then looked away from them and made his way outside to unload a truck full of food.

"Where are you going?" Tori asked as the two of them ran after him.

He didn't even look at them as he picked up three boxes of oranges, and walked past them to set them down by the door.

Sookie scoffed. "Oh, for Pete's sake, Sam. I know it seems like I led you on, but cut me some slack. Our grandmother had just been murdered. Rene was after us, and I didn't think Bill was coming back."

Tori crosses her arms as she cocked her hip out, setting a glare on him. "She has some good points, Sam. We've been through some shit and you were there for us. Tell us what's going on and we'll be there for you. You can't—"

He pushed past them and made his way back to the truck. "Jesus Christ, I really don't have time for this!"

"Make time, then!" Tori exclaimed as she wheeled around to face him. She might be shorter compared to him, but she can be intimidating.

Sookie shook her head. "If you care about our friendship I suggest you make time for it!"

Sam looked down at them with angry eyes. "Look, I got serious shit that I'm dealing with right now. Making you both feel better is not high on my list!"

Victoria let out a scoff. "Wow. That's just... wow." She rolled her shoulders and stared up at him with narrowed eyes. "We got some serious shit going on, too, but you don't see us leaving town without telling everyone."

"Speaking about that..." Sookie trialed off as she looked up at Sam with big eyes. "We're gonna need to take off a couple days."

He flung out his hands. "Fine! I probably won't be here when you get back."

Sookie was disappointed as she asked, "Is that really how you want to leave things?"

"What other way is there?"

Sookie frowned, shaking her head. "I don't know, but throwing away years of friendship seems pretty damn stupid to me!" She grabbed Tori's hand and they stormed off together.

IT WAS NIGHTTIME now, and their private plane has arrived at their destination. Sookie was wearing a bright yellow skirt with a sunflower covered long sleeve shirt, with white heels. Tori, on the other hand, was wearing a bright red dress and black heels. Both of them had their hair curled.

When they stepped off the plane, they could hear the airline greeting over the loudspeaker, "Anubis Airlines welcomes you to Dallas the most vampire-friendly destination in the great state of Texas."

When they saw an older man holding a sign stating 'Compton Party', Sookie waved and shouted, "Yoo hoo!" It made Tori snort and for Sookie to nudge her in the side.

The man awkwardly waved them over. and Sookie was grinning from ear to ear while Tori looked like she would rather be anywhere else but there. You see, while Sookie had gotten a little drunk on the plane, she wouldn't allow Tori to have any, so now the eighteen year old was annoyed.

"That's us!" The blonde then held up a small liquor bottle. "I've always loved these. They're like booze for dolls."

Tori couldn't help but laugh at her tipsy cousin.

The man looked like he was sweating as he spoke, "You're two hours late. Supposed to be here before sundown."

"We got delayed for takeoff," Tori said as she narrowed her eyes at him, analyzing him. He seemed very nervous which sent off red flags for her.

"Why don't you two go into the limo?" The man suggested. "I got the A.C. cranked."

Sookie was still grinning, "No, thanks. I'm fine."

Victoria arched an eyebrow at their limo driver. "Everything okay?"

He smiled and gestured to the vehicle, "Yeah. You two just go on. There's Cokes in there." He nervously glanced between them and the travel coffins which were gettin unloaded from the plane.

Victoria glanced over at Sookie who must've read his thoughts because her eyes widened, and she grabbed her hand. Just then, he grabbed ahold of both women and started to drag them towards the limo.

"Get your hands off us!" Sookie shouted and Tori quickly slammed her heel into his foot and brought her knee up to his face when he bent over in pain. He fell backwards and Tori quickly placed her foot over his man-hood just as Bill arrived, holding Sookie back.

"You make one little noise and I will squash your little friend," Tori threatened and glared at Bill who grabbed her arm. He gestured to Sookie and she got the memo, walking over to her cousin who was quick to pull her into a hug.

"You're like wonderwoman!" Sookie exclaimed with a proud smile, still tipsy.

Bill had picked up the man by his throat and was threatening him. They then heard thumping and the sound of a travel coffin falling onto the floor.

"Hey, how the hell does this thing open?" They look over when they heard Jessica's muffled voice. "Somebody help get me out of here. Help!"

Feeling pity for the new vampire, Victoria rushed over and opened the coffin for her with a grin on her features. Jessica smoothed out her messy strawberry blonde hair as she stood. She sent a smile to Tori, "Thank you."

ONCE THEY WERE seated in the limo, Bill wasted no time glamouring the man. "Tell me your name."

The man's kept eye contact as he said, "Leon."

"All right, Leon, no one is gonna hurt you," Bill said and then looked to Jessica, "Would you like to try?"

Jessica grinned excitedly, "Could I?"

"Here," Bill moved over a little so Jessica could move next to him. "Lean in close so you can catch his gaze. Then just let everything go. Let yourself be dead. You feel it?" The red head nodded. "You are empty, a vacuum. Now you can pull his mind into yours."

"I feel like you're just being dramatic," Tori pouted, "my friend Damon explained it much simpler."

Jessica continued to glamour Leon. "Everything's gonna be okay. There's nothing to fear. Don't you worry about a thing. It's gonna be all right."

Bill moved to sit in between Sookie and Tori, but the eighteen year old was still angry at him for telling and man-handling her and Sookie, so she quickly moved to the other side of Sookie.

The blonde smiled at her boyfriend. "You were very sweet with her."

He scowled, looking between them. "He was sent to abduct the both of you." They looked over at the man who Jessica was till glamouring. "Which means somebody knew the both of you were coming."

Sookie narrowed her eyes. "Who do you think's behind it?" she asked, "Vampires?"

Bill disagreed, shaking his head, "To sloppy. Maybe that church."

Sookie laughed at that, grinning, and probably still a little drunk. "Bill, they may be crazy, but they're still a church. They're not gonna kidnap anybody."

Bill gave the blonde a look, "Sookie... Churches have done much, much worse throughout history."

"I agree with him," Victoria grumbled out, sighing. "It makes sense."

ONCE THEY ARRIVED at the Hotel Carmilla, Bill, Sookie, and Victoria went to check in while Jessica sat down with Leon.

After giving the receptionist their names, the woman looked to Bill, "I have you down for a room with no bed."

Bill turned to his travel companions, "Eric."

Tori simply rolled her eyes, though, she pictured the jealous face the blonde vampire made when she drank Damon's blood. "He would."

Sookie smiled at the receptionist as she said, "No, we need a bed."

"Of course," the hotel employee typed on her computer, "I do have a light-blockable room with a king-size bed. It's a suite. Double-soundproofed."

"Oh, with an adjoining room for my—" Bill looked to Sookie and Tori. "What should I call her?"

Sookie tilted her head, "Isn't there a vampire word?"

Bill answered, "Progeny."

Victoria grinned as she said, "Call her your ward. You have a ward, like Bruce Wayne." She then tilted her head and looked at him with narrowed her eyes. "You kinda remind me of him; all dark and moody. Well, unless you're around this ray of sunshine!" She hugged her cousins arm with a big smile on her face.

"And for you, Miss Gilbert," the receptionist said the brunette. "You're booked in the Penthouse."

Victoria frowned and turned to the woman. "What? Why?" She then smirked as she said, "It can't be that bad. I guess I'm going to be a princess in a tower. But, in this case, a danger magnet in a vampire hotel."

Sookie laid a hand on her cousins shoulder. "You can stay in our room, if you want," Sookie offered.

The eighteen year old looked between them before scrunching up her eyebrows. "And be a third wheel, and have to see you guys make google eyes and kiss, no thank you!"

Sookie giggled as Bill held back a grin as he signed papers. "These accommodations are covered by a third party, right?"

The receptionist nodded, "Yes, sir. It's all been taken care of by a Mr. Northman."

Suddenly, Leon shouted, "Becky Eubanks is a stuck-up whore!" They turned to see Jessica laughing hysterically. Tori covered her mouth as an amused snort left her. "Who let Jayce finger her in the church!"

"Jessica!" Bill reprimanded and gave Victoria a disapproving look who simply shrugged. He and Sookie turned to the hotel employee, "She's new."

WHEN THEY MADE it to Bill, Sookie, and Jessica's suite with Leon in tow. Jessica almost immediately went to her room, leaving the adults with the man.

"Leon, look at me. Look at me, Leon," Bill glamoured him and he slowly turned to him. "Everything is going to be okay."

"No, it's not," Leon was scared. "My worst nightmare is—"

Bill shouted at the closed bedroom door, "Jessica, what on earth did you do to this man!?"

Victoria found herself chuckling from Jessica's response, "I am on the phone!"

"Maybe if you put your hand on his shoulder?" Sookie whispered. "Sometimes touching them helps me hear their thoughts better."

Bill put a hand on Leon's shoulder. "Who sent you?"

"Fellowship of the Sun," he answered instantly, his eyes wide.

"Are you a member?" Sookie asked as she held Tori's hand in hers.

"No," Leon stated, shaking his head, "They hired me."

"Who did?" The doppleganger asked, pushing her hair behind her shoulder. "And, specifically," she added quickly, pursing her lips.

"I'm not sure," the man told them. "It was over the phone. Money was put into a locker for me at a Greyhound station."

"And they hired you to do what, exactly?" Bill wondered, his hold on the man tightening at the thought of Sookie and Tori being harmed.

"Abduct the humans with the Compton party, bring her to the church," he informed, glancing between Tori and Sookie.

Sookie narrowed her eyes as she asked, "Do you even know the names?"

"No, ma'am," Leon answered. "I didn't even know you guys would gonna be women. All I know is the vampires are using a human to find the vampire Godric."

At that, Tori perked up. "Do you know where he is?" If this Godric person is important to Eric, she wanted to know what made him so special.

"No, ma'am, I do not," he answered again.

The three looked to each other and Bill nodded, turning to the man, "You did very well. I'm sure your employers will be pleased."

Leon smiled. "You think so?"

Bill smiled. "Of course. What could you do? We never arrived. It's not your fault."

Leon let out a reassured laugh. "Yeah. Flight never arrived."

Bill shook his head as he specified, "No. We just weren't on it."

Leon grinned at that. "I got so nervous for nothing."

They all give Leon a reassuring smiles before Bill got the man to leave. And once he did, he called Eric as Tori helped Sookie unpack.

"We were ambushed at the airport," Bill said immediately as Eric seemed to answer the phone.

Victoria wiggled her brows at Sookie as she pulled out panties. Sookie giggled and yanked them out of her hand, blushing heavily.

"You know exactly by whom, Eric," Bill spat out which made the cousins raise their brows. "The Fellowship of the Sun. Why didn't you tell me they were involved?"

"So, did you tell Elena and Jeremy about gran?" Sookie asked after a moment of silence between the two of them. She looked up to see that Tori had frozen. "Please tell me—"

Victoria nodded. "Yeah.... I did. They were a little upset with me because she was their family, too, but I explained everything and they understood."

Sookie nodded and laid a hand on hers. "That's good. They deserved to know. Did you tell them about Rene?"

Tori shivered at that name. "No... but I will once I can get over the fact that the man I thought was a friend tried to kill us, and would've if Sam didn't show up." She sat down and ran a hand over her face. "Today was like the fifth time that I was almost taken. It's weird to think about the fact that I was once a normal girl who was a cheerleader and had parents... and now I have pretty much nothing."

"Oh, honey," Sookie pulled her into a hug, "you have me, Jason, Elena and Jeremy." She then glanced over at Bill who was giving them a concerned look.

Tori bit her lip and then froze as she heard Bill mention her name to Eric. "Victoria took the guy down herself before he could do anything." She grinned as Bill turned to her with a nod. "Yes, she's fine," he rolled his eyes as he answered Eric.

"How is everyone with the fact that you're here?" Sookie asked, making Tori turn her attention back on her. "Especially Damon?" She smirked, wiggling her brows.

Victoria tilted her head before gasping. "Are you suggesting that he likes me?!" She shook her head. "He's my best friend. Plus, he's in love with Elena."

Sookie rose her brows. "Who happens to have the same face as you."

Tori was still shaking her head. "He doesn't feel that way for me, and I don't feel that way for him." She chewed on the inside of her cheek. "I've never actually had a boyfriend, so, I—"

Her eyes widened. "You've never been with a boy?" She then gestured to the brunette in surprise. "But you're beautiful and amazing. Who wouldn't want you?"

Victoria blushed before shaking her head. "I never really felt the connection with anyone before..."

"You could have shared your suspicions with me!" Bill scowled into his phone, trying to ignore the girls just like Eric probably was.

Tori turned back to Sookie. "I have only had one crush in my life and that was with Sam," she admitted quietly.

Sookie chuckled. "It was kinda obvious, sweetie." When Tori's eye's widened, she giggled. "To everyone but Sam, though."

Tori let out a breath of relief before laughing. "I'm over it now, though. Plus, I might—" She stopped herself short as the image of Eric entered her mind. "I don't think it's the right time to have a boyfriend, anyway. Especially seeing as I will probably end up being killed, so—"

Sookie grabbed her cousins face, her eyes firm. "No, don't speak like that, You're only about nineteen, you have a whole life ahead of you."

Victoria sighed but nodded, just trying to get the conversation done and over with. When she noticed that Bill was off the phone, she said, "Well, since that is all taken care of, I'll be making my way to my room. I'm tired."

After saying goodbye, she made her way to her room, and froze in shock as she entered it. It was very fancy looking and she was afraid to touch anything, but she ignored all that as she felt herself pretty much fall asleep on the spot.

Instead of unpacking like she should've, she just made her way to the bedroom, and collapsed on the bed. But, before she could close her eyes, she felt a presence in the room, and jumped up, grabbing the nearest thing to her which happened to be a remote to the tv.

"Hello, darling." There he was, in all his handsome glory, Eric Northman with his infamous smirk that irked her, but also turned her on.

"What are you doing in here?!" She shouted, holding the remote out in front of her as a form of threat. "Get our or I'll—"

"Turn me on?" He asked with a much bigger smirk as she slowly approached her. He was shirtless and she was beginning to feel herself not being able to breathe. He tilted his head as he approached her, and reached out, his hand going to her cheek.

She flinched back and stared at him with furrowed brows. "Answer me, Eric," she demanded and he simply tilted his head at her. "What are you doing in here?"

He smirked. "This is my room, darling."

She scoffed and went to say something, but all words and air got knocked out of her when he grabbed the remote from her, and pulled her into his chest by her hand.

"You look beautiful when you're nervous," he whispered down at her and stared into her eyes before he growled. "Were you crying?"

She furrowed her eyebrows before she remembered her conversation with Sookie. She opened her mouth and said, "yes, but it is none of your business."

He frowned and without thinking, rubbed his thumb across her cheek. "What could possibly make you cry?" His thumb trailed down to her lips and his blue eyes landed on them. "I heard that you kicked some guys ass today. I cannot tell you how much that turned me on when Bill told me."

"What, me getting kidnapped turns you on?!" She snarked, trying to pull away from him, but his grip was firm.

"No," he told her, more than a little forcibly. "I do not like the fact that some guy touched you and had the idea of harming you." He reached up and twirled a strand of her long hair.

Victoria wanted to say something, possibly snarky, but she couldn't while being sucked into his eyes. His ocean eyes.

"What?" It was his turn to ask the question as he gazed down at her. "Has no one told you how precious you are? How beautiful and bad ass you are?" He grinned as he analyzed her perfect features. "The first time I saw you walk in my bar, you had this aura around you. And don't get me started on your scent. It was delicious. Innocent." He gripped her hip and she let out an audible gasp. "You didn't show no fear, even around me, and that drew me in. And then you pushed Sookie out of the way when that creature attacked you both. You're brave and unique."

Victoria was a blushing and stuttering mess at this point, but the image of Lafayette being tied up, eaten, and shot, it was what made her push him away. "You can't do that to me. Come in here, acting all sweet when you tortured and almost killed my friend! You had him down in your basement for weeks on end and then you want me to forgive you for that? I — I can't." She shook her head and then stared up at him, her chest hurting. "Can you please not be here tonight because I'm tired and I don't want to see your face."

Eric growled angrily and stepped forward, making her flinch back. "I will have you one day, sweetheart." He then flashed away, making her let out a breath of relief.

She was in the same spot for a second before she ran towards the bedroom door and locked it. She then made her way on the bed and covered herself with the sheets.