Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer Pictures: Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer arrive on the red carpet at HBO's "True Blood" Season 4 Premiere held at The Dome at Arclight Hollywood on June 21, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed from legendary monsters to fellow citizens overnight. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures "coming out of the coffin." Religious leaders and government officials around the world have chosen their sides, but in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the jury is still out.

Local waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), however, knows how it feels to be an outcast. "Cursed" with the ability to listen in on people's thoughts, she's also open-minded about the integration of vampires — particularly when it comes to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a handsome 173-year-old living up the road. But as Sookie is drawn into a series of mysteries surrounding Bill's arrival in Bon Temps, that tolerance will be put to the test.

"True Blood's" season 4 premieres on June 26 at 9 p.m. Watch a preview below:

Photo credit: Tina Gill / PR Photos

Photo credit: Tina Gill / PR Photos