A Congregation of Heretics

I walked into Fangtasia dressed in short skirt of chocolate suede and matching knee high boots and a soft mustard yellow sweater that hung off one shoulder. I wore my large copper earrings with Celtic knots on the edges. It was early. Pam was standing at the souvenir stand, folding Fangtasia tee shirts.

"Aslinn, what brings you here looking so pretty," she asked. I put my purse on the counter and began helping her, sorting the shirts by size and color.

"We are celebrating, a few of us," I said, following Pam's lead and folding the tee shirts the same way she did.

"And what are you celebrating?" she asked.

"Being banned from Nameless," I said.

"How did you do that dearest?" asked a low deep voice. I glanced at Eric, the sheriff of area five and owner of Fangtasia.

"I took your name in vain," I said. "I spammed the site with pictures of you in pink spandex with your gracious plenty on display. I knew you would come in handy sometime or other." Eric laughed.

"Who else is banned?" asked Pam.

"Renee and the Kid, Aolani, Raki, Butter, God Speed, and Jen," I said. "And we decided to get dressed up and come and celebrate our excommunication."

"Heretics, I like it," said the Viking Vampire. "And you look lovely."

"Can I get a drink?" I asked, folding the last tee shirt.

"Certainly," he said. In voice no louder than a murmur, Eric ordered me a Guinness. He put his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the owner's booth. I sat down and Eric sat down opposite me. Ginger brought me a Guinness and her master a Tru:Blood.

"How are you enjoying the new forum?" he asked.

"We are enjoying it very much thank you," I said. I think I have found something you fanged folks will enjoy every much," I said, sipping my beer and lighting a cigarette.

"Yes? and what is that?" he asked.

You will have to wait to see it. I am having some refurbishment done on it. It was quite a hat trick to find just the thing," I said.

"I shall be excited to see what you have come up with," he said. "You have a very creative mind."

"Um," I said.

"Are you still upset for my little visit?" he asked

"Why didn't you just glamour me," I said.

"Because I want you to remember," said Eric. "How did Bill react when you told him...if you told him."

"I told him. You know, you are not a gentleman," I said.

"I never presented myself as a gentleman," he said casually, his greenish grey eyes twinkling at me from his flawless pale face. "But you didn't seem to mind the savage between your sheets...Between your..."

"God Speed!!!" I said, interrupting the Viking's reminiscing. I moved over to accommodate my partner in crime. Jen followed him and shot a dazzling smile at the Big Viking. Ginger appeared as if by magik to take the God Speed's order.

"Well, you little heretics enjoy the bar this evening," said the Sheriff. "Jen, save me a dance dearest."

"I will," she said.

Soon all of us were there, the heretics and non heretics alike. We were by far the loudest table at the bar and Eric seemed to enjoy our revelries livening up the usually boring fang bangers and fellow Vampires.

Later, Bill and Jessica joined the partiers and it was a real party with dancing and drinking. Eric watched Scarlett dancing with Jessica and Pam dancing with Dude. Aslinn was leaned against Bill rather cozily in the booth, making the usually stoic Vampire smile with something she was saying to him. Vi was on the other side of him, chatting with a young Vampire who had simply joined their table out of curiosity.

He stood up from his throne and went and claimed the Kid for a dance. It was a fast dance and he twirled her and spun her around. Renee kept an eye on the Viking but so far he was behaving himself.

The party went on forever it seemed. Aslinn kissed Bill goodbye and waved at Vi who would spend the rest of the evening with him. Fairy came up for a kiss and hug before she had to leave. They had a special evening planned for her birthday but she knew she would see him before then.

Aslinn, the first to come in, was the last to leave. She was chatting with chow and placing a rather hefty tip into his brandy glass. Eric came up to her.

"So, do you really want me to glamour you?" he said. "Help you forget all about me?"

"I'll tell you in the morning Eric," she said, walking away, out the door and into the barest glimmer of dawn. Eric smiled his lopsided smile and went to go to his day time rest in his office.