CHAPTER SEVEN

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       BON TEMPS CEMETARY WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL PLACE. Dakota just never thought she'd be there again after her parents death. There she was, eyes on her grandmothers flower covered casket. One of Adele's friends was singing a song in memory of her. Dakota sat beside Lafayette and Sookie. Jason was on his sisters other side. He had come home when she had fallen asleep with Lafayette and smacked Sookie across the face. He blamed her and Dakota was angry with him, but she didn't want to spend energy on it today.

Her black dress clung to her body from the heat. It was clammy and she could already feel the mosquito bites on her ankles. There weren't many people there, only the ones who were closes to Adele and their family, including a handful of people Dakota had never spoken to.

The reverend had gotten up from his seat and stood before them, kind smile on his face. "We gather here today to remember the life of Adele Stackhouse. To celebrate the time that she enjoyed on earth."

Dakota's eyes wandered around the cemetery, and she squeezed Lafayette's hand painfully when she saw who was being wheeled up the path towards them.

"Koko, my hand." he leaned towards her, when she didn't reply he followed her gaze. "Jesus Christ, what is that motherfucker doing here?"

Lafayette knew about their uncle Bartlett. Dakota had told him many years ago about the abuse she and Sookie had endured on his end. Only they and Adele had known. Adele Stackhouse had disowned him from the family the moment she had found out. They were very young when it happened and she couldn't exactly remember it, just the fear she had felt.

"Uncle Bartlett, what are you doing here?" Sookie asked, equally as shocked as Dakota was.

"She was my sister."

"You haven't been part of this family in a long time." Dakota retorted.

"Come on." Jason said, turning towards her. "Give the guy a break."

"Shut the hell up." Dakota glared, not forgiving him anytime soon for what he had done to Sookie a few days prior.

"Dakota Elkins has prepared a few words." The reverend brought her back from her thoughts. "Honey? You wanted to say a few words?"

Dakota blinked a few times and felt Lafayette squeeze her thigh as she hesitantly got up, too caught up with the situation that she had completely forgotten to speak. Dakota gave him a reassuring smile as she made her way to the front, stepping onto the small podium. Sookie clung to Tara as she cried.

The blonde sighed as all eyes were on here and suddenly it had gotten ten degrees warmer where she stood. "Adele Stackhouse was everything to me. She wasn't just my grandmother, she was my parent, my teacher and my best friend."

Oh please, if it weren't for you and that cousin of yours, she'd still be alive.

Thought she was a good girl. You never know.

I heard she hangs at that vampire bar in Shreveport. What a disgrace.

How dare you show your face. Shame on you for even showing up here.

"To say she will be missed ... just doesn't cut it." she sniffed, trying to block those vile thoughts from her mind. Sookie had tears streaming down her face as she tried to block them out as well. "I can't even imagine a world without her in it. She was always there with a kind word and a hot meal, and a shoulder to cry on. Not just for me, but for Sook and Jason and for everyone who knew her."

Forgive me Adele. Never meant to hurt no one. I couldn't help –"

Dakota took a deep breath, furrowing her brows as her eyes scanned over the crowd. Lafayette nodded at her with a soft look on his face as she looked at him and she wanted to continue, she really did, but the thoughts were to much and they came too fast.

Can't pretend they're normal.

As nuts as a family can be.

Fraternizing with your grandmothers killer.

Dead because of you.

"Shut up!" Dakota shouted, slamming her hands onto the wood before her as everyone widened their eyes, shocked at her out of nowhere outburst. "All of you, just shut the fuck up!"

Look at her cursing –

This whole world's just plain crazy.

Wrong eyed freak.

Lock them up and throw away the key. Adele would be rolling in her grave.

Dakota had enough and she stomped off the stage, leaving the group behind her as she stalked off. There was no way she was staying there for one more moment. This wasn't how she wanted to say goodbye to her grandmother, not with those freaks there.

It wasn't until she was completely out of sight and far away from the rest of them that she dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Dakota was brought into a tight embrace and knew immediately who it was, holding onto his arm as she sobbed.

"Shh, Koko." he sat down with her. "I've got you."

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HER MESSED UP MAKE UP HAD WASHED OFF COMPLETELY IN THE SHOWER. The hot water felt wonderful against her aching muscles. It was the first time in days where she was completely alone with her own thoughts, no one else's invading hers. It was the first time where she could think about her grandmother in peace with no one nagging her about funeral arrangements or what kind of flowers she wanted for the casket.

Of course, Sookie and she did it together, but since she was the older one, she felt responsible. Jason was too much of a guy to know about the kind of flowers that he hadn't been involved much.

Dakota had wanted to go into Adele's room, but it was too painful, so she just stood in front of the door with a towel wrapped around her body before she made her way towards her own room across the hall.

Her mind wandered to her parents who had passed away all those years ago in a flash flood same with her aunt and uncle. Dakota felt alone. Truly alone. Sookie had Bill and Jason had Hoyt. Dakota had Lafayette but he had to work tonight and since he was the only cook Merlotte's had that worked on Friday's she was utterly alone in the house.

Dakota turned to her bedside table and took another pill. Lafayette had left her a few in case she needed them, and she needed one now.

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DAKOTA FELT SOMEWHAT REFRESHED AS SHE WALKED THROUGH MERLOTTE'S THE NEXT DAY. Sam had insisted on her taking the week off, but she didn't want that. If she stayed at home, she'd only be more miserable. At least now she had some distractions.

Sookie carried herself with a newfound confidence as she pranced around the bar. It didn't take Dakota long to figure out she had slept with Bill and lost her virginity and he had bitten her, hence the scarf around her neck. Dakota was no virgin, having lost it at nineteen to a guy named Paul and that was the first and last time she had been intimate with someone. His thoughts of her had been to graphic she got out of there real fast.

After that she had sworn off to ever date a guy again because whatever they were thinking about was never good. The only thing on their minds was sex, she couldn't even have a normal conversation before their minds went to her body.

"Honey, that scarf is double cute." Arlene complemented Sookie as the blonde reached the bar. "There's something different about you. You need to tell me what's going on. Is it a man?"

"I am not really comfortable discussing my personal business, Sookie said, though she had a bright smile on her face. "especially not here."

"Well, everyone else's personal life is open to you." Arlene argued. "Tell her Dakota, I want to know. Alright, I forgive you, I know you can't help that, but it does make being your friend kind of lopsided."

Sookie kept the big smile on her face and Arlene gasped.

"Please tell me it was Sam, not that vampire."

"Yes, it was Bill." Sookie gushed. "And I think I might be in love with him. Don't tell anybody, okay?"

Arlene rushed over to Rene with wide eyes. Dakota watched in amusement. Arlene really had to run her mouth to everyone the moment she found something that might be scandalous in other's eyes. Rene shrugged her off, keeping eyes on the tv screen above the bar.

"Oh, lord." Arlene cried. "What if she gets pregnant? How is she going to nurse a baby with fangs?"

"Come on, Arlene." Dakota rolled her eyes. "It's really none of your business what Sookie does and who she does it with."

"You too?" Arlene looked affronted. "I heard you were hanging out at that vampire bar? It that true?"

"Again, none of your business." Dakota said as her mind went to Eric. She hadn't been back since the last time she was there. The blonde took two beers from the bar and went back to wait her tables.

Arlene really had to stop snooping around. There was a shout behind her, and she turned quickly. Sam had ripped off Sookie's scarf.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Sam Merlotte!"

"You're a damn fool, you know that?" he argued.

"What I do on my own time is no concern of yours ... or any of y'all's." Sookie said. "Yes, I had sex with Bill. And since every one of y'all's too chicken to ask, it was great. I enjoyed every second of it. And if you don't like that, you can just fire me."

Sam turned to Dakota. "Tell her it's not normal."

"I ain't her keeper, Sam." Dakota sighed as she went to the kitchen with her orders. Sookie was talking about her night with Bill and Lafayette shared a glance with her as she joined them, praying she'd rescue him. Dakota was happy for Sookie, but she didn't have to tell the entire story in detail to everyone.

"I was always too scared to let them bite me." Lafayette confessed and Dakota let out a small laugh. Of course, he had been with a vampire, she would find it weird if he hadn't tried it. "I don't know, Sook. I just think that when there's blood involved a line been crossed."

"Oh, I definitely crossed a line, but I am glad I did."

"Well, you go ahead on, hooking with your bad ass. Good for you." He said. "It ain't possible to live unless you crossing somebody's line." Sookie smiled at him and walked off with her order. "Skank."

"Lafayette," Dakota scoffed with a laugh.

"It's true." The man shrugged.

Dakota took a hot plate from him and made her way towards the bar and placed it for the woman who had ordered the burger and fries. Dakota was about to go back to get her next order when the doors opened, and a rush of cold air floated inside. There was three of them and they scanned the room with grins on their faces. One sniffed the air, eyes falling onto Dakota. He sped over towards Dakota and pushed her against the bar, leaning in to take a whiff of her scent.

"Well, hello there, sugar." he breathed, and Dakota swallowed, heart hammering inside her chest. "Get us three Tru Bloods, will you?"

"Ya'll need to go somewhere else." Sam said, glaring at them as he came from the pool room. "This is a family place. Locals only."

"Well, we just closed on a place up the road, so that makes us official citizens of Renard Parish." The vamp shrugged, pulling back from Dakota to look at Sam but he still had his hands on her. "We're the new locals."

"My place, my rules." Sam stood his ground.

"Discrimination against vampires is punishable by law in the great state of Louisiana." The vampire said, letting go of Dakota and faced Sam completely. "Personally, I don't give a fuck, but I am thirsty."

"You're not welcome here." Sam seethed.

"That shits only works in a private home." The woman vampire laughed as she ran her hands through a customer's hair, he looked terrified.

"How nice to see you again, Sookie." Dakota frowned as the man turned towards her cousin, just noticing her as she came back from the kitchen. "You're looking delectable as always."

"You know them?" Dakota hesitated, she pushed herself from the bar and took a step back, cautiously.

"We've met." Sookie nodded, unhappily.

"Well, well. It looks like little miss holdout has given up the goods." he said, noticing the fang marks on her neck. "Brava. Did he leave enough for the rest of us?"

"I am his." Sookie bossed.

Dakota didn't know what she meant by that, the term unusual to her. Bill had used it once when they were in Fangtasia, but she had been too nervous to pay attention to his words. It felt possessive and she didn't like it. Surely no one could claim another person for themselves.

"Well, he's not here, is he? And while Bill's away, Malcolm will always play." The vampires fangs dropped as he took a step towards the blonde. Sookie glared at him and stood her ground.

"Don't you think for a second I'd ever have anything to do with you." Sookie fumed, brows pulled together in anger. "You were trash while you were alive and now, you're just dead trash."

"I am gonna drain you so slowly, you're gonna beg met to kill you." Malcolm grinned, just as the other vampire who had been silent was about to take a bite out of another female customer.

Dakota cried out as she stumbled back when Terry Bellefleur ran their way. "Jihad this, motherfucker!"

The female vampire sped toward him and grabbed the back of his neck, throwing him across the room. Terry laid motionless on the floor and Arlene gasped as she hit behind Rene. The man held a look of hatred on his face as he balled his fists at his side. Sam grabbed a pool stick and broke it on his knee, facing the vamps.

"You're a dead man." Malcom promised.

"Maybe," Sam shrugged. "but I am gonna take one of you with me."

The vampire ran at Sam and grabbed him by the neck, throwing him onto the bar. Glasses shattered and customers rushed out of the way, screaming. Dakota saw an opportunity and took it, grabbing a bottle of whiskey and slamming it against Malcolm's head. He hissed her way but kept his hold on Sam.

"I'm gonna reach down your throat and yank you inside out by the dick."

"Leave him alone!" Dakota demanded, swallowing her fear as he glared at her.

"Or what?" Malcolm was in front of her, pushing her against the wall. His breath on her neck as he licked up her skin. Dakota squirmed underneath him and pushed at his chest. "What are you gonna do about it, sugar?"

His fangs were still out, and he was about to sink them into her skin. Dakota screamed, pushing at his chest with all her might, one hand reaching up to touch his jaw. Her eyes widened when her hand began to illuminate with light, and warmth filled her veins. Malcom screeched in agony and fell to his knees, letting go of his hold on her. Blisters appeared on his pale skin. Dakota was breathing heavily as she stared at him and back at her palm, which looked normal.

"Stop this! Now!" Bill rushed in, alarmed look on his face. "You are here for me, not them."

"We had to get your attention and I do believe it worked." Malcolm snarled, his face healing as he glared at Dakota before turning to Bill.

Dakota let out a breath as Lafayette pulled her away from them and towards the hallway. The woman was still staring at her hands as her friend checked her for injuries. 'these motherfuckers is crazy' he muttered.

"What do you want?" demanded Bill.

"You never called me back." he mocked. "Now if I remembered what feelings were, mine might be hurt."

"Join our nest, Bill." The female flirted. "Forget these blood sacks. Mainstreaming is for pussies. Let's party like we used too. We used to have so much fun."

Bill glanced at Sookie, who was staring at him with wide eyes. Bill contemplated before deciding. "All right. Let's go."

"What the hell are you doing?" Sookie demanded.

"I should be with my own."

"But you're not like them." she argued. "You're better than they'll ever be!"

"I am not human, Sookie." he said harshly. "I am vampire."

In a blink of an eye they were all gone and the aftermath was clearly visible. The bar was a mess, glass everywhere from where they had thrown Terry and Sam. Terry seemed to be doing fine, wallowing in guild that he couldn't have stopped them, but honestly who could?

"Are you gonna tell me about the light shooting from your hands?" Lafayette asked, leading the woman away and towards the back of the bar.

"I don't know what that was." Dakota confessed, still in disbelief. "I have never done that before."

"The fuck you don't." he raised a brow as he shared a look with the blonde. "You almost burned a vampire. With your bare hands, Koko. What the fuck is you?"