The dress was so tiny that I had to enlist Tara in the struggle to fit inside it. It was dark green with a beautiful black lace across the bodice. The Victorian number reached the floor and hugged my chest like any good corset ought to. The dress's plunging square shaped neckline left little to the imagination, and the slender sleeves that just capped the shoulders gave the dress a look of elegance and grace.
I had braided a section of my hair from my part, along my forehead to a point just behind my left ear. It was inlaid and then disappeared as it dived into the rest of my blond ocean and was knotted at the base of my neck. The finished look appeared fine, delicate, and sophisticated.
Finally, I donned the intricate feathered mask that had arrived at my door sometime last night. The piece was couture in a way I had never known a mask could be. The exquisite black and white striped feathers weaved into the emerald green ones formed a gorgeous asymmetrical disguise. Along with the mask had been a short note, reading: Masquerade Ball, Friday the 13th, Fangtasia, Where your best Victorian ensemble, and this. Kom Gärna E.
And even if I had recently sworn off all vampires, a quick goggle translation of "please come" was all it took for me to decide I was going. Did Fangtasia have a party every Friday the thirteenth? Was it always a masquerade? My curiosity was peaked.
The drive the Fangtasia had been quiet and that had given me no cause for worry, but the normal thrum of activity that spilled from the bar and into the parking lot was thunderous like I had never heard it before.
I noticed Pam at the entrance, her usual haughty dismissal of the Fangtasia clientele in full force. Except, this was not the normal Fangtasia clientele I had come to expect. The throng of humans and vampires waiting impatiently to be invited in were all dressed to the nines in Victorian regalia and elaborate masks. The crowd seemed more palpably affluent and garish. As if the masks invited the more social elite to partake in a bit of naughtiness, and no one would be the wiser.
I wondered momentarily if Pam would even recognize me in my costume.
"Don't you just look delicious" Pam drawled at me.
"Thank you, Pam. Although I feel rather silly" I replied, relieved that I still looked enough like Sookie Stackhouse to pass inspection.
But, it seemed that my words set Pam backwards for a moment. If I hadn't become more acutely aware of Vampire nuances I might not have noticed, but seeing that the Vampire world had invaded every nook and cranny of my life, I picked up the momentary shook.
"Sookie" she smiled. "Do come in and make yourself at home." I had only been recognized by my voice it seemed.
The whole of Fangtasia had been completely transformed for the occasion. Candlelit chandeliers hung from the ceiling, gothic artwork covered the walls, and long rectangular tables with lovely runners had been placed on either side of what was now obviously the dance floor, which was scattered with Fangtasia patrons swaying to the music slow and painful, dark and romantic. The dimly lit corners were filled with human and vampire goings on, and the feel of the room was most definitely old-world.
I spied Eric sitting regally on his throne, his eyes concealed with a plain, unadorned mask of metal, reminiscent of Phantom of the Opera, he was fooling no one with his mask, he was still undeniably the Viking ruler of Fangtasia. The slew of worshipers at his feet appeared more zealous than ever. He had not yet seen me, or perhaps he had and had not recognized me.
Falling in with the crowd at the bar I made my way up to the counter.
"Vampire's Kiss" I heard myself request.
The bartender smiled and mixed the martini.
As he was leaning over to pass me my drink, a vampire behind him pulled him roughly by the shoulder spilling the concoction on the floor. Words I could not hear were whispered, and the bartender quickly disappeared into the back.
"My sincerest apologies." The new vamp handed me back the five-dollar bill I have laid on the bar, "On the house" he smiled and went about remixing the Vampire's Kiss.
"If you don't mind my asking, what was that about?" I asked as I was handed the remade drink.
The vampire just smiled and made a gesture behind me.
I turned around and slammed directly into a very tall, very solid object. The drink in my hand went flying.
"Holy Honey buckets!" Slipped out before I could stop it.
I looked up and the figure was smiling. Like a bolt of lightening his lips were on mine, and the cool softness tingled against my skin and sent fire through my body. With out having had a good look at my perpetrator I knew it was Eric, felt it was Eric, loved that it was Eric. My lips clung to his; my fingers searched him out, tracing the outline of his body. I felt his arms slip behind me, to keep me upright or to pull me ever closer to him, I couldn't be sure.
"What do you think you're do'n?" I asked as petulantly as possible attempting to forcibly remove myself from him.
"You asked for a Vampire's Kiss. I only sought to oblige" His smile dark and cunning.