Hey there,

I own nothing to do with SVM or True Blood. I am just a very big fan of both. This is my first time writing a fan fiction and I've probably done it terribly.

I wanted to try write a different story, where this is an alternate setting. Sookie is still telepathic, and Eric is still a thousand years old. However, he is King of Louisiana (Similar to Russell Edgington's character). There is no synthetic blood in this world, and human's are the only source for vampire sustenance.

This world will be dark and brutal. Vampires see themselves as the superior race to humans, and often they don't mind punishing them, or seeing them as little more than a live source of blood. Eric will be cold and mean at first and he will do some terrible things that might make you hate him, but ultimately he is just playing along with what is expected of him in the world.

I got my idea after seeing Willa and Eric and how they interacted with each other: I wondered what if it was a different setting, where Sookie is required to be turned into an immortal after a certain length of time at King Eric's doing, and Eric, being very informative and showing gentleness, yet with that dash of danger and off-putting element he has as a vampire, who longs for Sookie's highly appealing blood as an unknown fairy and as his mate. Eric will seem disturbing in his behaviour at first and it disconcerts Sookie, as someone who hasn't been around a vampire before. Ultimately, below his exterior, he will have a goodness in him and Sookie will help him learn in the way that he is helping her learn about vampire hierarchy and expectations.

I'm not sure if I have done a very good job with explaining or not, but hopefully it isn't too terrible. I'm sorry if it is!

P.S: Merry Christmas and happy holidays from a fellow fan!

Eternally Yours

Ever since vampires came out of the coffin five years ago, they went to extreme and sometimes mighty brutal and gruesome lengths to show their dominance over the human race.

In the end, they won and we had to live by their rules.

We are the lesser kind. They are basically to be considered our "masters". We have to live by their code, their conduct. We must do whatever they say, whatever they want. They are our puppeteers, and we are their puppets. If we don't obey them and fulfil their every wishes, they will punish us; Torture us, in any way they find fitting.

A few brave souls have fought against them over time, only to be destroyed. The vampires used it as an example for us humans not to get the idea of being smart, by televising it live while they were being tortured and violated. It pretty much shoved a sock into anyone who wanted to get cocky.

In every state, there is one vampire male, who is the oldest and strongest that rules the state and its people. He is considered the Vampire King of that particular area. Annually, all human females in a particular area are to be herded together in a room for the King's entertainment, where he selects one unlucky- or lucky, depending on which way you view it- female to be his mate. After a certain time, as a prerequisite, he must give her the immortal kiss- in other words, change her into a vampire.

There are fifty Kings for the fifty states in the United States of America. The only ones I know of thanks to them being identified on live television, is Stan Davis, the King Vampire of Texas, and a vampire called Godric, who is King of Oklahoma. Most others- including our very own King of Louisiana- are unknown.

For his own safety and to prevent himself being targeted from human rebels, the Vampire King's identity has been kept private, like most others around the states. All we know is that, any year now, the announcement could be made in my particular state of Louisiana that the King's time has come to find his mate and to eventually bestow his everlasting kiss on her.

I have heard plenty of rumours about the King of our state, but I can't be sure whether it is just hearsay or not. I have heard he is over a thousand-years-old. I have also heard that he has collected a few female slaves and when they displeased him, he did unholy things to them. I don't want to ever start thinking of that happening to me, being selected as a vampire king's wife, or slave, whatever.

My name is Sookie Stackhouse. I'm twenty-years-old. I also have a special little gift that makes me a little different from everybody else around me. My Grandmother, Adele Hale, who I live with, is adamant that we keep my telepathy gift a secret. Who knows what would happen to me, if any vampires were knowledgeable of it? Gran has always said it's my mind reading gift that makes me extra special. Also, she says it makes me more of a magnet to any vampires had they ever came to know of it, so usually I try to keep my quirk to myself.

I have heard a few rumours about vampires and their mates (thanks to my little gift). When a vampire knows you are their mate, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will make sure you know it yourself. I have heard about one story, where King Stan Davis of Texas found his mate. His reaction to how she was being mistreated was violent and sudden. He literally grabbed another offending vampire who had slapped her by the throat, said, "She is mine, stay away from her. Don't you dare mistreat her again, you jackass." And then he staked the vamp and made it clear on others that they better watch themselves or else.

I wasn't entirely sure whether it was a fabricated story, but it was an... interesting one, to say the least.

Vampire Kings were the oldest of all the other vampires, so you can imagine how incredibly strong they were, thanks to their age. When the King is against a common vampire, he can apparently take them down in less than half a second.

The way a vampire can tell when a human is their mate is by scenting them: A process where the scent of their human mate is intoxicating to them. This is what all the annual events are about: We are all herded into a room, where the King of our state scents out if their other-half is in the room.

It sings to them, pulls them to their mate like metal to a magnet. I have also heard that vampires can die if they are separated from their mate for extended periods of time, although I'm not sure whether this is just another fabrication. Their strength comes in handy when they need to assert their will when it comes to claiming their mate. It wouldn't be recommended saying no to a vampire who claims you are theirs. You'd be sorry.

But it hasn't happened for our state of Louisiana yet. There hasn't been an announcement that the King is ready to scent out his match. We can consider ourselves lucky for the time being; We can rest easy. Only, it isn't that way, not tonight when the six o'clock news comes on. Everybody grows tense and weary in my household, as the evening news comes on television.

The announcement is made; Females in the Louisiana parish aged between 18 and 25 must prep themselves in their best clothes and gather in the Bon Temps community hall at nine tonight. The Vampire King is on his way.

It is finally his turn to find his mate and bestow her the immortal kiss. It's illegal not to turn up to this thing. You could expect the entire town to be there.

Gran is frantic. She helps me get changed into one of my white, floral halter neck dresses and a pair of peep-toe heels. She helps straighten my hair and even lets me borrow her favourite earrings, which are gorgeous pearl-drop ones. My best friend since I was a little girl, Tara Thornton, comes around to join me. She looks lovely in a red dress that shows off her beautiful brown skin and brings out the dark colour of her eyes. Her hair is up in a braid her mother did for her. She looks just as scared as I do; Tara has never been particularly fond of vampires, and really, neither have I. But this is required of us. Gran sends us off with a good-luck kiss to our cheeks, and I grab Tara's hand and hold it tightly as we walk. The streets are claustrophobic and panicked, filled with girls near to our age and a bit older.

No one says anything, mainly out of fear of bringing attention to themselves.

A few men wave us all to hurry up like cattle sheep being herded into a field, and I realize they must be vampires. They must be the King's guards, or at least part of the process that goes along with this every year. I have noticed everything tends to get silent when I am near a vampire- which isn't very often. My telepathy gift doesn't extend to them, which makes being in their company all the more daunting and unpredictable. I can't tell what they are thinking and what they are planning to do ahead of time. I tighten my grip on Tara's hand as we reach the community hall, where a long line of young women has formed outside the entrance. Inside, there the Vampire King will be, seated on a temporary stage waiting to scent out his human as she enters the room.

They take it in groups: Eighteen girls go in for several minutes, and then they are sent back out. Then, just as quickly, another group of eighteen girls are herded in for the King to try again.

I feel Tara's hand shaking as I hold it in mine, but really, I'm not so sure whether it is actually her hand or just my own. It is so hard to tell, because I feel just as terrified as, no doubt, Tara does. We haven't ever seen the Vampire King before; We don't know what to expect.

Our time came, and one of the guards ushered us forward. I refused to let go of Tara's hand, as we clamoured our way inside the building. The entrance hall was narrow and it was a tight squeeze with eighteen girls marching inside, but no one made a single noise or word of protest. It would be risky, and it would only make us have to face the chance of painful punishment.

Once we all manage to get through the narrow hallway, it isn't as tight or claustrophobic. It looks as it always does, the hall, where everybody would go into for church on Sunday mornings. Only there is a temporary stage at the far end of the wall, where a cluster of vampires stand. No doubt, one of them is the Vampire King of Louisiana, only it is hard to see him past anybody's shoulders. I'm not the shortest girl in the world, but it is still an effort to see over heads and shoulders- even with my peep-toe heels on.

"Spread out, humans," a vampire with a lisp commands impatiently. "Let's keep this a singular line so that the King has a good chance to sniff you-all out!"

No one makes a sound. No one wants to die tonight. Heck, no.

Slowly we all shuffle into one long line, as directed. My hand refuses to let Tara's go, but she doesn't seem to mind it one bit. She's perfectly peachy with it. Nausea hits me as I bring my attention up to the stage: There has to be around eight vampires standing up there and, one of them, is the mighty powerful King. It is really hard to tell which one of them is him.

Three vampires sit in chairs; The one in the middle is scrutinizing us all carefully with the ghost of a smile on his lips. I have a hunch that he may very well be the King: There is just something about him. He has fearsome presence about him. He exudes masculinity and power. His blue eyes roam around all the girls brazenly, taking them in as they stand prepped-up in their best clothes for him. He scans me twice, much to my horror. All of us are so silent you could almost hear a pin drop in the hall. You can't even hear any of us breathing; We are all holding in our breaths, almost afraid to so much as breathe.

I can't deny that the man is gorgeous... if he even is the King.

His chin is chiselled. The nose, angular. The eyes, stunning, though extremely scary. They feel as if they have ability to see right through your skin. They are an amazing light blue in colour, and his pupils are heavily dilated, overpowering the blue irises, which is very noticeable against his pale skin. His light blonde hair is combed back behind his ear lobes. He is wearing all black for the occasion: A long black leather trench coat, combined with black trousers that illustrate how long his legs are and black, shiny loafers. The collar of the trench coat is pushed up, shielding the muscles of his neck from view. Without warning, he stands and climbs down the stage towards the group of us young ladies. Just with the way he struts, he oozes a dominance and confidence that's catching. Despite his height, there isn't anything ungraceful about him at all.

My eyes wander down his body without my control, and all I see is strength and perfection everywhere I look, I might as well admit.

Just like that I can hear all the girl's thoughts. Some find him curiously handsome, as I do. They find him a real hunk, like a movie star or a poster boy. Others find him the most terrifying thing in the world and wish so badly that it isn't them who are going to be chosen as his mate.

I guess I am not the only one thinking that way.

"Good evening ladies. I thank you all for coming here this evening. One of you may very well be my mate, so let's get started immediately." His voice is deep, husky. I almost let loose a nervous laugh; Even his voice is too perfect, in a scary way.

The King walks forward, eyeing us all closely. He walks down the line slowly, inspecting us all from head to toe. I feel my body tremble as he pauses at me, scrutinizing me in my dress with a mirthful gleam in his eyes. Then, he gets down to business with scenting us. He closes his eyes. His head lifts slightly. He breathes in deeply, as if inhaling in perfume.

The nausea in me builds as I so desperately hope it isn't me. Tara is clinging to my hand so tightly it begins to ache.

"Yes," the King breathes in delight, and he inhales again, louder this time around. "My mate is here, in this very room. She is one of you. She smells... sweet. The sunlight lingers on her skin. Delicious." He shudders and licks his lips as he reopens his eyes.

His fangs are out, shining below his top lip.

Huh. So this means it can be any one of us girls. I just hope to death it isn't me. Or Tara. Not either one of us.

Surely, it couldn't be me, though, I reason with myself, as the panic builds within me, suffocating me. There is no way in hell it'll be me. I've got nothing to worry about. Neither does Tara.

He sniffs the air a few more times. Then he turns back to the men seated on the stage.

"This will take too long," he tells them, with an air of impatience. "I want the girls separated. I want one to come up at a time, and I will inhale their scent. She is here; that I have no doubts. Bring them forward one at a time."

No one dares to leave him waiting. First girl in line goes up reluctantly, then the next, and the next. Until there is eight of us left, including myself and Tara. There is a good chance it isn't me or Tara. I have to keep on telling myself that. He rejects each girl with a gruff "No, it isn't you," and off the female goes. Then there is one girl in front of me. He dismisses her, just as rudely. And then, before I know it, it is my turn.

Tara refuses to let go of my hand, so I step forward slightly while still holding hers.

He moves forward and closes the distance between us, being so tall I only just reach his shoulders. He leans down, sniffs at me like a stray dog in a freaky way.

Then he reaches out and picks up a strand of my hair between his fingertips gently and bends down to sniff it. He hasn't paid this much attention to the other females.

Oh, God. Jesus Christ. Holy Mother Mary.

He licks his lips. Those fangs.

As he studies me carefully, I chant it inside my head over and over that it's not me, it isn't me, it's not me.

"Ah, here she is," he announces proudly. "She is the one. It is her."

The other vampires rise from their chairs and climb down the stage towards me.

I distantly remember a time when I was younger; a feeling I got whenever my Uncle Bartlett would pop around for dinner. I would want to run and hide, whenever he did, because he would touch me inappropriately and think terrible things- things an older man shouldn't about a younger girl. This was very much the same feeling I had now. I wanted to run and hide, safe and away from the world. Only, I can't. It leaves me struggling to breathe. My lungs won't work, damn them.

"Let go," the vampire with the lisp says to Tara coldly, and much to my dismay, she has no choice but to loosen her grip on my hand. "Everyone, go. You are free. Shoo, humans!"

It happens oh so quickly. Everybody is gone, until it is just me and him. Me, and the Vampire King, and all his vampire men. I'm alone. No one can help me.

"My mate, what is your name, sweetheart?" The Vampire King asks me, his voice low.

"Sookie Stackhouse," I answer, as politely and as calmly as I can. Fortunately, my voice works with me, and it doesn't betray me. I don't sound as afraid as I feel.

"You are mine now, Sookie Stackhouse," he says, in an assertive tone. "I am Eric Northman, King of the area. You will leave with me now, and you will not try to refuse. It is imperative that you come with me. Do you understand?" His eyes gaze into mine intensely with affection. I can't look away, even if I try.

I swallow hard. "But where will I go with you?" I ask, in a small voice. "I already have a home here, in Bon Temps. I live with my Grandmother."

"You live here no longer. Your home is with me now."

"I'm not leaving my home!"

"You are, and you will." He turns to look at his vampire men, and says, distinctively amused, "My human is a cantankerous one, isn't she?"

They all share a laugh at that, all at my expense.

I don't lose my temper very often, but when I do, I make a good job of it. "I'm not leaving with you," I insist tartly. "This has to be some huge mistake!"

"Well, this is not a mistake. You will have to learn to get used to it."

"No, I don't have to get used to anything!"

All the vampire men share another hearty chuckle at that.

"What are your talents, sweetheart?" The Vampire King asks me curiously.

"Talents?"

"Yes." He licks his lips in a very hungry way. "Do you... sing, perhaps? You look as if you have a very lovely set of lungs on you."

"Well, obviously appearances are misleading," I retort. "I can't carry a tune whatsoever. I'll only make your ears bleed, trust me!"

More laughs at my expense. I didn't know I was so funny?

"There must be something you are well at?" he asks, and raising a hand, he places his cool palm against my cheek; All due to his touch, suddenly I feel something strange. It is a shock like pure electricity running through me. "How else will you be able to entertain me?"

"Nope, nothing at all." I shrug. "I'm not much for entertaining people. I've never been any good at it."

"You have some..." He pauses, unable to think of the right word for a moment. "Fire!" he decides amusedly. "That, alone, is very entertaining. I have always enjoyed a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. It is very charming of you. I look forward to seeing more of it tonight once we are alone with a little privacy to ourselves." He turns to his men again. "Guards, will you escort my human out?"

Before I can find my voice, a strong hand comes around my forearm, pulling me along. It's the lispy vampire. He's gotten all handy with me.

"See to it that my human does not get hurt in any sharp or form. If she does, expect the living shit to be beaten out of each one of you!"

Now I'm truly in danger of bawling, but I try to contain the waterworks in with all my might.

How much bad luck can I have?

So... what did you think of this? I would love to hear your thoughts. Shall I continue or was this really bad?