Kiss Me Undead

Chapter Eight || Mr. Compton

Chapter Eight

Mr. Compton

"I don't care that you go places, Rae. But you need to tell us where you're going." Sookie lectured as the three made their way up to the house. "What if something happened to you?"

"Sook, I didn't even go that far... I was just- never mind it's stupid." Rae replied as Sookie went inside the house. "Why can you go places without telling us where you're going?"

"I'm grown, Reine." Sookie replied as she turned on the heel of her shoe to face her little sister.

"I'll be eighteen in a few days! You can't keep treating me like I'm a child!" Reine shot back as she went into the house. Before either woman could say something the sound of someone clearing his throat filled the air.

"You have to invite me in. Otherwise it's physically impossible for me to enter a mortal's home." Bill explained to the girls.

"Seriously?" Sookie's interest was piqued. "Well, come on, try." She urged the vampire. She wanted to see what would happen if he tried to enter her home.

"Sook-" Reine started to warn her sister when she noticed Bill's dark gaze flick to her then back to Sookie.

"I can't. I can't even try." Bill told Sookie as he patiently waited for an invitation.

"That's so weird." Sookie said.

Reine rolled her eyes at her sister. "Bill, you're welcome to come in."

"Thank you, Reine." Bill said as he entered the home.

"So," Sook began. "If we were to withdraw our invitation, would you have to leave?" Sookie paused as she led the vampire and her sister into the living room. "I'll have to remember that." A smile formed on her pink lips as she turned her attention to her grandmother. "Gran, this is Bill Compton. Bill, this is my Gran."

The happiest look crossed Adele's features. "Would you like something to drink?" As soon as she realized what she had just said, her eyes went wide and cheeks reddened from embarrassment. "Oh, my stars. Of course. You don't-I'm sorry. Your people, Mr. Compton... they were from this area. I believe." Adele said as she took a seat at the end of the couch.

Bill and Sookie joined her on the divan, leaving Reine the arm of the couch next to her Gran. "Yeah, my father's people were Comptons... and my mother's people were Loudermilks." Bill explained to the woman.

"Oh," Gran smiled. "There are a lot of Loudermilks left. But I'm afraid old Mr. Jesse Compton died last year." Adele replied.

"Yes, ma'am." Bill began. "That's why I came back to Bon Temps. There were no living Comptons, so I've set up home in the old Compton place. And as I expect the VRA to pass-" Bill was cut short when Jason interrupted.

"Yeah, I wouldn't be too sure about that if I were you. A lot of Americans don't think you people deserve special rights." Jason spat out the response. The idea of vampires disgusted him. He didn't understand why the government was even considering giving them the same rights as humans. It just wasn't right!

"Jason..." Reine gave her brother a warning look. "They're the same rights that we have."

"No, I'm just saying there's a reason things are the way they are." Jason shot back at his sister with a glare.

"Yeah. It's called injustice." Bill responded.

"Listen, it's called "this is how we do it." Jason told the vampire.

"Jason Stackhouse!" Reine raised her voice as a look of embarrassment crossed her face. "Things change. The whole reason there was a civil war was because they did things a certain way and people wanted change-"

"Oh, hell no! I know you ain't comparing those vampires to slaves!" Tara yelled.

"I'm saying things change, Tara. People wanted slavery to stop, so they started a movement. Today it's vampires." Reine carefully explained. She didn't want to offend Tara anymore than she already did. "Vampires started out as humans. Why take away their original rights when they evolve into another creature?"

Tara pursed her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest and slumped back in her chair. "Did you know any Stackhouses, Mr Compton?" Adele rejoined the conversation. She hoped a subject change would calm down the situation.

"Yes. Um... I remember Jonas Stackhouse. He and his wife moved here when Bon Temps was just a hole in the road. I was a young man of sixteen. Isn't this the house he built? I mean, at least in part?" The vampire questioned the older woman.

"Yes, it was." A look of pride fell over Adele's features.

"Did you own slaves?" Tara shot the question at the vampire. Causing the tension in the room to thicken.

"I did not, but my father did." Bill answered. "A house slave... a middle-aged woman whose name I cannot recall... and a yard slave...a young, strong man named Minas."

"Oh, this is just the sort of thing my club will be so interested in hearing about." Adele said with a big smile gracing her lips.

"About slaves?" Tara was shocked. Adele didn't seem like the person who would enjoy talking about slavery.

"Well, about anything having to do with that time." Adele quickly corrected the girl.

Smiling, Bill nodded in response. "I look forward to speaking to your club, Mrs. Stackhouse. Now... if it's alright with you, I thought Sookie and I might take a walk. It's such a lovely night."

"Well... it's alright with me if it's all right with Sookie." Adele responded to the request.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Jason spoke up. He didn't need his sister alone with this fanger.

"I don't think it's any of your business." Sookie shot back as she and Bill stood. Jason shot out of his chair and looked over at Gran and Rae. "Look, Gran, I am the man in this family-"

Adele slowly stood as she placed her hands on her hips and stared up at her grandson. "You are a man in this family, but I am the oldest person here and this is my house. You better respect me, boy."

A smirk crept to Bill's mouth. "Actually... I'm the oldest person here." He looked down at Sookie. "Shall we?"

"We shall." As soon as the words left Sookie's lips, the two made their way out of the house for their walk.

"Thanks for making me look like a fool in front of him, Gran." Jason said as he took a seat back in the armchair.

"Oh, Jason. You don't need any help looking like a fool." Gran replied before leaving the room.

Reine tried not to laugh as she stood and followed her grandmother into the kitchen. She couldn't wait to hear how the walk went with Bill. Rae opened the fridge and grabbed herself some ice tea. She went to grab a glass from the cabinet and poured herself a drink. "Do you really feel that strongly about vampires?" She heard her Gran ask.

"I do." Rae answered. "I think they should have the same rights as us. Like I said, they were human once."

"I think so too, honey." Adele patted her granddaughter on the shoulder as she leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Why don't you go get some rest? I'm sure you're tired from work."

Reine nodded, "I am. I want to hear about the walk, though." She said before taking a sip of her iced tea.

"Sookie can tell you about it tomorrow. Go get some rest, darlin'."

The teenager smiled and placed the glass on the counter. "Alright, Gran. I'll see you in the morning. Have sweet dreams when you head to bed." Rae said as she made her way out of the kitchen. She hurried upstairs to her room and changed into one of her nightgowns before jumping in bed.