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| Rebecca |
Rebecca Keane stood in the twilight of the last day of her first week in Bon Temps Louisiana. Around her workers scurried some leaving after a long hot day of hard work others preparing for a long night of hard work. She had just finished talking with Mr Longbrook the man who had been tearing up her back yard for weeks building her an in ground pool. Everything on his end was going according to plan and she was happy that she hadn't hired to duds to do the work on the house. Rebecca gave Mr Longbrook a wave and then leaned against the railing of the porch only to jump back as it moved forward and went tumbling down to the dusty ground below. She sighed and rolled her eyes heavenward, yet another thing that would need to be repaired and replaced. The old plantation home behind her had laid dormant and abandoned for over a hundred years so every board creaked, every wall was streaked with peeling paint or paper and each room cried out for attention. From the moment she drove up the old dusty drive and looked into the eyes of the damaged homestead she heard it calling out to her. She would make it right she promised as she patted the doorframe that lead into the wide open entryway of the once majestic home. The first day was spent simply de-trashing the house clearing out the debris and preparing it to be gutted. Wood and plaster flew fast and furious and several large dumpsters were filled and carted off. With each step they took she heard the house sigh in relief. The attention it was getting was long over due and very much welcomed. Electricity and plumbing were the first priorities and so men worked in teams in various parts of the house with walkie- talkies attached to their hips working wires and pipe through walls and ceilings in the hopes of bringing light and water to a space that had been in the dark and dry for far to long.
Her day forman Mr Briggs came out onto the porch and cleared his throat to get her attention "We're all cleaned up Miss Keane and if there is nothing else we will be taking off?" She turned to look at him " You cleared your list with Mason Mr. Briggs?" Mason's voice in her head told her that everything had been completed.
Mr. Briggs stood stiff legged with his eyes looking everywhere but at Rebecca " Yes ma'am I walked everything with him" This week had been one of the longest in his life and he could hardly wait to get the hell out of here and away from this witch and her band of vampire buddies.
"Very well Mr. Briggs you are released of your duties. I thank you for you and your mens work this week. I am sorry that things did not turn out as either of us had planned. The money you earned up to this point will be placed in your account by Monday morning."
Mr Briggs nodded his head and practically jumped off the porch steps moving swiftly in the direction of his car. His lack of contrition and his desire to leave so swiftly compelled her to do something she had promised not to do.
From the top step she called out to him " One last thing Mr Briggs."
He stopped dead in his tracks but did not turn around " You should know that I plan to report you and your mens improprieties to the appropriate officials and that I do not take lightly what has happened here. You should never take on a job you can not handle or do not plan on finishing. I hope in the future you will think twice before thinking you can take advantage of someone such as myself. This may be a hand wringing money making pit of a job and the financial windfall would have been quite considerable but you got to greedy and underestimated the knowledge and preparation of your homeowner. I sincerely doubt that this was the first time you have done this but I can guarantee you it will be the last. Are we clear Mr. Briggs?"
Mr. Briggs nodded from where he stood "Good now go enjoy the rest of your life Mr Briggs. I hope that you find a more righteous path to walk down."
Mr. Briggs tore open the door to his truck jumped in and before even properly seated revved the car engine and tore down her drive way.
Rebecca hands on her hips turned an evil grin filled face skyward. A breeze came from nowhere lifting the hem of her skirt and blowing the hair out of her face. From behind her a low deep voice of reason chastised her for her behavior " Now Now Rebecca did you really have to add to the pile of shit already in his pants?" Mason stood in the doorway wiping his hands of some mysterious substance she'd prefer not to know about with a equally evil grin upon his pale smooth face.
" I believe that I showed remarkable constraint all things considering. He left with all his faculties intact and there are no bodies to be buried so I think even by your high and mighty standards I did quite well." Mason's grin grew wider showing off the tips of his retracted fangs. " He stole from me Mason and he treated you like shit. He made promises he couldn't keep and has put this project behind schedule and me in the position of finding someone else to finish the job. I will have to pay double I am sure to get another crew in here with no notice"
" You could always try being patient and let me and my men work at night. We will get it done for you"
Rebecca sighed and breathed in deeply. Give me the strength Goddess. I need strength to be patient and let everything happen in its own time. Her peace lasted but the seconds it took for her to let out her deep cleansing breath with a curse.
" Oh hell Mason you know that is NOT going to happen. I want this place up and running like yesterday. If it was really up to me I'd just wiggle my nose and everything would be done and I'd be moved in by now."
" Damn that whole personal gain thing" Mason shook his head and look disgusted. Rebecca gave Mason the finger and stomped down the steps. "Don't you have some work to do?
" A whole lot of work to do actually and an overly demanding boss to add to the pressure" Mason left his perch in the doorway and dissolved into the house.
She walked further into her recently mowed yard and towards the wooded area to the left of the house. The grounds were in need of as much work as the rest of the house. She could not wait to complete the exterior renovations so she could work on the landscape. She had complied a whole list of plants flowers and trees to be brought in and planted around the house and there would be a garden planted down a short path from the main house. She supposed she could have someone start work on the garden now as it would not directly interfere with the construction and made a mental note to find someone to start work on that project sooner rather than later. She would need to find a new landscaper now to since the one she had lined up was an associate of Mr. Briggs. She didn't plan on working with anyone he worked with regardless of whether they knew of his dirty deeds or not. Two wooden chairs and a table sat just before the woods edge, a purchase made at the local hardware store and strategically placed so she could see the comings and goings of everyone. She took a seat and pulled out a lemon tea Snapple from the cooler under the table. Blurs of movement from the upstairs windows caught her eye the bi-product of an all vampire night crew. They worked fast but were thorough as they to had an overly demanding boss. She sent a mental word of thanks to Mason who simply nodded and went back to what he was doing. She was lucky to have had a lifelong friend who could work magic on any house. Living for thousands of years had it's advantages and there was little that Mason did not know, very few things he had not done and he was always there for her no matter how crazy she got. The biggest reasons Mr. Briggs had gotten his walking papers was his treatment of Mason and his crew. When he agreed to the job all he saw was dollar signs and voiced no reservations over the second crew. Their interaction of course was minimal. Most of the crew was gone before Mason and his men showed up but still she felt the fear and revulsion coming from the Briggs crew almost immediately. She could live with that as long as they behaved and she thought that they had been. But when Mason had come to her last night with the evidence that Mr. Briggs had been siphoning off supplies from the site for other projects she also learned that there had been threats to the him and the crew. Getting the entire picture out of Mason had been like pulling fangs but once she got it all out of him she was livid. Mason attempted the remainder of the night to calm her down and refused to go to ground until she agreed not to kill him. She could have with minimal effort and no evidence of foul play but instead she did as Mason had asked.
She had made Mr. Briggs work out the day and as they did she made it a point to pass by every man on the crew, sticking little messages of warning into their tiny brains. She made sure they would not forget her and know that while they walked away without any reproductions she could be around any corner waiting for them to fuck up again. As the day went on the fear and desire to vanish increased, they began to whisper their thoughts and fears to each other and by the time they were schedule to leave they were jumping out of their skins every time she walked by or spoke aloud. Mr Briggs was convinced she was some kind of witch and she made sure to smile each time he thought it and put an image of herself in a long black dress and pointy hat in front of cauldron stirring the most heinous of concoctions into his brain. Toying with people who pissed her off was freaking awesome fun and as she took a sip of her tea she felt the urge to laugh surging up inside her. Uncontrollable fits of laughter came out ,seizing her stomach and tearing up her eyes. She found the laughter therapeutic after a very taxing week. She really was the most impatient of people and knew in her head that this place would take time to come back to life but all the same she wished it was done and she could start putting her things inside making this tattered pile of wood her place. A space that she could call her own. She sat back in the chair and looked up into the night sky. One lone star flickered in the distance, she made her wish and closed her eyes and began to listen. She listened to the bugs wings batting around her. Each wondering why it was they could not get close enough to get a taste. She could hear the slithering of a snake just beyond the first set of bushes and the squeak of a mouse hiding behind a rock his mind racing as he planned his next move of escape. She heard the hum of the generators on the other side of the house working hard to keep the flood lights inside lit. The sound of wires being run through wood and Masons raspy voice calling out instructions to the man at the light-board in the basement. She heard a gator slide into the water on the lake bordering the other side of the property and then the sound of tires hitting gravel as someone made their way down the long winding road that lead to the house. She opened her eyes and looked to see the faint glow of headlights coming towards her. Every man in the house stopped for a moment as no one was expected and everyone half expected trouble. Mason sent them back to work and waited for her call. When the truck jerked to a halt a tall thin strikingly hot blond man stepped out and surveyed the house. He did not see her sitting in the chair and she watched him silently as he looked around with one hand on the hood of his of his truck and the other scratching the side of his head. Even from this distance she could tell he was wearing incredibly tight dark-washed jeans and a pair of worn out steel toed work boots. A blue shirt was hanging haphazardly on his torso and she knew when she walked closer she'd be able to see a very tight, tanned chest peeking out between several opened buttons. He was wondering how he had gotten wrangled into coming here and and why he should give a shit what was going here anyways. People were entitled to buy an old rundown piece of shit house and fix it up and he really didn't give a shit one way or another. He thought he should be sitting at Merlotte's on at least his third beer waiting for a medium rare steak and fries to be put in front of him. Sitting back surveying his domain and sending flirty winks and killer smiles at all of the ladies in the joint. How the hell did he get stuck doing these things for his sister anyway? He'd only gone over to the house for a brotherly drive by. Just a quick "How ya doing" so she wouldn't bust his balls about how he never came around. Now standing in the driveway wondering if he could get away with saying he had come over and there was no one here or that no one had answered when he knocked. He shook his head and realized he would never hear the end of it if he didn't come back with some real answers so he squared his shoulders and heading up the drive to the house.
Rebecca got up from her perch and started walking in his direction. "Excuse me sir can I help you with something"
The blond man stopped halfway up the steps and turned to look at her. She was wearing a long flowing skirt and a white tee her hair tied up in a messy bun. He looked her up and down taking her in and decided rather quickly she was worth one of those killer smiles. A bit of junk in the trunk he thought, I like that. She arched a brow and smiled back at him being sure to put an extra little twitch in her walk as she closed the gap between the two of them. She took the steps two at time until she was standing beside him an arms worth of length between them. He was still staring at her with the dumb smile of his face. A look that clearly was not platonic or neighborly. He wanted her right then and there and images of how he'd like to take her made there way from his mind to hers. She shook off his dirty thoughts and tried to concentrate on breaking his and not sticking her knee in his crotch.
"HELLO" she waved her hand in front of his face and he came to after another minute
" Oh hell sorry ma'am. I spaced out there for a sec." The smile returned this time just lips and he stood taller as if that alone would make people take him more seriously.
" Jason Stackhouse." He held out his hand and she took it. He shook it generously and gave it a light squeeze before letting it go.
"Good evening Mr Stackhouse. I'm Rebecca. Rebecca Keane. What brings you by tonight? " From the other side of the door Mason stood at the ready. She assured him that Mr. Stackhouse was not a threat just a curious family member of a neighbor coming to see what the hell they we were up to. Still he stood there just in case she was wrong. She sent him a sharp jab in the side. She was rarely ever wrong the simple idea that he would think such a thing was insulting.
Just the same he stayed put and told her to watch it or he'd drain her dry. After another mental middle finger for the empty threats and she turned my attention back to Jason.
He had been rambling on about how his sister lived on the property right before her drive and how there had been a lot of traffic coming in and out of here and that there were people working even at night and wanted to know who the hell pays a crew to work all night long and on and on an on he went.
She finally interrupted him by putting a hand on his arm.
" I am so sorry Mr. Stackhouse" he stopped her " Ah come on now call me Jason. Mr. Stackhouse makes me feel real damned old. I don't think I'll be a Mr. Stackhouse for a mighty long time."
"Well okay then, Jason" he nodded his thanks and let her continue " I am sorry that I didn't come by to speak with your sister yet. It is horrible manners for me not to have taken my neighbors into consideration. The house as you can see is in major need of repair and I was very anxious to get ball rolling. I am living in that tiny trailer up the way and all I want is my big old cozy house to be ready for me to move into." She gave his arm a rub and batted my eyes at him.
" Ah hell Rebecca I get it. I just got my place back after having a room mate for a few weeks and let me tell ya there's nothing better than being able to go home strip down to nothing and walk around naked. Ya know?" He did a little strut there on the steps and she couldn't help to smile. She didn't think Jason was going to win any awards for his mind but she could tell he was a lot of fun to be around. She kind of wished she could head with him to that bar. Kick back and have a few beers and bask in the glow of his approval.
" Well now Jason that is an image for the ages now isn't it?" She waited for him to catch her drift.
His face went blank for a moment until the light went and then he gave me another 10 watts and said " Hell yeah it is" and he thought that he would sure like to show her.
She sent a message to his brain that said she'd love to find out but did not voice it. Instead she asked him if he'd like to come inside to survey the construction so he could give his sister a complete account of what was going on but he said he'd seen enough. She offered him a some tea and again he declined saying he was in need of something harder but he'd take a raincheck if that was alright. She agreed with the condition it be soon and he countered with an only if she came down to Merlottes and let him by her a beer. She agreed that she would and also that she would go by the next day to properly introduce myself to his sister hoping that would satisfy her curiosity and get him off the hook from any future re-con missions. He was appreciative and as she walked him to his truck she asked him one last thing
" Hey Jason do you know any good contractors in the area? One with a big enough set up they could start here straight away?"
Jason gave it a moments thought and wondered who the hell is working in the house right now? "I think my sister might be able to help ya with that she just meet a guy recently who does this for a living" He nodded to the house. He started the truck and put it into gear but before taking off he asked what he has been thinking "But Rebecca what is wrong with the crew you have working in there now? "
" Nothing at all Jason but they only work nights" She gave Jason a few watts of my own and wished him a goodnight.
As he reversed his way out of the drive she saw realization hit his face and he muttered to himself " Fucking vampires".
She walked back up the steps to the house feeling Jason's eyes glaring at her ass from the rear view mirror. Jason's comment was tinged with only a minimal amount of fear and a whole lot of jealousy so she would do the best she could to let that expletive slide. Once Jason's truck made its way round the turn at the end of the drive Mason took one step out of the door gave her a nod and went back to work. He truly had stood behind that door the entire time.
She'd barely had time to gather her thoughts when she saw a blur in the woods. Again the alert inside the house was sound. This time for one of their own kind. He stood just inside the tree line watching. She knew who he was as she had been hearing of him since she was a small child. She had wondered since her decision to come here when she'd actually get to meet him in person. Every few minutes he would change his position casing the property. She searched for his intentions but he was there simply out of curiosity and she waited as patiently as she could muster for him to decide to make himself known. She went back to the chair to grab her cooler and as she bent down a branch snapped in front of her. She looked up to see him standing there.
" I beg your pardon I didn't mean to frighten you" He had a low southern drawl and the same pasty pallor as every vampire she had ever known. His face was studded with stubble and his brown hair hung limp about his head. For an immortal he seemed overly tired and held himself with a startlingly morose demeanor.
" No worries sir you didn't." For the second time that evening she introduced herself to a stranger.
"It's a pleasure Miss. Keane. I'm William Compton"
"Yes I know Mr. Compton you are the resident vampire. I have heard quite a bit about you"
" I see, well please don't believe everything you hear. I'm afraid that I am not the most liked person in town. Assimilating is not a easy process." He walked a few steps closer to her. " You don't seem to be experiencing any ill effects by my close proximity. I take it you are not afraid of me?"
She shook her head. "No I am not"
" Does that have anything to do with the vampires working inside your home at the moment?" she nodded. " So you have been around vampires for longer than we have been out I take it?
Again she nodded her head. " Yes Mr Compton I have been acquainted with vampires my entire life. I had a most unconventional up-bringing."
" I would say so Miss. Keane. I have known very few humans who have had a open knowledge of my kind. Usually they have been" he paused.
She filled in the blank. "Drained and dumped?"
"Well I was going to say Glamored but yes I suppose in some cases you would be correct" A small smirk formed on the side of his mouth. She had a feeling that was as close as he came to smiling.
"My experience with that type of vampire has been minimal. I have known Scholars and Artists and a few retired Warriors all of which have found a nice give and take with the humans of their acquaintance. Mind you no one is a saint Mr. Compton and when it is in your nature to be deviant it takes even more will power not to be. I find though that that can be said for human and vampires alike. I have known more humans who were destructive and deadly than I have known vampires.
" But that ratio must be at the very least a thousand to one Miss. Keane?"
" To true Mr Compton to true. But even then I'd gladly take the animalistic vampire over the deprived human. Come now lets go up to the patio. I see you keep eyeing the house you must be curious as how I came to be here and more importantly I suspect about those I have working for me"
He held out his hand in a gesture for her to go first and as she did she lost my grip on the cooler. In one barely visible movement he caught it
" Thank you Mr Compton" He nodded and kept hold of the cooler as they continued up the path to the house. Once on the porch she motioned for him to follow her under the part of the patio Mason had covered in netting for her. As she reached up to grab the pull that would release the netting she felt a hand reach over hers. William pulled the cord and the netting fell down in a swish.
" Thank you Mr. Compton. Mason put that just a tad to high for me. I have to stand on tippies" Mason sent her a message that he would fix that and asked if everything was all right. Thank you Mason and yes we are fine she sent back.
"Are you all right Mrs Keane?"
" Yes I'm fine William may I call you William? She motioned for him to take a seat
He nodded " You may call me William or Bill I go by that name mostly these days. May I call you Rebecca?"
" Of course that would be lovely and I think I will call you William. I like William a grand name in my opinion. Would you like some refreshment? We have just about every kind of True Blood in the thermal cooler there on the windowsill." The cooler had been put there by Mason a moment before and if William had seen him do so he did not let on. He got up and went to the cooler picking through the bottles till he found the one that tickled his fancy. Once back in his perch he started in on his line of questioning.
" So Rebecca what brings you here to Bon Temps and how did you come about owning this house. I had no idea it was even for sale."
" Oh no William I didn't buy the house I already owned it" William mid swig coughed out a choke " Your a... a descendent of Etienne Benoit?"
" Yes William he was my many times great grandfather. The builder and original owner of this estate. I believe you knew him?" She was playing a bit with Mr. Compton. She knew all to well he had been friends with her grandfather. They had been close up into the time of the war. William had not returned,at least not human and Grandfather was never the same once it was over. Her grandfather had kept extensive journals of his life and she had pored over them all. There was a good chance I knew the living William Compton better than he did himself
" Well forgive me Rebecca that revelation momentarily threw me. I have not spoke of Etienne in quite a long time. I had no idea his bloodlines continued on to this day. Fascinating....." His voice trailed off and he went away from where they sat. " I've been doing some research recently in a similar vein" He did not elaborate any further. " Why is it then the house has been left in such disrepair. I often walk through the woods at night and come to stand in the front yard remembering this place as it used to be. It was very grand you know? Completely out of place for a town of this size then and now but it was a marvel. Your Grandfather held this place in great esteem."
Rebecca shook her head and gave a gaze skyward " William there were quite a few reasons why the house stands as it does now. Most of them unforgivable and all avoidable. Once I retained ownership it became my mission to come here to return the house to it's former glory. To bring back my Grandfathers Legacy. I am here now and I will make it right"
Just then a light came on above their heads. " OH MY GOD Mason you are a genius." She hooted and hollered and slapped her hands on the arms of her chair.
William sitting as vampire still as before watched her with a slight twinkle in his eye.
" Oh Mr Compton let me tell you it is the little things in life sometimes that give you the biggest thrill. That little lightbulb is a sign of good things to come. That I can assure you." She stood up and did a little dance hopping over to William and planting a small kiss on his cheek.
" Now William I know you are naturally stiff but when you are around me you will have to try and loosen up a bit ya here?" He let her pull him up out of the chair and stood with a bit of bend in his knees as she continued to bounce up and down around him.
From behind her came an apology. " You will have to forgive her Mr. Compton she is quite excitable. Once she is wound up there is no stopping her until she is good and ready." Mason stood on the other side of the netting and she only paused for a second before bouncing over to his direction. She grabbed his hands and bounced up to give him a kiss on the cheek is well
" Have I told you that this man is a genius? Let there be light everyone. LET THERE BE LIGHT!" A few wolf whistles, hell yeah's and a bunch of clapping came from inside the house. Mason shook his head and put a finger to it's side turning it around to convey the fact that she was indeed out of my mind. She stuck my tongue out at him before excusing herself to go inside to high five the crew.
" She is a bit of a handful now isn't she?" William might as well have been stone as he had not moved one inch from where Rebecca had left him. Her exuberance was more than he knew how to handle.
" Mr. Compton that may be the understatement of the century. I'm Mason Leary it's nice to meet you" Mason held out his hand and William took it.
" It is a night for introductions Mr. Leary. I am looking forward to meeting the rest of your men."
"Gladly, Mr. Compton I will introduce you to everyone and show you a bit of the house as well. It is still in the early stages of renovation but we are making progress." Mason ushered William towards the door but he stopped just outside. " I am sorry Mr Compton just one moment"
After a second Rebecca's voice could be heard coming down from an upstairs window. "Mr. Compton I gladly extend an invitation into my humble abode." William stepped over the threshold and Mason followed.
William took in his surrounding slowly as if he were imagining how it used to look and indeed that was what he was doing. The staircase, most of the banister gone had been solid mahogany stained and polished to gleaming perfection. He saw the family portraits that ran length of the staircase the largest one of of Etienne's wife Adela hung prominently in the middle of them all. He could hear the echo of his steps bouncing off the high domed ceiling as he walked across the marble floor. He has spent many a night here with his old friend. Their families feasting in the family dinning room and then retiring to the drawing room. The children would play games in the corner while the women gossiped and the men played cards. It was heartbreaking to see it as it was now after all these years. Since his return to Bon Temps he hadn't dared to try to step foot inside. He didn't even have strength to look into the windows. This place brought back so many memories. Of the time when walked amongst the living. When he had felt the sun on his face and breathed clean fresh air. He had a wife and children. He had had a family. He stood here and remembered the war and that night when he'd stumbled upon the woman who had turned him. He wished he could go back to before that night. He wished he had lived and died as Etienne had.
Then before his eyes on the landing of the stairs he saw Etienne's sprit. It resided in the body of his Granddaughter and he knew that she would keep her promise and that this house would know happy times once again.
As if reading his mind Rebecca called out to him from above. " It is my understanding William that this house once held grand parties. My Grandfather documented every move he made during his life time and I have long dreamed of coming here and throwing a big old blow out bash in his honor"
William gave her a faint smile " I am sure that would please him very much"
She bounced down the stairs tripping on the hem of her long skirt half way down. Mason was immediately at her side righting her and offering her his arm the rest of the way down. '"Well that sure would have been a buzz-kill" Mason's face was set in stone.
" I know I know you've told me to stay the hell away from the stairs." She rolled her eyes and headed away from them both towards the back of the house.
" Come along William I want to show you the plans for the house." They all entered the room that use to be the study. Several tables were laid out with plans and one held albums and small journals. " These William are my grandfathers journals from when he was building the house. The original drawings and plans in all the different stages of the construction were put in this album when the house was finished. "I have lists of the original materials. everything from the wood on the stairs to the make and model of the grandfather clock that stood outside this door." William watched her as she touched each book with a loving hand. She had great pride for her Grandfather, a man that she had never known.
'" Your Grandfather would be very proud you." William looked stoic.
" Why thank you William I'd like to think that he would be" Rebecca continued to flip through the journal in her hand while Bill did the same with the album of drawings. " You are mentioned but briefly in these journals but the more personal ones are not with me. Once the house is completed I will have them and will gladly let you read over them" She patted Williams arm and turned to Mason who was studying one of the remodel plans. " So Mason why don't you show Mr. Compton around the house. I have a phone call to make and probably shouldn't put it off any longer. I'll catch up with you both in a little while okay?"
Both men nodded and proceeded out the door. She heard William asking Mason if they were going to be able to salvage the marble floor. Reaching into the drawer of the table in the house that had one she pulled out her cell phone. Six messages. Lord she was late and wasn't going to hear the end of it. She sighed took a few deep breaths and said a prayer to the Goddess and hit the redial button on the phone.
After a half an hour of mainly listening to conversation on the other end of the line she finally untangled herself and ended the call. She then took another few minutes to compose herself. She had a tendency to have flames spewing from her head when ever she called home and tonight was no exception. Exasperated and suddenly tired she found Mason in William on the patio.
" Well William I hope Mason gave you proper walk through?" Mason silently told her he had and asked if she was all right. She put her finger gun to her head and pulled the trigger in response.
William who had had his back to her turned just as hand started to leave her head. She guiltily flung it back to her side. " Yes he did. You both have very lofty ambitions. But I believe you will make them come to pass"
" You bet your sweet ass we will William and hopefully not to far behind schedule." She looked around her at all that needed to be done and pursed her lips. So much to do. " Mason told me about your troubles. I can assist with some names of contractors that would be suitable."
" That would be great William if you can give them to Mason I will look into them first thing in the morning. I also have a lead from Jason Stackhouse that I will be looking into tomorrow as well."
" You have meet Jason?" He seemed more than a bit worried.
"He came by earlier this evening apparently his sister was wondering what was going on over here and sent him to check us out. Do you know Miss Stackhouse?
" Sookie, yes I know her well" The look in Williams eye told me did indeed know her well and in the most biblical of senses.
" I believe I know the gentleman Jason is referring to. He was one of the men I was thinking of myself. If they are one in the same I would be willing to vouch for him." Rebecca's eyes started to droop and she interrupted Williams reference with a gigantic yawn.
She covered her mouth " I'm so sorry William how rude of me. I've been up for over twenty four hours and I am feeling the effects of the day in my bones. It has been wonderful finally meeting you and I hate to have the evening end but I believe all of my neighborly charms are leaving me and quick. I think I will retire for the evening" Mason asked her if she would like him to walk her down to the trailer.
" Mr. Leary I have already taken up so much of your time this evening. If you wouldn't mind I will escort Miss. Keane down to her temporary home" Mason agreed and wished both of them a pleasant evening. He came over and gave her a hug and promised to get his ass back to work and after a farewell handshake with William he went back inside.
The twosome walked in silence short walk down the road to the trailer. She knew Mr Compton had questions. He had made several observations during their short time together and was more than a little curious of the answers. He wondered if she would answer honestly as the questions she asked could put her into harms way. Once at the steps knowing it was his last chance for the moment he asked her. " Rebecca you can speak to Mason with your mind can't you?" she answered back without hesitation.
" Yes Mr Compton I can" amazement crossed Williams face " I did not think that possible. Can you read everyone's mind?" "
" Humans yes. Vampires, the two natured and other other worldly beings takes a bit more time, practice and proximity". He was yet again taken aback by her knowledge of the Weres. How did she know so much?
"I have known Mason my entire life Mr Compton and he sends me his thoughts freely. We are bonded in a way that most could not understand." and wouldn't care for she thought to herself.
" He is your protector?" William state it as if it were fact.
" That has not always been his role in my life but at the moment I suppose that that would be true. Mostly he protects me from myself"
" You know that your ability would make you very appealing to many of my kind?" Williams brow was now if full crease.
" Yes William I am well aware but my ability to read minds is but one of many. It is doubtful anyone would be able to use me in such a manner. I do not fear your kind Mr. Compton. To be blunt I do not fear much of anything."
" Even this conversation it seems" He took a few steps away from her and fixed her in a steely gaze.
His attempt at intimidating her feel flat " Oh please William you are not going to tell anyone what you know. You are not an overtly opportunistic type of man and even in the short time we have known each other I can tell you would not wish any harm to come to me. You are intrigued and full of questions and keeping this conversation between us insures that you find out all you want to know. There is also the matter of your friendship with my Grandfather. If anything happens to me at your hand you can best be sure he will smite you with a wrath so great you will never know another moments peace"
In the dark between them she saw his brow arch and the slight smirk reappear in the corner of his mouth. She could hear him run his tongue over his fangs.
" All very persuasive arguments for me to keep the details of our acquaintance to myself. You also correct on all counts. I do not wish you any harm nor do I wish for your Grandfather to haunt me but you can understand how I would worry about those who might not feel as I do? He paused then added "You can understand that can't you?"
" Yes I can William. I would tell you not to worry but know it would be a waist my breath. You and Mason will get along famously. I can see it all to clearly now" Feeling more than a bit hot under the collar she called for a breeze to cool her off.
William stiffened and listened intently to the change in his surroundings. " You brought the breeze Rebecca?"
She thanked the wind for its service then released it. As quickly as it came the breeze ceased. " Of course I did Mr Compton. Now if you will excuse me I think that is the last question I can answer for you tonight." All ready at the top of the steps she reached for the handle of the trailer door.
" If you would indulge me in one last question Miss Keane" He was now at the bottom of her steps staring up at her.
" Only one William" her smile was weak but genuine.
" What are you?" He knew perfectly well what she was. He also knew she was unlike any other of her kind he had ever known. He just wanted to hear her say it out loud.
" I am a Witch" and with that she bid Mr Compton a final goodnight.
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