Chapter Text
“Miss Stackhouse,” Eric Northman regarded her cooly over his shoulder from across the room. He stood straight and tall at his full height of about 6’4” she guessed, he had one hand extended in front of him, holding a rocks glass full of blood resting on the mantle over a massive fireplace. The fireplace was cold of course, since vampires didn’t require heat, and it’s not like this was a particularly cozy meeting anyway, but the emptiness of the hearth just made the room seem bigger, darker, and colder. Sookie was seated in a modern, and probably expensive, leather armchair, with only a long wooden coffee table between her and the vampire sheriff. She knew this wasn’t an interrogation because she wasn’t restrained - or in the dungeon, but she felt like she may as well have been by the way she felt frozen in place at her current predicament. She had sort of exposed her telepathic ability to the most powerful vampire she knew, well one of the only vampires she knew, but it was a big deal and she worried what this would mean for her in the long run. But there was no going back now because she knew that Eric Northman, ancient Viking vampire sheriff, would not drop this.
Eric continued with his back still turned to her, “I believed you earlier when you said you weren’t directly involved in the raid of my bar, but I am still curious as to how you knew it was happening and that there was a V dealer on the premises.” He finally turned to face her and his intense icy blue eyes seemed to hold her in place more than she already was.
Sookie cleared her throat softly, but didn’t want to break eye contact in case it would make her appear more suspicious than he already thought her, then she began, “Mister Northman, I--,” then she paused. She took a deep breath in and broke the eye contact with the vampire anyway in order to throw her head back and exhale loudly, coming to a decision. Eric’s eyes raked over her exposed and elongated throat, he could see, hear, even feel her heartbeat pumping blood through those veins and for the first time since she began working for him a month ago he took in a deep breath of her scent. Even from across the room he could smell how delicious she was, if he were closer to her right now he would probably find her scent intoxicating. How had he not noticed this about her before? Maybe he never got a clear scent of her at the always crowded bar, her sweetness overpowered by the mix of booze, sweat, and sex that permeated the building at almost all times. He would need to keep this in check for the moment, and he would definitely keep it in mind for later as well. After her loud exhale at the ceiling she seemed to decide on her words, Eric stepped away from the fireplace and toward her a couple paces, abandoning his blood glass on the mantle and raptly awaiting her explanation.
“Fine. I’m a telepath, okay? I can read minds,” she saw his eyes get ever so slightly wider, he had a good poker face but even he was surprised at this information, “ human minds,” she clarified and saw him minutely relax again. She could only imagine how dangerous it would be for her if she could read the minds of the deadly supernatural beings that were so fiercely private and protective of their secrets.
“So you cannot read my mind, then.” His words were evenly measured, paired with the expression on his face he was exuding calm and control.
His words weren’t a question, but she was going to explain further anyway, she felt he should know the gist of her ability now to avoid complications - or more frighteningly, a true interrogation later on. “No, I have not been able to read any vampire minds of those I have encountered, although it’s not like I know a ton, just the ones at Fangtasia.” She looked into his eyes again, he didn’t speak, but he held her gaze as he took another step forward and to the side as he sat down on the edge of a couch. He nodded his head slightly for her to continue. “I can sense a vampire’s presence by the absence of their thoughts though,” Eric slightly tilted his head to the side at this part and she pressed on, “your minds feel kind of like a cool void; just blissful silence. The exact opposite of human minds.”
“And what about shifters?” His head tilted slightly further with his inquiry.
“Shifters? I-- I don’t--,” she stammered in confusion, now unconsciously tilting her own head mirroring his.
“Yes, shapeshifters, werewolves, et cetera,” he offered matter of factly.
“What? I-- Oh, whoa,” Sookie leaned further back into the chair, overtaken by her swirling thoughts at the realization that there was even more than vampires out there.
“I assumed you knew. Pam showed me your resume when she hired you and we noted that you used to work for a shifter.”
“Sam Merlotte is a shifter?” Her voice was louder than she meant it to be, but she was just so surprised at this news. She was too distracted by her own mind to see the amused look on Eric’s face, his blue eyes practically sparkling in response to her. She began to think out loud then, “Hmm, well I guess that could explain why his thoughts were always a little different.” She was lost in her once again silent thoughts for a moment before Eric spoke, pulling her back into the room with him.
“How were they different, Miss Stackhouse?”
“Oh! Um, hmm, it’s hard to explain because it’s more like a feeling, but I guess normal human’s thoughts tend to be more straight forward like an inner monologue or clear images, and Sam’s thoughts were kind of fuzzier and less clear. He had more images than words, and when I did get words they weren’t usually full clear sentences. He projected more raw emotions too - this is the part that’s more the feeling and I don’t think I can explain it very well, sorry.” Sookie realized she was starting to ramble now, what time was it anyway? She realized she was exhausted, but did her best to keep pushing through. You didn’t just walk out in the middle of a meeting with the vampire sheriff because you wanted a nap. “That’s the way it was with Sam anyway, I don’t really know if I know any others like him, so I’m not sure if it’s the same across the board.”
Eric sat quietly for a moment, looking thoughtful before simply offering, “I suppose we will figure that out more in time.”
Did he say ‘we’? So here came the part where she would find out the consequences of revealing her gift tonight. She quietly and tentatively said, “We?”
Eric laughed lightly, but Sookie didn’t see what was so funny. Perhaps to an ancient vampire her current situation was amusing, she had little power here, she had shown her hand so to speak, and she could only wait and see what would happen next. He simply said, “Yes, we. You are my employee, after all.”
She tried not to let her cheeks flush with anger, she wanted to keep her cool, but she could tell that the infuriating, entitled, and controlling part of Eric Northman that she had heard so much about was now making an appearance. “Yes, I’m your waitress,” she challenged.
“Oh, but you are so much more than that now, Miss Stackhouse.” he smiled, infuriatingly, she thought.
“With all due respect, Mister Northman,” she worked extra hard to keep her tone and volume steady, “I didn’t take a job at Fangtasia just to be your personal mind reader.” She crossed her arms over her chest defensively.
He leaned forward, “I can assure you it will pay much better than your current position, and I even imagine you will enjoy many perks,” he suggestively raised one eyebrow. Infuriating.
“I can’t imagine you’ll need my ability every night, and I like to work to keep busy, thank you very much,” she was picking up steam now and letting some of her anger show through after his last comment, “I won’t be sat on my butt all day and night just waiting to be summoned at your beck and call. If I agree to let you use my ability occasionally I will still want my server job.” She finished with a large exhale.
Eric’s jaw tightened at her disrespect, but he would let it go for now because he needed her gift. Sure, he was capable of taking anything he wanted, but a willing telepath would be much easier to handle than an unwilling and resentful one. “Fine, although I believe we may be revisiting this topic again in the future.” He very slightly bowed his head, indicating the conversation was through. Apparently he was wrong, as this woman was just full of surprises for him tonight.
Sookie instantly spoke up again, “I’m not done yet. I still have questions about this new arrangement and I have conditions.” Her boldness surprised him, and enticed him, she had a strong spitfire personality and though he loved a challenge, he knew an easier way to resolve all of this right now.
Eric moved to the other end of the couch, closer to where she sat in the arm chair, then leaned forward once again, this time much closer to her petite frame and enticing scent. He caught her gaze and held it there for a moment with concentration.
Sookie inhaled a soft gasp when Eric quickly and smoothly placed himself within arms reach of her. He was just staring at her now, so she allowed herself a brief moment to fall into his icy blue eyes; they reminded her of pictures she had seen of some hot springs in Iceland, simultaneously chilling and steaming. She ended her musings abruptly as she noticed a tingling sensation along her forehead and a small pinching pressure deep inside her temples. Her eyes grew wide in shock and she exclaimed, “Are you trying to glamour me right now?”
Eric leaned backwards away from her, his eyebrows knit together in confusion, and mumbled to himself, “That should have worked.”
“Performance trouble? It happens even to the best of us sometimes.” She felt empowered, knowing now that she could not be glamoured, her mind could not be stolen from her and bent to a vampire's will. She suddenly gulped, realizing what she had just said to her boss, to Eric freaking Northman, he was sure to be furious and he wouldn’t need to glamour her to hurt her if he wanted to. She looked back into his eyes and they were like blue flames, she knew he was angry. He probably didn’t let anyone speak to him like that, let alone a human . Suddenly his whole demeanor shifted and he let out a loud barking laugh as he leaned all the way back into the couch cushions, relaxed. Sookie allowed her own body to relax, but only slightly.
“I like you, you are full of fire and courage, and you have a very strong mind. I am going to enjoy working more closely with you.” What he didn’t say was that he was also going to enjoy making her his . But that thought was for another time; he could tell it was now very late into the night and dawn was only a couple of hours away. Returning to the business at hand he said, “I will have a new employment contract drawn up for you, we will meet in my office tomorrow night to review it and make any necessary changes as well as address your questions. I already have a situation that would benefit from your talents, we will begin as soon as possible.”
Sookie considered herself lucky that this powerful and ancient vampire hadn’t seen fit to rip her apart at her earlier jab, she knew he was proud and capable of anything. Why did she even want to work for vampires in the first place when she knew they were so dangerous? But he had been the one to make a suggestive comment to her first, did he really think she was just going to sleep with him like some fangbanger? He’d even tried to glamour her instead of just talking! She knew she’d have to keep her sharp tongue in check a bit better going forward, but she wouldn’t be pushed around and disrespected by anyone, even this formidable Viking before her. She resolved to toe the line between strong woman with values and compliant employee of a vampire with questionable values at best.
She nodded her consent to Eric’s plan and slowly rose from her seated position. Before she could take a step or speak any words, he spoke again, “Pam, please drive Miss Stackhouse to her home in Bon Temps.”
Pam, his second in command, emerged from the shadows at the edge of the room and answered her maker, “Of course.” She turned toward Sookie and added, “Well come on then, Sweetness, let’s go get you tucked in.” Her tone was sarcastic, but Sookie found her amusing and felt a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Sookie knew vampires weren’t much for pleasantries like greetings and farewells so she just silently walked out of front door behind Pam, who she honestly had forgotten was even in the room with them this whole time because of her position in the shadows and her ability to stand as still as a statue, she didn’t even require breathing as a vampire. As they approached the blood red corvette with dark tinted windows in the driveway, Sookie blinked her eyes and looked around, suddenly remembering her own car was parked back in the employee lot at Fangtasia.
“Pam, what about my car? It’s still at the bar.” Sookie asked as she climbed into the passenger seat.
“Don’t worry, Sweetness, we’ll pick you up after sunset and bring you back to Fangtasia, then you’ll be able to drive your own car home after Eric’s finished with you.” She smiled mischievously, but Sookie was too tired now to take the teasing bait. She also wasn’t particularly ecstatic about this answer about her car, but she didn’t think arguing with Pam was the best course of action; Eric may like her, but she wasn’t sure yet if Pam did, despite the nickname she’d been calling her. As a co-owner of the bar and manager of the bar staff, Pam was exacting and ruthless in her expectations of the staff and in her management style. Sookie tried to mainly stay out of her way when she saw her coming, and did her damnedest to not make any mistakes. But if she was honest with herself, she did admire Pam, and she definitely respected her as a badass woman who took no shit. Maybe they could become friends one day, maybe she was being completely ridiculous.
They arrived in front of Sookie’s house sooner than she expected, but given that Pam drives like a vampire bat out of hell, she probably shouldn't have been surprised. Sookie yawned as she climbed out of the car, then leaned down to say, “Good rest, Pam.”
“Same to you, Sweetness,” Pam briskly replied, before swiftly peeling out of the uneven dirt and gravel driveway to head back to Shreveport at top speeds.
Sookie made her way inside the farmhouse using the spare key hidden under one of the garden rocks; since the raid happened so suddenly at the bar she didn’t have her purse with her now. She immediately relocked the door, and looked up at the big staircase she would have to climb before finding the comfort of her bed. She entertained the thought of just collapsing on the old couch only a few feet away, but knew she’d feel better when she woke if she was in an actual bed. She forced her tired body up the stairs and instantly fell onto her mattress, asleep in seconds despite being on top of the covers, still in her work clothes, and laying completely sideways.