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Carroll E.Stewart

~ Words are symbols for sight, sounds, smell, touch, and taste. Spirit and human combined to express what God has thought and we have experienced. –12/1/04

Carroll E.Stewart

Monthly Archives: August 2017

With the Setting of the Sun—Chapter 7

28 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by carrollestewart in Uncategorized

≈ 16 Comments

with the setting of the sun:in memory of

 

 Chapter 7

The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended. The characters on True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball. No infringement on my part is intended.

I have no BETA, editor, or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own. This Story is rated M.

Chapter 7

Sookie was doing her best to maintain. Tears, laughter, hysteria, rune magic, it all paled to what was going on at the moment!

There was Eric, chained to the wall with just a flimsy silver cord. The-never ending Viking war machine was captured with just some delicate ribbon, it looked like to her. Of course, there was the smell of burning flesh from time-to-time so it must have the desired effect on him.

There was Bill Compton, the low life piece of Were shit that had killed her brother…or…where ever Lafayette was now…down on his knees and giving Eric a blow job!

Nora was screaming at the top of her lungs for Bill to hurry up and for Eric to hurry up and why did she have to bear the burden of the family’s good name!

And on top of all of that, Eric was in her head doing an imitation of a Southern Gentleman with a heavy Georgia drawl discussing the proper way to give a blow job and Compton must have never received one or given one in his human or undead life.

“Stop it,” she hissed back at him. “I am gonna’ bust a gut over here to keep from laughin’ out loud.”

“Why Miss Stackhouse…I am shocked that you find watching two guys well you know….” he gasped, “do things that happen in porn movies, funny!

Believe me, this is not funny. Very sad. And very un-porn like. Compton has no-o-o-o-o skills.”

“I mean it,” she threw back at him. “DO NOT!” and then she had a coughing fit to cover the laughter that had to escape.

“Odd just continues to happen,” Eric chuckled when the door opened and Sookie, against her better judgment, just had to look. There stood…well…that would have to be a Spanish Senorita in full 18th century regalia. To include black lace fan and a black lace mantilla, draped over a diamond studded peineta that was about a foot tall resting in her upswept, overdone, dyed black hair. “This,” Eric chuckled in her head, “is the Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed.”

“Darling,” she cooed to Nora as she approached her. “Why so angry? Why so loud? Why so un-lady like? I had no idea you knew such foul words. And…how many times did you utter Were shit? Why darling one, what you said from your mouth, I would not hold in my hand,” she tisked under her breath and looked forlorn.

“I am so sorry, Elizabeth,” she reached for her. “So sorry for all the ugliness. I know how much you dislike that. I am just trying to finish up this wretched business before I sent Compton up to you.”

“Yes,” she laughed, “I can see he has his mouth full. But dearest, you have no need to sorrow. The Viking is actually here! You have accomplished what I thought would never be possible. You are my lovely one,” she sighed as she pulled Nora in for a kiss.

Then it just all went to hell as she staked Nora with her fan.

“But, but you love me,” the dying vampire gasped out.

“I know,” the Countess kissed her again. “I do. But I love to be dressed in your blood even more,” she smiled gently at Nora as she pushed her tongue into Nora’s mouth.

“Bitch,” she managed to moan and Elizabeth bit her tongue and felt the blood flow and fill her mouth.

“Yes I am, dearest,” she patted her face with her other hand.

“No,” Nora was now sobbing. “Please, no. I am begging you. I gave you Eric…”

“Yes you did my sweet child,” as she licked the bloody tears from Nora’s face and then pushed the fan through Nora’s heart.

There was one final sob of “Bitch!” before Nora exploded and Nora goo went everywhere.

“Nicely done,” Eric commented to the countess with a bow of his head. “All though, I was looking forward to ending her myself.”

“Eric,” she walked toward him and pushed Compton down onto the floor out-of-the-way. “We could have saved all this trouble if only,” she sighed, “if only you would just have returned my calls,” she grinned at him as she admired his crotch.

“Bethie,” he sadly shook his head. “You realize you are covered in Nora goo. And frankly, that is just not your best look and is not at all appealing.”

“Oh Eric really,” she huffed. “Of course it is. I am the Blood Queen. And did you do her hair?” she asked pointing to Sookie.

“Yes,” he nodded.

“Exquisite,” she said clasping her hands to her breast. “You have such a gift.”

“I was a sailor,” he responded. “Knots were my specialty.”

“I have heard you have many specialties,” her voice was low and soft.

“I am not fucking you Bethie,” he stated, his voice and face set.

“Oh Eric,” she sighed. “Why would you say such a thing? You know,” she grinned, “I could just fall on that staff you have sticking out.”

“I do not associate with mass murderers,” he smiled at her.

“Seriously,” she laughed out loud and then frowned. The staff had disappeared.

“Do you want me to rephrase that?” he arched an eyebrow at her. “I was being polite. After all, we do have company. Would you want Druid House to know you have drained thousand of innocents just so you could bathe in their blood?”

“Well,” she tapped Eric with her fan, “when you put it that way that is not who I would want for a next door neighbor, either.”

“Point made,” Eric replied.

“Well pox upon it all, Eric,” she pouted. “I wanted to be your last.”

“My last what?” he queried.

“Sexual partner. I need you drained of your seed, your essence, you know, your man stuff. We have about ten minutes before the horizon event and then we have tomorrow night and then…well. You are out of time.”

“Man stuff,” he chuckled. “Just what is this about?”

“The solar eclipse. I need you for the sacrifice. And apparently I now have a virgin to offer up as well. Although not called for in the prophecy, I don’t see how it could hurt.”

“Prophecy?” Eric rolled his eyes. “You spent entirely too much time with the whoring priestess Nora.”

“No, not Nora…” she rolled her eyes. “The Were shit that child believed. No,” she placed her hand on Eric’s chest and let it linger there.

When Eric shook his head, she sadly withdrew it.

“In the Cordillera Cantabrian,” she said trilling all the r’s, “a cave was found.”

“In the Pyrenees,” Eric said looking at Sookie.

“This is my story, Eric, and I should have your complete and undivided attention,” she lightly tapped his face with her fan to bring him back to her.

“Sadly I am running out of dark, so I will just cut to the chase. The scrolls said that if you sacrifice a vampire magicker during the total eclipse, then his essence, I just want to stress that…the scroll said his. I am not just picking on you. I could have gone with a female if that was what the prophecy called for.

Anyway, the male shall go from human form to that of a dragon and he shall be mine to command. And the virgin just makes this perfect. She shall be chained and you shall have her as your first meal as dragon. I would think that would endear you to me even more and as a dragon you would want nothing more than to please me.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Eric rolled his eyes, again.

“No, and stop with the eye rolling. You are completely discounting everything I am saying with such an act.

Now, Nora told me that you have some type of beyond the norm vampire magic. She did not know what it was but she heard you and Godric talking about it one time.”

“What?” Eric sputtered.

“Well, maybe she was eavesdropping, she was not real clear about where she was when she heard it.”

“You mean because I can fly and she could not! Is that what this is about? She was jealous of me and my child because we could both fly and she could not!” Eric rolled his eyes again. “Fucking Were shit,” he hissed.

“I don’t know why she did not like Pamela,” Elizabeth was shaking her head, questions in her voice. “I find her to be most delightful. Very smart and very sexual. And up for anything. Literally. And enjoys everything.

And…” she hemmed and hawed…. “not that you would know,” she frowned at him, “But, I am an animal in bed and earlier tonight Pam and I were sharing an intimate moment afterwards and even she said you had something that at times would just about scare the human back into her.”

“What!” he yelled. “She did what?”

“Did she also tell you that we do not fuck skanks?”

The room stopped breathing. That would be Sookie.

Bethie and Bill both took a breath and stared in disbelief at Eric’s crotch.

“Was…was that your penis?” Elisabeth asked, her voice trembling.

“It was,” Bill said nodding his head. “It was, I swear. I saw the mouth move and everything. I swear,” he said crawling a bit closer. “My gawd,” he giggled, “I sucked a penis that can talk!”

“Eric…” Elisabeth leaned in for a closer look. “Does your penis talk?”

Before Eric could response, King Eric stepped up!

“Of course I do. I am King Eric and I have talked since we dug out the first night of being vampire.” Hissing, King Eric dropped his fangs and lunged at Compton who yelped and scrambled back out-of-the-way.

“You suck at giving blow jobs!” he snarled at Bill and then turned to the Countess. “And I don’t do skanks. I have done the world a favor and from time to time I have gutted my fair share.”

“What?” Elisabeth took a step back.

“No one suspects me. Eric had a knife made especially for me. If I had not left it at home, oh woe is me, we would not be here at this moment.”

“I think that nicely makes my point,” Elisabeth laughed out loud but to be on the safe side took another step back. “Now, I have three hundred Weres guarding this place and Eric, I know your child ratted you out but in bed, But please keep in mind I am a powerful force of nature. She could not help talking about you. Especially when I plied her with my special ops training interrogation. I led her gently down the path of telling me everything I wanted to know. Indeed, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. And in our undead heart, you would not want her to be tortured.”

“Don’t count on that,” he made a scary vampire face to enforce his words.

“Oh come on!” she said stamping her foot. “You really are no fun. I have no idea what all your hype is about. The Viking, this; The Viking that! Straddle him and you have bragging rights forever!”

She was back to staring at his crotch. “Just as dead down there as your unbeating heart. Well this just sucks,” she pouted.

“Bill, release the human from her restraints. No reason she should not be able to rest and be comfortable before she becomes Eric’s first meal as dragon.”

“I am beginning to think Bethie, that you are just bat-shit crazy. Does Sophie-Anne know she is going to be without a sheriff?” his voice was pointed and dripped displeasure.

“I chatted with her briefly this new dark. Of course she does. Bill is going to take your place.”

“What?” Bill gasped and froze in place. “No,” he said shaking his head, his hands trembling as he untied Sookie. “No, not area Five and not me,” he said sobbing. “Please, I have served you well. No, please…I am begging.”

Elisabeth was staring at Bill, then shifted her gaze to Eric, then back at Bill. “What is up with that, Bill? I thought you would be pleased. It is a step up for you. Out of the residence and out into the world where you can make a name for yourself.”

Eric was now laughing. “Oh, the name he wants for himself is King. Billy Boy thinks he can poison HRM’s bloodbags with silver and then take over.

Poor Bill,” Eric made a sad face and winked at him. “Area Five. You will be finally dead before the first week ends. The Lower Californias have been skulking around. And I saw New Mexico in New Orleans the other night. He was in a disguise so he had not checked in with HRM. Just a friendly heads up. You will be fighting a two front war.”

“Well,” Elisabeth regarded the New Orleans ass kisser. “That certainly changes things, Bill. Looks like you will be standing tall on your way out of this life. If you are going to meet the true death, this must be the will of the dragon gods and I am not one to interfere with the will of the gods. Now sunrise is knocking at the door.

Eric, give some thought to what you wish to do your last night.”

There was something that sounded like and felt like thunder that rocked through the house.

“Storm tonight?” the Countess asked looking around.

“No,” Eric shook his head and grinned. “Someone tried to open my cell phone. It blew up, along with anyone who was standing within twenty feet.”

“Bad boy,” she grinned at him. “But I like it! I am so going to miss you, Eric.

Now, bedtime has arrived. When we rise with the new dark, how about an evening of charades?” she smiled nodding her head. “We shall do nothing but movies. We all love the movies!” she said happily and clapped her hands.

Mr. Hayes appeared at the door. “Madame, Compton. It is time to retire,” he said holding the door open wide and bowed as they passed by.

“Awww,” the tall, thin, gentleman smiled as he watched them depart. “There goes Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Druid House,” his attention was back on the two in the room. “I have been instructed that you are to have the run of the mansion. I would, however not venture outside. There are Weres. Hundreds of them. Especially since you are dressed…well, not conservatively.

Mr. Eric, sadly, I am going to inject you with this silver which will slow you down and cause you to be a bit pukish. On the bright side,” he said withdrawing the syringe, “you are to be left unchained as well,” he said undoing the silver cording. “With the silver in your blood stream, if you stay awake chances are good you will bleed out. Do you really want that? Such an unholy and cowardly way to greet the true death. You strike me as one who greets death with both eyes open and fighting to the very end to do damage.

There,” he smiled as he walked over to the glass wall and pushed buttons. “This room will be light tight in a manner of moments. Rest well this day.

Miss Druid House, if you would come with me. I will escort you back to your rooms. I would suggest that you rest. With the new dark will come a never-ending game of charades. It is wearisome but not a bad way to spend your last night alive.”

 

Sookie slept off and on and would mind flash Eric when she was awake. He seemed to be in a never, never land of dark dreams and views of the fjords that would quiet him when his body would react to the silver.

Getting up, Sookie pulled on her robe and roamed the house until she finally found Mr. Hayes in the kitchen.

“May I see him?” she asked. “Eric, may I see him?”

“You are very kind,” he smiled at her and patted her on the hand. “You would have made a lovely mom.”

“Yes well,” Sookie said wiping at the tears that were falling, “I though I had more time.”

“Please don’t cry,” he sighed. “I am a sucker for women who cry.”

“I am doing my best not too,” she replied. “This is not my style, to cry in front of people I do not know.”

“That tuff shell business persona must be maintained at all costs,” he said nodding in understanding. “I get that.”

“Yes,” she sighed. “It must. As odd as it sounds, Eric is the last person I have had any type of real contact with…you know made a connection. I know he is charming and beguiling and all that. But once you get past the vampire, he has some real life skills. Being a Viking was very good for him.”

“I know what you mean,” he nodded. “Miss Nora, she talked about her brother all the time. And not all of it was snark. She had a real deep and abiding respect for him when she was not raving and swearing about Miss Pamela.”

“What are you gonna’ do now that she is gone?” Sookie asked as he offered her his arm and escorted her out of the kitchen and towards the back of the house.

“I have no idea. The Countess, she has her own way of doing things and her own staff who knows her likes and dislikes. Miss Nora kept me around because she thought she had to have a servant as well.”

“Well you are up during the day, that has to be useful,” Sookie replied.

“It is, but I come with conditions. I am a home-dwelling spirit. I don’t mean like a ghost. Maybe more like a genie,” he gave that some thought and nodded in agreement with his words. “But I have to have a house to dwell in. So I can’t run errands. I am stuck here until my person, who was Miss Nora, says it is time to move on or my contract runs out. Since she is dead, I will be here until someone pays me in gold coin to work for them and then I shall be off to whatever their destination happens to be.”

“Wow,” Sookie regarded him. “So, are you like the lucky horseshoe that hangs over the door?”

“Something like that,” he smiled and blushed.

“And you don’t think the Countess wants a lucky horseshoe?”

“She would never part with her gold. So when they move on I shall be here,” he said as he stood up taller and squared his shoulders. “Believe me, I would rather be here by myself than be with her. She is a true abomination.”

“All by yourself…?” her voice faltered.

“Yes,” he patted her arm. “I still have a hundred years on my contract to Miss Nora. But do not worry for me. I shall weather this storm, just like I have others.”

“Have you really?” Sookie asked, stopping and looking in his eyes. “Been left alone like this before?”

“No,” he blinked back the tears as he opened the door into the hallway that was now light tight as well. Closing that door, he opened the door to the pool room and as they walked, the lights came on.

“I will leave you to sit with him,” he smiled at her and bowed his head.

Sookie pulled up a chair and taking Eric’s hand, she felt him squeeze hers. “This place is probably wired,” he said inside her head.

“How are you doin’”, she softly stroked his hand.

“Good question. I can feel something more moving around inside of me. But it does not feel like when I have been wrapped in silver. This is not desperate or deadly. At least I don’t think so.”

“Do you think Hayes watered down the silver?” she asked. “Or maybe did not use any at all?”

“Is that possible?” Eric responded.

“Maybe,” raising his hand she brought it to her lips and kissed it. “And I have been thinkin’ about what you said. My magic. I can tell there are no type of ley lines around this house. None. This is like an empty tomb. Everything is dead and decaying.

However, I have been constructing my own ley line inside my head, using the runes.”

“No fooling,” his laughter inside her head filled her with joy.

“No foolin’,” she responded and kissed his hand again. “If I can construct a crossroads, why we just might be able to beat the devil at his own game. Figuratively speakin’ of course.”

“Oh no,” Eric’s voice full of humor. “Bethie is, if not the devil, a devil. Make no mistake. She is evil.

So what else did you learn today?”

“Mr. Hayes, he is for sale. I am not for real sure exactly what he is, but he sells himself to a person for gold and he is bound to whatever house they are livin’ in for a period of time. That must be negotiated. Now that Nora is dead, he is still bound to this house because his contract with her is up. For him to be able to leave earlier than that, he can sell his butler services to someone for gold. But he has said that he won’t be leavin’ here with the Countess. She won’t part with her gold and I am of the opinion he thinks she is an evil slut.”

“Well, he would be correct, she is. And that is interesting. So he what? Remains here? By himself?”

“Yes,” Sookie replied. “I have been thinkin’. I could use a helper around the house. If…if Lafayette and I,” she sobbed but for only a second, “if we are gonna’ be givin’ out low-interest loans to small businesses, then I am gonna’ need someone to take care of the house.”

“Well. When the eclipse rolls around tomorrow, afterwards, we shall approach Mr. Hayes about employment.”

“That’s great,” Sookie replied in her head. “I hate the idea of leaving anyone behind. And speaking of which, any idea where Pam is?” she asked.

“Yes, there is a tunnel running from the kitchen to the tool shed, over by the barn. She is in the tunnel. Silvered, but nothing she stresses she cannot handle. And she says she never ratted me out to Bethie. I knew she had not but all must be believable. “

“But she and the Countess, they are lovers?”

Eric chuckled. “Lover denotes some type of relationship.” Then in a very serious voice he continued. “They are sex partners. They have a physical, in the moment, no kiss, just finish and get the fuck out rapport.” Eric grinned at her and opened his eyes and then promptly closed them. “The Countess has been dosed with silver. Pamela is no fool and extremely devious.”

“You run with a tough crowd,” she patted his hand. “I like it.”

There was a knock at the door and Mr. Hayes let himself in, the flashlight giving Sookie a beacon to follow. “Lunch is ready. If you would please follow me.”

 

Lunch was medium rare prime rib with a twice-baked potato and a strawberry spinach salad.

And a melody of squashes. Sookie did not think that she liked squash. These squash had been deep-fried with a tempura batter and placed on top of a heavy cream, cream cheese and ricotta cheese mixture that had been baked. Back before cholesterol, Gran used to make a wilted salad. Over the salad, Gran would pour a hot mixture that was, vinegar, a little sugar, bacon grease and crumbled up bacon. Something very similar to what had been doused liberally on her slice. For a vegetable cheese cake, she thought it was not so very bad and managed to eat all of it.

“Would you like an aperitif?” Mr. Hayes asked as he pulled out her chair and offering her his arm, escorted her to the fireplace.

Sookie settled in and looked at him. “Offering a girl her final meal?”

“We have a lemon cream cake for dessert,” he said with a bow of his head. “I would suggest the Limón cello to go with it. And coffee. I will brew a fresh pot.”

“You did not answer my question,” Sookie regarded him. “And yes to the dessert and nice things that go with it.”

“Madame,” he smiled at her. “Last meal? I have no idea. Will Mr. Northman turn to dragon? I have no idea. If he does turn to dragon, will he eat you? I have no idea.”

At that time a Were stepped in and wolf whistled. “So this is why we were told to stay out of the house,” he grinned as his eyes went to Were orange and he approached Sookie.

There was the poof of a silencer and the Were died instantly. Mr. Hayes slipped the gun back into the holster inside his jacket.

“I am so sorry,” he said with a sigh and a bow of his head to Sookie. “One in the back of the head and it leaves no blood spatter. Just let me remove him and I will get you dessert.”

“Thank you Mr. Hayes,” she said as he grabbed the Were by the feet and pulled him from the room.

“Dam-m-m-m-m-m-n,” blew out of Sookie’s mouth before she had a chance to react. Looking around, sure enough, there was nothing to indicate that the Were had been shot and killed in this room. Or in front of her.

Taking a deep breath she tried to relax. Counting to ten and taking a calming breath, when she opened her eyes she heard the tea trolley coming her way. Mr. Hayes pushed in through the door with something that looked like more than lemon cream cake! And not just the Limón cello. There were several decanters that looked like they held whiskeys. “Okay, I can roll with that,” she said to herself when the cart stopped in front of her and Mr. Hayes began dishing up her dessert.
“Madame, I would suggest you rest after you have finished. It will do you a world of good and you will need to be at your finest tonight. For all her pandering, the Countess does not like humans unless she is bathing in their blood. She has been using only soap and water since she arrived here. And she believes no one has more money than she does,” he said with a wise nod of his head, pouring her a glass of what looked like purple fairy dust. “So you are of no value to her.”

“Good to know,” she sighed. “And that’s lovely,” she smiled when he handed her the glass. “What a lovely shade of….purple…?”

“Yes, thank you,” he said looking very pleased. “A little something I decanted, myself. It is a vodka based with purple grapes settled in the bottom. And that really is silver floating in it, giving it that sparkle. You should be safe enough around the Countess. She will smell the silver if she decides to open one of your veins and then drop you.”

“Thanks,” Sookie was wide-eyed as he handed her a full wine glass.

“When she tosses you aside, just let her huff and puff and say nothing while she vents about humans and their trickster ways. She will move on and remember that she wants to play charades. She won’t invite you to play at that point so just sit quietly, read a book, and don’t fall asleep until she retires and takes Compton with her. I don’t trust him.”

“Thank you for being so good to me,” her voice was sincere. “I appreciate that. I just want you to know.”

“Just drink up, there’s a lovely lady,” he said as he blushed. “And you just might all survive this.”

 

Sookie woke up when there was a knock on her door.

“Vampires are rising,” Mr. Hayes said sticking his head in. “It is almost ten. Come down to the kitchen and get something to eat. Around midnight, the games shall begin.”

 

When Sookie entered the library, the vamps were already present. Saying good evening, she started to walk past when the Countess’ hand snaked out and grabbed her by the throat. Baring her fangs and pulling Sookie in close, she smiled at her and said, “You don’t mind, do you?”   Taking a whiff along her neck she threw her to the floor.

“Bitch!” she screeched, “you reek of silver!”

“Yes,” was all Sookie said as she stood and made her way to the chair by the fire.

“Bring in Northman,” she said with disgust in her voice. “We will let him feed from her. A little more silver will do him a world of good.”

“Okay Sookie,” she fixed the rune crossroads in her mind, “neutralize the silver in your blood stream. Pull it all to my toenails and pass out of me and let it collect in my shoes.”

When Eric shuffled in, he looked haggard and worn. “I’m fine,” he flashed Sookie. “Really. Just a bit of acting.”

“I am draining the silver out of my body,” she replied. “So I am not gonna be chatty now. I am at the rune crossroads.”

“Got it,” he replied.

“Eric,” the Countess stood and approached him. “We have a meal for you. I think it best we whet your appetite with Druid House. That way, when you morph to dragon, you will already have had a taste and will want more. “

“I can smell her silvered blood from here,” he smirked as he stopped and stood in front of the Countess.

“Well yes,” she grinned. “We cannot very well have you rescuing your child and leaving me here with no dragon to command, now can we. And how is King Eric? And your man-ness wetness. You need to tell King Eric to spit that stuff out so that I can have my dragon.”

With a growl, Eric pushed Elisabeth out-of-the-way. “Miss House,” he said extending his hand. “If you would allow me,” he said turning the chair toward the fire with the back of it to the group.

“Oh come on,” the Countess stomped her foot. “We want the show.”

“Fuck you,” Eric replied flipping her the finger. Picking Sookie up he sat her down on his lap.

“If I might?” they all heard him ask with a low, sexy drawl.

“Yes,” Sookie was heard to mumble, “of course.”

Repeatedly licking her wrist in a slow, easy fashion, he prolonged the bite until she gave him the go-ahead the silver was now gone.

“Excellent,” he sighed as he bit. “Now, do we want to leave here tonight or tomorrow during the eclipse?”

“Won’t they have you chained in silver?” she asked. “And me tied up?”

“Yes, that is possible,” he was chuckling. “But the Countess loves the show. I am now silvered nicely through out. Just think on it as basting a slow roasting pig. She will have me stretched out on the table and you in the room. For those mere moments, she wants me to chase you around the room and maybe outside and provide some entrainment. Just like in the movies.

If I do not morph to dragon, I am so poisoned that I will not be able to escape the sun and she will have her spectacle with me burning and her having bragging rights about how she brought the true death to The Viking. She is that predictable. I am willing to bet the odds.”

“Well, alright then,” Sookie sighed. “I stand with you.”

“Most excellent,” Eric replied as he took one last mouthful of Sookie goodness and then healed the wounds.

They both sat in front of the fire as Elisabeth tried to shame folks into playing charades. You could hear her cussing and complaining. A constant stream of chatter as she prodded those vampires into playing her favorite game.

“Eric,” she finally stood up and walked over to them. “Stop playing with the human…” she stopped when she stepped in front of the chair. Sookie was still in his lap, but she was asleep. Eric was looking like death. There were dark circles under his eyes and his eyes were no longer the lustrous blue. His hands trembled a bit, his lips were dark, almost black.

“I need you to be alive come the eclipse,” she said kneeling down in front of him.

“You should have thought of that before you poisoned me,” he hissed back.

“Give me the human,” she said reaching for her. “I can get you…”

“No,” he spit at her. “She is warm and I have reached a new depth of cold! You leave her the fuck alone,” he said as his head fell back against the chair. “I am retiring for the rest of this dark and taking her with me.”

Standing, he wobbled a bit and then shifting her in his arms, with one foot placed slowly but surely in front of the other, they left the room.

“Well fuck,” she said to no one as she kicked out at an ottoman. “Mr. Hayes,” she yelled.

“Yes Countess,” he appeared at the door.

“Do nothing special. Just lock them in. Northman cannot take any more silver. I do need him to be alive. Feed the human tomorrow and dress her in something more revealing for the eclipse. I want her to be as alluring as possible.”

Bowing his head he stepped out of the room and closed the doors.

Bill was pissed off! He wanted the human for his own. He did not mind nasty leftovers and this one came with literally a boat load of money! Compton was starting to growl, rumble deep in his chest. He thought that was impressive and everyone would pay attention to him and stand back and let him take what he wanted. After all, he was somebody!

Ducking just in time, the wooden stake missed his heart and hit his upper arm.

“Get the fuck out!” Elisabeth hissed and vamp speed, Bill was gone.

“Now,” she said turning to the rest of the group, “I believe charades is on board and we decided on movies.”

All heads turned when they heard the voices over the speakers.

“You doin’ okay?” the female asked.

“Cold,” and they could hear the shivering in his voice. “Mortally poisoned…,” and the word faded away.

“Mr. Hayes,” the Countess stuck her head out the door this time when she bellowed. “Take some blankets into the pool room.” Turning back around she sighed and turned off the crackle that was coming over the speakers. “No entertainment value there,” she rolled her eyes. “Fuck…!” she kicked the ottoman again and made the sign for movies. “First letter…” she began.

 

Bill was roaming the streets of Shreveport. “All this is mine,” he moaned as he looked around. “Area Five. Just how did I fuck up and end up here? I would cry if it would do me any good. That fucking Countess and her fucked up way of doing business. That fucking Sophie-Anne and her greed and my great misfortune.

Momma always said look on the bright side of things. So hope springs eternal. This job change has not yet been announced over the net. As long as I am not proclaimed Sheriff of Area Five I am still William T. Compton, Procurer for the Queen. I am not letting go of that title, no matter what she tells me,” he said with fierce determination. “I have found my mission for my undead life and being the at-war, protector of the Northern Frontier, finally dead sheriff of Area Five is not on my mission statement!”

 

Eric was stretched out on the couch with Sookie tucked in beside him. They were covered in blankets and Sookie had finally warmed up. Eric had assured her that his cold body temp was normal but he could do little to provide warmth for her. A couple of blankets were tucked around her so that she had no skin contact with Eric.

They spent the rest of the dark inside each other’s head. Sookie was showing him how to conjugate ruin magic and Eric was trying to build the crossroads in his head. His women’s magic was something Sookie was familiar with. She had just not seen so much of it in one place.

“Morning is coming,” she head Eric whisper as he pulled her in closer. “You need to sleep. Maybe myself as well. We won’t sleep through the main event,” he chuckled. “Believe me, there shall be much fanfare when the hour approaches. It shall be noisy but we shall be well rested.”

 

Mr. Hayes woke Sookie at lunch time. “Come and eat,” he whispered. “And bathe. There are sacrificial robes for you to wear,” he rolled his eyes. “Nothing I can do about that for the time being.

How is Mr. Northman?” he asked.

“Still holding his own,” she replied.

“I am so sorry,” he said as he offered her his arm. “I thought to protect your from the Countess but perhaps I have doomed him.”

“You are very kind,” was all Sookie said as he led her to the kitchen.

 

There were trumpet blasts that sounded through the speakers with the countdown announcements. The latest one was “The eclipse starts in five minutes! Be prepared to say good-by to the world as you know it!

Rise, o’ Dragon of the spilled and licked blood! Rise and serve me! Your Queen, Elisabeth!”

Sookie gagged. “Really?” she snorted as Eric chuckled in her ear.

“Vamps will rise early and are tuned into this room. Oh, here come the lights. We are on camera. Smile,” Eric grinned as the roof pulled back.

“Beautiful eclipse,” Eric said. “I know you cannot see it with you human eyes. But I will take you to see the next one, wherever in the world it happens to be.”

“Thanks,” she replied. “And…and…” she said looking up into the darkness. “Is that two dragons headed this way?”

“Well, I do believe it is,” Eric chuckled. “And they both have purple eyes. So one of them must be O.I. The other, well just maybe that is Lafayette…!”

The vampires were gathered outside on a balcony. They were just a step away from a room full of total darkness and safety just in case something went wrong!

Elisabeth was screaming and jumping up and down and clapping her hands in joy! “Dragons! They are both dragons! Yes, I have an army of dragons at my command!”

“Countess,” the Vampire Mayor of Brisbane was watching the screen that had been set up outside showing the pool room. “Northman and the human are still…you know,” he said pointing to the screen. “Northman and human. Who the fuck are they?” he asked pointing to the sky.

“What?” she said as she glanced at the monitor and then back into the sky. “Look,” she smiled. “The eclipse. It is the diamond ring. How beautiful…

And dragons…” terror struck her, for the first time, she was speechless.

“Mo’ fo’n right,” O.I. called out into the darkness of the eclipse. “Flame on, my big mans!” he laughed in joy.

The night sky, along with the balcony, was lit up with more than just the light of the now reappearing sun. There were the flames of two very mightly pissed off dragons. And they were gunning for all the bad guys!

“Looks to be to the good of about seventy-five vamps gone,” Lafayette said, as he turned his head to observe the grounds. “And about three hundred Weres scatterin’ to the celestial night of day winds. Can’t be havin’ that!”

The hunt was on and it was glorious!

“Members me?” lafayette asked as he chased down one Were. “I do believes you were the one drivin’ the truck that struck me down. Any last words?”

“Were shit,” he screeched as it ran down his pant legs.

“Not very elegant but great truths to that,” O.I. said as he pulled up and sniffed. Together their flames made a great whirling whirlpool of flame and within seconds, there was seared Were, than charred Were, then with a flap of their wings, there was only the dust of Were.

Eric and Sookie stood and watched from the comfort of pool side as the dragons cleaned up the surrounding area. When they landed, Sookie was up and running, her arms outstretched as Lafayette morphed into human and grabbed her and swung her around.

“You knows you ain’t dressed in much,” Lafayette smiled at her.
“I know,” she said through her tears. “But I was to be the meal time sacrifice to the dragon,” she said pointing to Eric. “And I had to entice him to want to eat me.”

“Really,” Lafayette was laughing. “Don’t thinks Northman needs much enticin’. Now go find some clothes and lets haul ass out of here. I could use some food of the earthly, out of the kitchens, sort.”

“Well,” she was thoughtful. “Let me check with Mr. Hayes. Whoever does the cooking here is just the best. Man, I had something Mr. Hayes called squash, yesterday. Not even close,” she said patting her tummy. “We could sit out by the pool and maybe have an afternoon snack if the kitchen staff is willin’.”

“Please excuse me,” Eric smiled. “I am going to go unsilver Pamela and be right back.”

 

 

The kitchen staff was more than willing to prepare a snack. The kitchen staff was Mr. Hayes.

Sookie invited him to sit down. “Let us Parlay,” she said as she dipped her twice fried, lightly herbed French fries into mayo. “Now, explain to the group how you came to be here. I don’t have any gold, but I think maybe Mr. Northman could hook me up with some if you would like to come and work for me.”

The interview went very well. He could cook, clean, and did laundry to include ironing. He even ironed sheets!

“I won’t kill for you,” he ended up saying. “I will kill to protect you, but I am not a hit man. I am a butler with a special skill set. And I can keep secrets,” he said eyeing Eric who was sitting with his face pointed at the sun.

“Mo’ fo’n,” O.I. sighed as he patted his tummy. “Best BLT I have had, ever! And I dids not even know what that was! But that Sammy done stole my heart away. Could have dones with more bacon and less lettuce pray greens, but, Miss Sooks, this could work. I can sniff out gold. How much do we needs?”

“I will call Samuel,” Eric said without moving his mouth. He was throwing his voice. It sounded like it was coming from Sookie’s glass.  “Tell us in grams or pounds how much is required….and where you want it. We can make this happen.”

 

The afternoon passed pleasantly into a lovely evening. When Pam appeared, she excused herself.

“There are bagged bloods in the kitchen,” Mr. Hayes said. “If I might interest you.”

“Those have been silvered,” she replied as she flashed her fangs in a grin. “I’ll be fine. I am not going far.” With a bow to her maker she was gone.

“You really want to set fire to this place?” Sookie asked Eric.

“Yes,” he nodded. “Nora has defiled it. When I went to release Pam I checked the other tunnels. She turned them over to the Weres who just shit wherever they would. Let me cave in a couple of places and Lafayette, if you and O.I. would do me the honors. Turn it all to ash.”

 

Dear Readers,

Compton’s demise is the next chapter.

Until then!

All our love and prayers go out to those folks in the hurricane’s path.

Be blessed and be the blessing.

CES

With the Setting of the Sun—Chapter 6

21 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by carrollestewart in Uncategorized

≈ 22 Comments

with the setting of the sun:in memory of

With the Setting of the Sun Chapter 6

In memory of Nelsan Ellis  

November 30, 1977-July 8, 2017

 

The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended. The characters on True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball. No infringement on my part is intended.

I have no BETA, editor, or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own. This Story is rated M.

Chapter 6

Sookie could smell food. Getting out of bed, she pulled on a robe and went over to the French doors and drew the curtains. Lafayette looked over from the table on the balcony and waved. There was food…lots of food…a buffet had been wheeled in and it appeared that she had already missed out on round one. Opening the door she yelled, “Save me some bacon!”

“Better hurry your skinny white ass, His La La Fineness says. ‘Cause this little piggy has gots my name all over it!”

“Man,” she wailed. “He will eat all of it. And I have seen what O.I. can do to a ham!

Wash my hands and face, comb my hair back into a pony tail and waaaaa-laaaa! Sookie is a go for breakfast!”

Tying the belt around her waist, she approached the table.

“Grab a plate and sit on down her girl,” Lafayette stood up and hugged her. “I gots the coffee, you fix the plate and we shall talk the talk.”

“’Mornin’ Eric,” she said as she passed by. “What is that you are drinkin’”?

“Mead,” he replied. “The drink of myself and my forefathers. Samuel can actually drink wine on the days that he daywalks…I just thought I should be able to do the same.”

“Mead?” she replied as she lifted the lid off the server and spooned up some shrimp and grits. “Is it a little early for alcohol?”

“No ma’am,” Lafayette responded. “Gots a bottle of the bubbly. Me and my little mans, we is two the good a couple of flutes. Come on and join us. Never too early these days to get your drink on.”

“Does that make this a good day or a bad day?” she asked.

“Well, we are still standing so that makes it a most excellent day,” Eric replied as he raised his glass in a salute. “We learned several useful things last night.

One: My queen is not trying to kill me. I did not think so, because why would she go to so much trouble when all she had to do was call me to NO and drop a silver house on me.

Two: Compton was contacted and would like to try and kill me but he needs me alive to guard the Northern border. Because he is going to kill HRM. Silver her bloodbags and poison her so he can be king.

Three: Lester is very much in the know about wanting to chain me.

Four: Compton stopped by last night, thinking he could chat you up and glamour you. A relative of yours, Abraham Lincoln, beat the hell out of him.”

“Seriously, Lafayette and I are related to President Lincoln?” her voice held amusement.

“Yes,” Eric nodded.

“Indeed we are, His La La Fineness says. Mr. Lincoln, he does have a powerful right punch. And in case someone who thinks highly of themselves asks, yes, he says his Mrs. is still just bat shit crazy. But he loved her despite her odd and out-there righteous ways.”

“Mary Todd,” Sookie said with a sigh. “Glad we are not related to that bunch of crazy.”

“Indeed,” Lafayette said with a nod of his head. “Now Mr. Eric’s what else do we need to know?”

“There are all manner of stories now in the vampire world floating about Druid House. Several of the old vamps that were present did business with one of your female relatives. They spoke highly of her and showered her with great respect and are sure you are of the same ilk and generous spirit.

Sadly, there were those with no stories to tell and they looked like if they could lie worth a damn they would spin a yarn to make themselves appear important and much loved by Druid House.”

“Seriously?” Sookie snickered.

“Yes, there were many there last night who gave credence to your life’s work. That Druid House has stood for centuries, complete with ghosts to take revenge and family members that cannot be glamoured.”

“No foolin’,” Sookie chuckled.

“No fooling,” Eric replied.

“So what else do we need to know?” she asked.

“There were no Were wolves present at the to-do. HRM has been known to use them as guards. She has several on her staff. There was not one present with the old dark. And also interesting to note, there was not a vampire there over five hundred years old. The King of Mississippi and myself were the exceptions to that rule.”

“How old is Sophie-Anne?” Sookie asked.

“Around five hundred.”

“So no one’s was invited that she could not kicks their booty,” Lafayette noted as he spooned up some honey butter to go on his biscuit.

“Something like that,” Eric nodded in agreement. “Plenty of folks know we are headed to Shreveport. When darkness falls it will be interesting to note who is in attendance.

Also, Pamela checked in. She spent some time with Middleton, the night manager who gave Compton a key to your private elevator. Not only did Bill spend time with her, but apparently so has every packmaster in Louisiana. The term revolving door comes to mind but I am sure she did not charge them money. She probably traded sex for information.

This is the first time though, she has ever given out a key to the penthouse. It will also be here last.”

“Oh,” Sookie blinked. “So Compton came up here last night, nocked…?” you could hear the hesitation in her voice.

Eric nodded yes.

“And good ‘ole Honest Abe sent him home.”

“Something like that,” Eric nodded. “Of course, O.I. played a very valuable part in that. He glamoured Compton and that Were shit told us what he was about. And as much as he would like to see me meet the true death, he wants to be king and knows how vulnerable that Northern border is and that I hold it without a fight by the sheer force of will of just being The Viking.”

“Should I roll my eyes?” Sookie asked. “Seriously. Just your name alone?”

“Roll your eyes?” Eric made a face at her. “No,” he shook his head to emphasize his point. “It is all truth. I am a stand alone war machine.”

Sookie said nothing, just refilled her coffee cup and tried to hide her amusement.

“And speaking of which, you would be amazed to read my mail this morning. I received six-hundred e-mails. A bit much even for me. And the headers all say, Eric, an introduction to Druid House!”

“No foolin’,” she laughed as he passed her his phone.

“No fooling,” he grinned. “Lester did not disappoint. And you,” he pointed a finger at her, “stay out of my head but I must admit last night’s timing was perfect. Compton and Lester ratted out themselves. It was most excellent to see the shadow of doubt and fear that crossed their faces each time you said the word mall.”

“Was it good for you?” she grinned.

“Most excellent,” he smiled back. “Now, we will need to get to Shreveport. All the Weres that were not in attendance last night, I have the sneaky feeling they just might be watching the airport and any and all Anubis Air travel vans. A A, for all their expensive costs and written guarantees that they have never lost a vampire, I would just not count on that today.

So we will eat and make our way there. Maybe flying below the radar. O.I. if you could manage Lafayette, I will take Miss Stackhouse and we shall head for Bon Temps. All in good time, of course,” he said as he refilled his glass.

“Most definitely,” Lafayette raised his champagne glass in a salute, “all in good time.”

“You two are not worried about being seen in daylight?” she looked from Eric then to O.I. “You could be a little hard to explain.”

“Maybe we need a storm,” Eric licked his finger, stuck it up into the air and nodded with great assurance. “Yes, some thunder, no lightning, heavy downpour. O.I. what say you? You up for flying through pelting rain?”

“I ams,” the dragon responded, refilling his glass with the cold bubbly, “ups for anythin’. My big mans, you thinks you could tuck in and hold on?”

“How long we talkin?” Lafayette asked. “Is it the blink of an eye soaked to the skin or is it sittin’ in gridlock for two hours soaked to the skin and gettin’ pruney all overs?”

“My best time is fifteen minutes,” Eric said. “Of course, Miss Stackhouse will supply some drag, so I would allow twenty to twenty-five.”

“Can does, His La La Fineness says. Then whats?”

“I would say we dry off at one of my homes but those could all be comprised. So I would suggest the farmhouse. Miss Stackhouse, would you mind?”

“No,” she replied. “Don’t know that I have anythin’ to fit you though. You got a stash of clothin’ somewhere?”

“Yes,” he nodded, “as a matter of fact I do. I have a closet full of clothes here and a waterproof bag. That will provide a little more drag but still doable in the twenty-five minute range.”

“So, His La La Fineness wants to know, Mr. Erics. Yous cookin’ on that storm right now?”

“Indeed I am,” he grinned. “I can multi-task.”

 

The day in Louisiana was slipping away. It had been a bright sunny morning followed on by rain and thunder rumbling in the distance at around ten.

By noon, the storm was raging as hail stones the size of baseballs came down. The hail backed off and now fierce, straight-line winds were blowing.

“What the fuck?” the Were, Hitter complained. “What is the reason we are sitting here in the parking lot of this fangbanger club? Vamps don’t walk about during the day. And who thinks that they are going to deliver Northman’s ass here during the middle of the day when lower than Were shit…that would be the likes of us, could be lurking out in the parking lot.”

“We got the easy job,” Hoff lit his cigarette and took a deep hit. “We are here in the comfort of my truck. Those poor mother fuckers who are watching the bus and train stations. Gag me. Nasty bathrooms and nasty food and just nasty walks through there. My momma and I took the bus one time to visit my grandma. Damn…the guy behind us was high and hummed and sang all the way to Dallas. Off key. Thought he could do The King. Just about drove me nuts.”

“I talked to Jessie earlier. He says he is watching the hotel in New Orleans where Northman spent the night. He said no sign of movement. If the vamp is Shreveport bound, he has not yet left the building.”

“Seriously,” Hitter took out a cigarette and lit it. “You think there are not maintenance tunnels and all other manner of ways to move a vamp out of that place? Northman would not be staying there is he did not have a secure day chamber and way out. That fucker is over a thousand years old, I have heard. He did not live that long by being stupid.

Damn! There goes a tree limb and awwwww shit…there goes the rest of the tree!”

“We are getting’ paid to sit here,” Hoff replied. “Easy money.”

“Not if we are dead!” Hitter responded. “Shit…” they both felt the truck give. “Parking lot is staring to flood. Look, those drainage openings are clogged with limbs and shit. Start this fucker and move us to higher ground.”

“Are you fucking kidding me,” Hoff replied when he started the truck. “This is Louisiana, there is no higher ground. Besides we are a bit too late. Shit, we are moving and I am still in park.

Fuck, the water is rising fast and…” They both felt and heard the bottom of the truck being ripped open. They were now floating and tilting to one side. “And I am now straddling a tree!” he yelled. “Hang on, if we flip to one side we are going out the opposite door! Get ready to move! I can feel it shifting! My side is going under! Open your door and hang on!”

 

 

Sookie was standing and looking out her front door window. “Wow,” she turned and looked at Eric. “You plan on shuttin’ this storm down anytime soon?”

“I have stopped with my tinkering,” he replied. “Now Mother Nature must take her course. The atmospheric conditions were ripe for a storm. I just pushed it along and here we are. I do so wish I could take credit for all of this, but sadly, I was merely the instigator and not the creator.”

“Impressive,” she nodded as she headed back to her spot by the fire. “Who is winnin’?” she looked over at the gin rummy game. O.I. was carefully rearranging his cards while Lafayette was recounting the score sheet.

“It’s close, His La La Fineness says. His royal badass O.I. counts cards. He cans tell you each hand we has had since we started. He would be hell on wings in Vegas. I ams just lucky to be hangin’”

“My big mans is winnin’,” O.I. said looking up and then started rearranging his cards again. “And I don’t’s knows why. I should be winnin’ but I ams not.”

“Hm-m-m-m yes,” Lafayette clucked his tongue as he laid down and scored his points. “Whistlin’ girls and crowin’ hens always comes to no bad ends. My Granny Woman preached that and so it bes,” he said lifting his hands heavenwards.

“So how does a female acting like a male have anything to do with this?” Sookie asked, looking confused.

“It applies to just life in general,” Lafayette said. “My Granny Woman taught me the fine ways of Gin Rummy and she would say that to me. Be who you are meant to be, my La La, she would say. That way when you are dealt a poorly constructed hand, you can hallelujah anyway and wait for the winning card to be flipped over.”

Sookie started laughing. “Okay. I take that as fair warning. I will not start acting like a guy and I will be me.

Oh,” she nodded. “Maybe it is time for a cup of tea and read some leaves. I am off to the kitchen. Eric, I hope you knew tea in your time. I would hate for you to puke and if you think you are going to, vamp speed outside, please. But, I need to be actin’ like me.”

“That there is the lesson to be taught,” Lafayette nodded. “And I coulds sure nuff use some cocoa if you is headed that way.”

“Can do,” she smiled. “O.I., you want somethin’ from the kitchen?”

“I’ll be sharin’ my big man’s beverage,” he smiled at her. “All will be goods, ‘specially after I figure out how to win this hand.”

When Sookie returned, she was carrying a tray. Eric got up and helped her move it over to the coffee table.

“I made this tea for you Eric, with flowers mixed in and some honey. I tried to replicate what would have gone into the mead. There is not much in the way of actual tea leaves, but drink it and let’s take a look at what it says.”

For the next thirty minutes they sat in front of the fire and talked about the day and what Eric wanted to get accomplished with the new dark.

“I know it is risky,” he said numerous times, “but Compton will be in town looking for me. I dare say he will start with the club. I have a mind to let him follow me all night long then toss his ass out into the sunlight of the new day.”

“Do you think he will have Weres with him?” she asked.

“Of course he will. And perhaps a few vampires. Which is why I question meeting you and Lafayette in a public place. Stray bullets and all that. A well placed silver bullet can bring me the true death and to you as well. I think I should be out roaming the streets by myself.”

“No,” Sookie shook her head. “No. That is not what I am getting. It is sitting on my shoulders like a crow squawking no out into the universe.” Finishing her tea, she turned her cup over into her saucer.

“See,” she said pointing to the saucer. “N-O spells no. Everybody see that right? NO. I am not staying behind. Now, finish your tea and let us see what the tea leaves have to impart.”

Eric was still staring at the saucer. Yes, it did indeed spell no. Or if you turned it around, it spelled ON he could argue. Which would do him no good. She had that look about her. The one that said fuck with me and I’ll burn your eyes from their sockets.

Finishing his tea, he placed the saucer on top and then flipped it over. Pushing it over to Sookie he just sat there with his arms crossed.

Lifting the cup away, she looked perplexed. “What is it?” she asked as she scooted the saucer over to Eric.

“Mountain range,” he replied. “With snow capped peaks. See, those flower bits you added, that is the snow. And look at the rocky outcroppings. These mountains are old. Someplace in Europe. Not the Americas. Those mountain ranges are young and still forming.”

“Any idea where?” she asked.

“I swear,” he laughed, “that is a miniature of the Matterhorn. So I would say Switzerland. Just how odd is that?”

Lafayette and O.I. also took a gander at the mountain range in Eric’s saucer. “Odd,” they both nodded and looked at the vampire.

Eric just shrugged. “I have not been there in a couple of centuries. I have no idea what it means.”

“Was it pleasant times?” Sookie asked.

“Well yes,” his smile got bigger. “It was the last time my maker and I spent any real quality time together…” and his voice trailed off.

“What?” Sookie asked.

“Godric left his money in a bank, there. It was a sizeable fortune. I have no idea how to access that account. It was his money and we both thought he would go on forever so I had no need to know. I told him so repeatedly.”

Brushing that aside, he continued on. “You and Lafayette should get some rest. I am going to the club and we will start them on their merry chase. We shall pick someplace for dinner. Someplace very nice and very expensive. We’ll have dinner and talk business and celebrate our good fortune.

The bad guys shall linger in the back ground if they can get into Dîner à Six Heures.”

“Seriously, you can get us into Dinner at Six?” Sookie was all eyes.

“Indeed I can,” Eric grinned. “I will make the call. At what time would you like to eat?”

“How long do you need?” Sookie asked. “You know, to have them lookin’ at you.”

“Not long. Reservation at eight?” he asked.

“Yes, sure. Lafayette what do you think?”

“Thinks I need to take myself on home and get dressed for dinner tonight. That is sure enough a mighty fine tux. Thinks I will be wearin’ it again.”

“Oh,” Sookie looked startled. “What…?”

“You are Druid House, Sookie,” Eric smiled at her. “Wear your Druid robes. I will do your hair and Lafayette can touch up your makeup. You will be the most beautiful woman there.”

While Lafayette went to gather his things Sookie hopped into the shower. Dressed and with wet hair, she approached Eric in the living room.

“How we doin’,” she sighed, “really?”

“I am getting ready to find out. I am going to braid your hair into something that greatly resembles a Byzantine crown and then I am heading into Shreveport. With what daylight we have left I am curious to see what and who is stirring.”

“You still think this is a good idea?” she asked, hesitation in her voice.

“Your tea leaves are the ones that spelled NO in answer to the question should I go by myself.

All I got was a mountain range in Switzerland.”

“Is that significant?” she asked.

“Well, it was the last time Godric and I just relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company. We laughed, talked, got caught up with each other’s lives.

He considered Zermatt the place of his beginning.”

“Is that where he was turned?” she asked.

“No,” Eric smiled. “That is where he lived as a human, over two thousand years ago. He was a priest to his people and I think he missed that more than anything.”

“What did you miss?” she asked quietly as he took the comb from her and begun to part her hair.

“I missed watching the sun rise over the water. Sunset was never the same thing for me. It just signaled the end of the day. But sunrise always took my breath, away. The promise of a new day and all that would happen.”

“Well, you can have that back,” she said gently.

“Yes,” he nodded and said nothing else as he began to weave and braid her hair into a crown befitting a queen to rule through out the ages.

When Lafayette returned, he let out a wolf whistle. “That is…” he stopped, stared at Sookie and shook his head. “That is sure enough something right out of the ancient history books. Yous is beautiful Miss Sooks.”

“Thank you,” she smiled. “Eric won’t let me look at it.”

“When I am finished,” he said, “and not before.

Now, somewhere in a pocket I have a few loose pearls that were slipped in by people wanting to give me bribes to introduce you. Oh, this one will do nicely,” he smiled, holding it up for her to see.

“Lordy,” she breathed out. “That pearl is the size of a robin’s egg!”

“Indeed,” he grinned. “And since it is set for a necklace, if you have a bobby pin, I believe that it goes, right here, in the middle of your forehead.”

“Lordy, lordy, lordy,” was all Lafayette could say when Eric attached the gem. “Yous is a vision. A heaven on earth vision.”

Sookie wrinkled her nose at him and said, “I doubt that. But hand me the mirror and…and…” she gasped when Eric held up the hand held mirror.

“I take it you like it,” he grinned. “I am glad you are pleased. For a moment I was afraid I had forgotten how. My grandmother taught me how to do her hair. That was her favorite style. It always put my father into a deep and abiding funk when she wore it like that.

Now, I need to be off. We shall chat and I will keep you informed. If the streets of Shreveport are crawling with Weres, I will let you know and I will find another way to antagonize them. Denying them your beautiful countenance is a horrible punishment in and of itself.”

“Stop it,” she smiled at him.

“I have not even started,” he winked at her. “Now, I must be gone. Intrigue awaits.”

 

They had talked to Eric off and on for the past two hours. Things were quiet at the club. The rain had flooded the parking lot but had not made it into the building. There were tow trucks towing Weres, he laughed out loud, out and away.

“Go ahead and leave,” Eric said. “The roads are clear. You should have no problems between Bon Temps and Shreveport.”

 

Lafayette and Sookie arrived early and opted not to valet park and parked the car across the street so they could window shop for a few moments. The little shoe boutique had Stuart Weitzman’s on sale. Sookie had no idea what that meant but Lafayette was beside himself!

“We are so comin’ back tomorrow,” he said over and over as he admired the strappy purple ones with the enclosed toe for winter.

Holding hands and excited about the shopping they would do tomorrow, they were waiting for the light to turn green. When it did, they started across the street.

Speeding around the corner was a truck, going so much over the speed limit that it made the turn on two wheels. It happened in a blink of an eye. Lafayette gave a mighty shove and Sookie went flying across the street out of harms way, landing on the pavement with the full force of her body.

Lafayette was tangled up under the truck and when the driver went over a curb to scrape him off, there was not much left of the young man who held very high opinions about right and wrong and who you counted as your family.

Before Sookie could scream, O.I. had lifted off with the broken pieces of Lafayette in his claws. She knew O.I. had him because the body was there and then it just vanished.

Eric had scooped her up and slung her onto his back. “Hang on,” he mind flashed her.

“You should have been willing to share,” they both heard the voice and turned in the direction of the vampire who was leaning against a lamppost. “Hated to do that, but then, one never knows just how vulnerable a human being really is until you see one die before your very eyes.”

Compton looked over to where the body was supposed to be. He looked surprised and then shocked when it was not there and faltered around for a few seconds before he could carry on.

“As…as…” he stumbled over the words. “As you can see Eric, you have no control, here…”

Before he could finish, Eric was gone.

Bill took out his phone and walked over to where the dead man had been. There was blood, a lot of blood, but there was no body. “Just what the fuck?” he checked around and could not see or smell anything out of the ordinary.

The phone stopped ringing and he heard her pick up.

“Speak,” was all she said.

“Her assistant is dead,” he replied, matter of fact. “Eric took her and fled.

“Where is your back up? Do they have him? You have Northman.”

“Back up!” Bill snarked. “I told you I could take Northman by myself,” he retorted.

“You fucking piece of Were shit!” she screeched. “Do you have him or not?”

There was silence. She was going to make an example of Bill Compton. But just not right at this minute.

“I cannot track them,” Bill said carefully. “But they cannot have gone far.”

There was a snort from the other phone. “You know fucking nothing,” was the outraged voice. “Find the child. She is as arrogant as he is. I want Eric and I want him now. The sacrifice has to be made during the eclipse. If not, we are all fucking Were shit! Now make this happen,” she screamed so loudly, Bill’s ear started to bleed and she hung up.

“I wonder is she will invite me into her bed?” He was thoughtful as he dabbed at the blood oozing out of his ear. “I could use some top shelf romance. I wonder if she has fucked Northman? Now that could be delicious. I wonder if she will let me fuck Northman before this ritual of hers on Monday. One can only hope,” he sighed and then started the phone tree. When Tiller picked up he said. “Find Northman’s child. Turn over every rock and check every whorehouse. She is out there somewhere.”

 

Sookie was still in shock as Eric rocked her in front of the fire in her livingroom. “Where is Lafayette?” she would sob. “Is he dead? Where did O.I. take him? My La La is dead…” and the tears would start anew. “I did this too him. I got him killed…” and her tears wet the front of his shirt.

There were words of comfort he could speak. Should speak. But Sookie was still in shock.

Eric did not move from his position just kept his arms tightly wound around her as his hands stroke her back, just offering small sounds of comfort as you would a child. As the hours passed by, Sookie slept in fits and starts, waking, crying, sobbing, her heart breaking as she blamed herself for the loss of her loved one.

The morning was coming. He could feel it. The light wanting to destroy him but was unable to do so. When she woke, Eric was stretched out on the couch and she was beside him, covered up and she could feel his hand as it stroked her back.

“Oh my gawd,” she felt the tears begin. “How do I explain this? How do I tell anyone about what happened to Lafayette?”

“When we hear from O.I.,” Eric said gently, “we will have some answers. Until then, we do not know his fate.”

“Know his fate?” she sobbed. “I could know his fate,” she said through her tears. “I could.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Eric said as his hand was now massaging her shoulders.

“I did this. I did not need to eat at a nice restaurant. Or have my hair fixed,” she was weeping, the sobs rising up in her. “I could have worked for Sam the rest of my days. I don’t need anythin’ fancy,” the tears were back. “I just need my Lafayette,” her heart was breaking as she wrapped herself around Eric and bawled.

When she had cried herself out and called herself every vile name she could think of, Eric stroked her face and said, “You need to eat. Your blood sugar levels are all out of whack and I don’t know that you have any electrolytes left. You need those to keep your heart and brain in optimum health.”

“I don’t care,” she mumbled. “I killed my best friend. My brother.”

“No,” Eric stood and pulled her up. “You did not. Some murdering asshole ran him over. You had nothing to do with that.

Now, until we hear back from O.I. and I am sure we shall, you have to act like a human. And a human eats, drinks and occasionally showers.”

“Are you sayin’ that I stink?” she muffled a sniffle.

“I am not saying that you don’t. Now go. I’ll start breakfast.”

“Really, you can cook?” she gave him a dubious look.

“Anyone can make toast. I can even maybe run your coffee pot.”

“What about my hair?” she asked.

“Do you want me to take it down?”

“No,” she shook her head. “Lafayette loved this. Wanted to actually grow his hair so he could have a do like this. I am gonna wear it to honor him. Can I wash it without doing to much damage?”

“Yes, get it wet, rub just the smallest amount of shampoo on your scalp where you can and then rinse. Wrap a towel around it. I will blow dry it after breakfast.”

“I am gonna’ use all the hot water,” she sighed. “Hope you don’t mind a cold shower.”

“Miss Stackhouse, I have been known to break the ice on a mountain stream so that I could bathe. I am a Viking. You are a Viking. We are a very clean race. Use all the hot water. It is in your blood to do so.”

“Excellent,” she nodded. “Let me see if I can make that happen.”

Sookie stood in the shower until all the hot water was gone. As the steam filled the air and caused a mist to swirl about, she could have sworn she saw O.I. smiling at her. When she reached out to touch him, he winked and disappeared.

“I am takin’ that as a sign,” she fought back the tears. “And it is a good sign. He has Lafayette and Lafayette is gonna’ be just fine. Besides, they promised me they would not leave me here by myself! And I am holdin’ them to that promise!”

Turning off the water she stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her head and then her body. Written on the mirror was mo’ fo’n brownies!

Opening the bathroom door, the smell of chocolate overpowered her and she actually thought she was floating on air towards the powerful smell.

When she was standing at her bedroom door without realizing how she got there she shook herself all over and righted her psyche. “Mo fo’n brownies,” she repeated to herself. “And I smell coffee and maybe some burned toast. Eric was right, O.I. has Lafayette and eventually he will be back around. Time to get dressed and get down to business. That would be eating chocolate and having some coffee.”

Eric looked up from cutting the brownies when she walked into the kitchen. “What happened?” he asked as he wiped his hands on a tea towel and took the eggs from the fridge. “You look less pensive. And more alert. And not so forlorn.”

“Odd just happened,” she said staring at him. “First of all, tell me you are not pushin’ your magic around.”

“No. I do specialize in odd, but it was not me. I am fixing breakfast. That is all the magic I am pushing at the moment.”

“O.I was in the bathroom. Well, maybe his spirit, not the flesh. He was a little fuzzy around the edges and blended in with the fog-like conditions I had goin’ on in there. He was smilin’ at me and when I reached out to touch him, he winked at me and disappeared. Written on the mirror was mo’ fo’n brownies! With an exclamation point!

When I opened the bathroom door, sure enough, mo’ fo’n brownies,” she smiled.

“Odd, but very O.I. like,” Eric nodded in agreement. “How do you like your eggs?”

“Over easy. And I also could smell burned toast,” she gave him a slight smile. “So maybe not the expert you think you are?”

“M-m-m-m-m,” he nodded. “But the second batch is perfect. And already buttered.”

“You just might be a keeper,” she said when he poured her a cup of coffee. “Damn, you even dumped the coffee grounds so the coffee would not go bitter.”

“I have my moments and I pay attention. So let us start the day. I am going to have some mead. We’ll see how well I tolerate the toast.”

Over breakfast Eric talked about what had already been done. “Your car has been picked up and moved. I did that last night while you were sleeping. Pam drove it to a garage I own. Today we will go Dallas and pick up a car. We will drive it back here.”

“One of yours?”

“Yes,” he nodded.

“Not anything real flashy is it?” she asked.

“No. Believe me, I can do stealthy. Just a late model Chevy truck. Just like what every other bubba on the road drives.”

“There gonna’ be more rain, today?” she asked.

“Yes. So we’ll take a change of clothes. The storm is brewing down in the Gulf now. In about another two hours, we’ll be on our way.

The quick flight down was uneventful. They landed on the roof of the garage and made their way down the stairs.

“All these yours?” she asked looking around the large bay that was filled with nondescript autos.

“Yes,” he nodded. “I keep the high end elsewhere.”

“Excellent,” he smiled when he grabbed a key off the rack and headed toward a metallic gray 1990 truck. “It has been washed, gassed and will be ready to go.”

“Anything you want to do while we are in Dallas?” he asked her.

“I know it is weird, but I have never eaten at a Chipotle. Lafayette ate at one in Shreveport and said the burrito is king size and took it half an hour to eat it.”

“We can certainly do that,” he said opening the door for her. “I will input it into my phone and we’ll visit the closest one. I would love to sit outside and eat by the river, but I worry about flooding.”

“Good point,” Sookie nodded. “Anyone will do.”

When Eric pulled into the restaurant, the clouds were still pushing around although the rain had stopped. They sat at booth with a view of outside. Eric was having a beer and Sookie was contemplating her burrito. “Sure is big,” she commented. “And tasty! And why did I think I could eat chips and salsa when I am eatin’ this bad boy?”

“The chips are good,” Eric replied as he bit one and let it dissolve in his mouth. “Salty.”

“That is what makes them so good,” Sookie laughed. “Anything deep fried with salt or sugar on it, is worth eatin’. Now, I know this is ridiculous, but I would not mind another one of these, maybe to take home. Maybe for me to eat on the way home. Or hell, I’ll just eat it now. I am starving. I feel like a battery that has been drained.”

“Sookie,” he contemplated her. “What happens to you when you pass over the ley lines?”

“What?” she set her tea glass down.

“Do you burn off your essence when we cross over them? Any idea how many we crossed over when we were vamp speed here? Then there will be the drive home. Your gran ever say anything about that?”

Shrugging, she became thoughtful. “We never went very far. I mean travelin’ is expensive. We never had any kind of money to just go somewhere. Why, I had never been to Dallas before today. Don’t even make it into Shreveport except maybe once a quarter.”

“I will order you another burrito. On the way home, see if you can recognize the ley lines.”

For one so small, she consumed vast quantities of calories. Eric was beginning to think that crossing those lines did indeed engage her on some level that sparked her magic. He wondered if it set anything else in motion?

“Could someone track you by your magic?” he asked as she ate through a second bag of chips.

“What?” she choked and sputtered.

“You have consumed close to four thousand calories and have not yet slowed down. I am just wondering, with all that cosmic saturation, do you put off something like radio waves, or ping like radar or gamma-ray bursts like from an x-ray?”

“Now you are just scarin’ me,” she took a drink of her tea. “How would I know that? I don’t hang with magicals. I mean, you are the first one beside Lafayette. And he never said anything about me stirring the forces of the universe. That is what you are trying to say, right?”

“Yes. What I really want to know is can you be tracked if someone knew what they were looking for?”

“Not if I throw up by blocking goodness, like what I used at the mall.”

“Good to know,” Eric nodded and took one of her chips. “Engage that on the way home.”

 

When she finished her meal, they went next door to a Cold Stone for ice cream. “I want a scoop of mint chocolate, butter pecan and pistachio in a waffle cone.”

“You want anything mixed in with those?” the girl behind the counter asked.

“I want my three mix ins to be pecans. And I want them all in the butter pecan, please.”

“Anything for you sir?” the young woman asked.

“No-o-o-o,” he watched with interest as the tower of Babel of ice cream was being constructed. “We will share.”

Sookie cut her eyes to him and shook her head no. “Just give him one of those small tastin’ spoons and hook him up with whatever he wants. For him, you can go heavy on the pecans, also. He is allergic to a lot of things, but not pecans.”

Eric paid out and they sat down at a table and watched the activity going by on the sidewalk.

“How are you doin’?” she asked. “This must no be ideal…” her voice trailed off.

“Interesting,” he replied as he watched the two males come in and order.

“Do we want to take ice cream home with us?” he asked her as his eyes motioned to the two at the counter.

“No. Once I finish this I won’t need anymore ice cream for another year.”

“Happy birthday,” he grinned at her and toasted her with his cone.

“Thanks,” she smiled at him. Standing, Eric helped Sookie out of her chair. Gathering up her things, hand-in-hand they were out the door and to the truck.

“Weres,” was all Eric said as he started the engine and backed out. “Let us head for home. When you finish that, I am going to hand you my phone and where ever you feel a disturbance, I want you to tap the screen.”

 

“Interestin’,” she was looking at a map on Eric’s phone and would tap it when they would cross “Somethin’,” she would nod. “I get a swirl of runes floating before my eyes. That is the third time.”

“Does it feel like your ley line?” he asked.

“Well, it feels like somethin’. Thoughts of Lafayette tugs on me when we cross one and now I am just concentrating on him. I have had the runes dance around like that before when I wanted the specific answer to somethin’. Gran said they swirled because the future was constantly in motion and somethings are just not for me to know.

So I am takin’ it as a sign that no decision has been made about Lafayette yet. That he is still alive until…” her voice broke, “until he is not.”

Reaching across the seat, Eric took her hand. “We shall keep that good thought,” he nodded as they passed signs for Shreveport and kept on going.

 

The rest of the day was quiet. Sookie would sniffle from time to time but remind herself that it was not over until the king of the dragons said it was. If O.I. was older than time, then he must have some spectacular super powers or know someone who did. She was counting on that!

For dinner, they drove to the Piggly Wiggly in Monroe and Sookie picked out fresh fruit and a spiral cut ham. Eric had known pork as human and she was feeling pretty good maybe he could have a bite of that.

Or the ride back Sookie drove so Eric could text. His fingers were fast and furious across the key-board. There were ominous rumbles and what she was sure was swearing in a language she did not understand.

“I have told my child to go to ground. And to stay there. I told her that last night after she picked up your car. She was supposed to send me a text back.

However,” he hissed, “she has the very bad habit of wanting to be involved in the fight and has a tendency to talk about sun spots interfering with her phone when I issue such an order.

And she just fucking struts her stuff around like she is the queen of the world. Thinks she can take on anyone and anything. I hope Chow grabbing her in her own office taught her a lesson. But probably not.”

“What do you want to do?” she asked him.

“Stake her and put me out of my misery,” he sighed. “However, that is considered bad form, even in vampire circles. So I shall just wait and when she surfaces, we shall chat then.”

“She knows she can come here, right?” Sookie said as she put on the blinker to turn onto Hummingbird Lane.

“I told her not too,” Eric replied. “I do not want anyone tracking her to your house.”

“They can do that?” she asked.

“I did,” he answered. “And I know that was a special deal, but your magic creating some type of energy stream…I just don’t know and I am not willing to risk it.”

“Fine,” she nodded. “Let’s get the groceries out, I’ll put the ham in the oven and we’ll eat.”

 

The hour was late and Sookie was asleep. When she lit a candle for Lafayette and said a blessing over him, she had cried when she blew out the match and that is when Eric sent her off to bed.

The candle was still burning and he found himself fixating on it and remembering his grandmother. The woman had been brilliant and was a natural born leader. The clan feared her and respected her.

Yes, she could probably turn you into a toad, but in today’s professional field, she would be a top-notch psychiatrist. Her ability to ferret out people and what motivated them was truly a gift.

She was also a gifted politician. Eric shuddered to think what his grandmother would be capable of doing in today’s world.

Eric had the great fortune to look just like his dead grandfather. To say she favored him was not extreme enough. This spirited lady taught him everything she knew and paid for his schooling when it came to things she did not know. Scholars came and went out of their village on a regular bases. He could speak five different languages by the time he was twelve.

In her final act of defiance towards his father, she had cut her hand and then Eric’s and clasping their two hands together, her blood into his, she passed the women’s magic to him.

“Somethin’ is not right,” Sookie said walking into the living room. “Someone is throwin’…” she stopped and tilted her head to one side as if to listen. “It’s not magic. But…maybe…someone is searchin’…they are lookin’ for you.”

At that moment Eric’s phone rang which caused both of them to jump.

“It’s Pam,” Eric let out a sigh that he did not realize he had been holding onto.

“Child,” he began, “I hope you have gone to ground.”

“Sadly, she did not,” and in the woman’s voice was disgust. “She is just like her maker. Willful, spoiled, conceited. I have your child, Eric. And I know you are somewhere east of Shreveport. I can feel you tugging on me. Now, you either be at that fucking, disgusting, club of yours one hour before sunrise with Druid House in tow, or I shall start burning down everything between here and the Mississippi line. General Sherman thought Georgia burned, he would be jealous of the homes I will lay waste, too. Some where in the carnage will be dead mothers with babies nursing in their arms. Tell her that…”

The line went dead.

“Would she?” Sookie asked, horror on her face.

“Yes,” Eric’s voice was full of grief.

“Who was that?” she asked, putting her hand on his arm.

“My sister, Nora.”

“How long before sunrise?” she asked.

“One hour and twenty minutes.”

“That does not give us much time,” Sookie said looking around.

“That is the intent,” Eric replied. “If you are going with me, get dressed. We will make the deadline, but just barely. Wear something warm. There will be no heat wherever she stores us.”

“Got it,” she nodded and went to her bedroom to prepare to fight a battle with nothing more than her warm woolen socks.

 

When they touched down at Fangtasia, there was a stretch limo waiting for them in the back parking lot. The driver got out and opened the door and the two of them got in.

“Give me your phones,” Compton smiled at them. “Then just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Eric handed his over and Sookie was shaking her head. “I…I did not bring mine.”

Bill started to snicker but Eric cut him off. “I woke her up, she pulled on her clothes and here we are. If I would have realized that she needed her phone as part of the entrance fee, I would have made sure we had it.”

Bill was smiling as he reached over and stroked Sookie’s hand.

Eric had his hand around Bill’s neck. “Nora said nothing about you. I take that to mean I can bring you the true death if it so pleases me to do so. Her only concern is myself and Druid House.

Eric let him go and Bill hissed at Eric but pulled back into his seat.

“Excellent,” was all Eric said as he settled in next to Sookie and they discussed his next business plan.

When they turned onto River Road Flats, Eric knew where they were. When he survived this, he was coming back here and burning it to the ground.

The old planation sat back on forty acres of land. Godric’s land. This is where his maker stayed if ever he passed this way.

There were many ins and outs and hidey holes to this particular parcel of land. There was one interesting feature in particular. There was a light tight room on the main floor that opened out to the pool. The ceiling could retract. He guessed this is where he would be.

Nora…he was going to rip the head from her body!

The car stopped and the driver was out to help Sookie from the car.

The front door opened and there stood Mr. Hayes, Nora’s manservant. “Miss Nora is busy at the moment, Mr. Eric. You are to make yourself at home.

Druid House,” he bowed to Sookie. “Your rooms are waiting for you. If you would follow me please. There is clothing that you are to change into. For the next thirty minutes you are to be entertained.”

Nodding her head, Sookie walked through the three floor open foyer, done in black and while marble tiles. The grand staircase swept up the side of the house, looking like it was just floating on air. Sookie said nothing as she passed up the stairs. The filigree on the bannister was extensive and wooden. And in some cases, the spindles were darling cupids with bow and arrows could be broken off and used as a stake.

Walking down a hall, Mr. Hayes pushed open the double doors and that led to a suite of rooms.

“You are required to dress,” was all he said as he pointed to the mannequin. “I shall be back to fetch you in five minutes.”

Nodding her head, she started stripping as she heard the doors being closed. The lingerie flowed out from the mannequin and cascaded around about on the floor. All of it see-through in a delightful shade of blue. The same blue as Eric’s eyes, she guessed.

In exactly five minutes, Mr. Hayes knocked on her door. “You are required to witness this, so you know what will be expected.”

The walls to the pool were pulled back, leaving only the glass. But you could still hear the running water from the two story high waterfalls that emptied into the grotto down below. The lights were on in the pool and added a depth to the shadows. Anyone could be lurking there and watching.

Eric was chained to one wall, his wrists wrapped in fine silver cording.

“This should be good,” Bill walked up to her and smiled. “It is not everyday you get to see a one thousand year old vampire tortured.”

Sookie said nothing, just kept her eyes straight ahead.

“Maybe,” his hand reached out to touch hers, “maybe I could call on you before I retire for the night. I will have a powerful throbbing…..”

“Good,” Nora’s voice carried on the night. “I see we are all in attendance. Bill, service my brother. Bring him to completion. I want his last orgasm to be something memorable.”

“What?” he gasped. “Me? You want me…to do what?”

“Suck him off,” she replied. “If you want to be king of Louisiana, do it.”

Eric’s fangs popped down. Sookie was not for sure if it was because he was appalled at what was going to happen or pleased.

“Work the tip Bill,” he moaned as his eyes only glanced at Sookie then licked his lips. “Pull with your lips and work the tip. Damn, I am getting hard just thinking about it.”

“You have no shame you fucking man whore,” Nora yelled at him. “You fucking man whore! You defiled your blood-line when you made another just like you.”

“Really?” Eric was shaking his head. “Still? Is this about Pamela, still?”

“Your child is a whore!” she screamed. “She defiles all that Godric stood for! And you,” she sneered, “running a fangbanger bar. Have you no shame! No pride! You broke Godric’s heart with your heathen ways.”

Eric growled at her. “Me? A heathen? Let us reflect back on the night you were made. You were begging for Godric to fuck you, there on the altar of your gods. Godric would not. He does not defile anyone’s beliefs. But I did,” Eric grinned. “We were afraid you would wake the others in the temple so I stuffed your mouth with my dick and then I stuffed your pussy, high and tight. And when I took my pleasure there, I filled your sweet little ass. And not one of those holes was virgin.

My child whored because she had no other way to make a living. And she protected those girls who had no one else to look after them.

You whored and called it the will of your gods. Opened your legs, your mouth, your ass to who ever would leave an offering.”

“You pig,” vamp speed she was standing in front of him and scratched him with her silvered nails. “How dare you?”

“I only speak the truth,” he grinned. “You were not the best I have ever had but I had you screaming like a banshee before I was close to being finished. Which makes me believe I was the best you ever had.”

“You fucking pig! All that you touch turns to Were shit, you man whore! That goes for your business associate as well. Chain her to the wall across the room. Make sure she cannot reach him. Tomorrow when the roof pulls back during the eclipse, when the sun returns, you shall be no more.

And you,” she regarded Sookie, “you shall see first hand how I do business and you will cooperate with me,” she said lifting one breast through the gauzy material.

“Compton,” she barked. “You are so far beneath him that I puke at the comparison. But this needs to get done. You have five minutes to finish him. Then get your ass upstairs and be of service to the Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed.”

“The blood queen, she is here?” Bill’s voice held wonder and horror!

“Yes, my lover has arrived and she needs servicing. But Eric first. See to it.”

“Yes, of course,” Bill was filled with glee! The Countess was here! In this very house!

Approaching Eric he sighed as he got down on his knees. “I am only doing this because I have been ordered to do so,” he said, unzipping Eric’s jeans. “This foulness will be forgotten as I know the pleasures of the blood queen who has tasted thousands of young virgins.”

“Spare me your righteous prattle, he who will never be king. Blow me and then get the fuck out of my sight.”

 

 

Lafayette was looking around and breathing in the deep pine scented air! “Just damn,” he grinned as the mountains were reflected in the water. “Looks sure enough like two of them. One above and one below. That was is as blue as the sky!”

It was lovely. And then odd continued to happen. Was that his Auntie Jean approaching him? And…and…he had heard the stories, was that his Auntie Billy, who happened to be the oldest of the two cross dressing males in his family that were now coming his way with an updo and some of the cutest shoes ever with a peep toe?

“Little Sugar,” his aunties called out to him. “Welcome and welcome. Sure ‘nuffs glad to see you.”

“Aunties! Yous is lookin’ lovely and yous make’m’up is perfects! That eye shadow is the same shade as the sky! What the fuck, His La La Fineness says. Where am I and…” he paused and looked around. “This is beautiful and I can feel the cool breeze blowing off those snow capped mountains. I could wiggle my bare toes in this here grass laced with wild strawberries and Linneas bloomin’ all day long. Nothing but beauty as far as the eye can see. Perfect beauty,” his voice lingered. “Perfect, graceful, every color vibrant and sun drenched.” His voice caught. This was not earth…that was for damn sure!

“That’s right,” Billy nodded, then adjusted the birdcage veil on his hat. “Just the best of the best in this here lower forty of Heaven.”

“That is right,” Jean nodded in agreement and fluttered his fan. “For many, this here is the first stoppin’ off and getting’ ready to meet and greet.

And sometimes,” he leaned in, his makeup perfect, right down to that beauty mark, Lafayette noted. “Sometimes they is just not ready to cross over.”

“Cross over, knows what that means. So I am dead,” Lafayette said. “Don’t feel dead.”

“Well, we are not to say, are we Jean?” Billy said with a sure nod of his head. “Not our place to be sayin’ or commentin’ on this and that. Being dead is between you and Lord Sugar. M-m-m-m h-m-m-m-m.”

“Yes, sir,” Jean nodded in agreement. “You twos has to be workin’ that out. Believe me, I was ready with the hallelujah’s and amen’s when we sat together that first time. But for you maybe, mights be different. Is different for each.

But can’t help but notice you is here by yourself and we were sent on ahead to be sayin’ our how does and makin’ sure you are feelin’ at home. Lord Sugar is comin’ on out but this here is about you. So we’ll just be goin’ on and lettin’ you study on things a bit.”

Lafayette lay back in the grass and then laughed as he watched the dragons floating overhead. “My big mans,” he sighed, “is there where you was before you was with me?”

“Indeed,” he heard in his ear.

Letting out a small screech, Lafayette sat up. “Done scared the life out of me, or back into me, my little mans,” he chuckled. “What you doin’ here?” he asked.

“Biddin’ my time,” he answered. “Waitin’ on the outcome.”

“Waitin’ on the outcome?” Lafayette eyed his friend. “This about me?” he asked.

“Always beens about you,” O.I. fluttered up and stroked his cheek. “From the beginnin’ of time, my big mans. All you.”

“That’s right,” they both heard the voice.

Lafayette turned to his right just in time to watch a tall man sit down next to him. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt that said, Hell is not on Earth. Was he handsome? It was hard to say. Was he distinguished looking? Lafayette could not swear to that either. But there was a peace and contentment that radiated out from him that made you just want to sit there and do nothing more than feel at ease.

“Lord Sugar,” O.I. said with a bow of his head. “It is good to once more see you. You are lookin’ well. How is Mrs. Sugar?”

“Thank you, O.I. I feel very well. Have been busy and business is brisk but over all, it is looking good so far. Evil continues to do evil and good continues to do good and the faithful and the faithless count their blessings. No one can complain about that.

And Jerusalem is very fine,” his whole continence changed and there was a glow that radiated from him.

Lafayette thought, “He is in love! And it is a powerful thang!”

“I will tell her you ask about her,” he said with a bow of his head. “She will be honored to know that the king of the dragons was so thoughtful towards her.”

Lafayette thought O.I. actually blushed.

“Lord Sugar,” Lafayette looked a little doubtful. “Really, you go by that?”

“I answer to many names,” he grinned. “Some are not nearly as flattering,” he chuckled. “You may call me the Eternal Son if that makes you feel better. But your family has always called me Lord Sugar,” he smiled.

“Mighty fine then. I can roll with Lord Sugar. May I ask questions? His La La Fineness has a few this and that’s that need answers.”

“Certainly,” the Eternal Son nodded.

“How did I come to be here?”

“You were hit by a car while crossing the street. O.I. scooped you up and took you to ground. He did the only think he knew to save you. He burrowed into the dirt, gave you his blood and he will rest there with you for three days.

Either the bonding takes or it does not. And if it does not, then you both shall return here, the silver chain dissolved and your ties to earth shall be no more.”

“Hit by a car! His La La Fineness, I am rolling my eyes! I was hoping to go out in a flame of glory!” he said with a snap of his fingers.

“Well you did,” the Eternal Son reached over and squeezed his hand. “You pushed Sookie out of the way and saved her life.”

“She okay?” Lafayette looked into the blue eyes that told stories, all of them with a happily ever after and you never wanted them to stop. Lafayette felt the tears form in his eyes and he brushed them away. “Please, can you make her okay? Miss Sooks, she is just the best. Believed in me. Loved me when I was sure ‘nuff not worthy of that. She has got a mighty fine soul to go with her hard workin’ heart.”

“Yes,” he nodded and Lafayette “She is fine. A little bruised from hitting the pavement, but she if fine. Eric took her and ran. As in vamp speed away.”

“Okay,” he wiped his eyes, “good,” he felt more tears fall. “Glad to hear that,” he sniffled and then took a deep breath and righted himself. “So what happens next?” he asked.

“Depends on you,” Lord Sugar answered. “The hit and run, the truck was being driven by a demon. Low lifer that lives on the fringe of humanity and has Were tendencies. He could see the light that flowed out of her and was intrigued. He could also see the light that flowed out of you and wanted to claim you as well. Give him bragging rights as well as the cash Compton gave him to do the deed. Thirty pieces of silver can still get you dead.”

“What,” Lafayette laughed out loud. “Braggin’ rights for killin’ me. Must be hard up in Hell,” he chuckled.

“They are always,” the Eternal Son began slowly and turned Lafayette’s face to his. “Looking to kill an heir apparent…their motto is that the sons of the kings would not survive to fulfill their destiny…”

“What?” Lafayette laughed. “I am the son of no king.”

The King of Kings patted Lafayette on the cheek and nodded his head as O.I. fluttered in and was face to face with Lafayette.

“My big mans,” O.I. was weeping. “I calleds you that…from the very beginning of times. You were my son, my baby boy, my big man and the best and most important thing I have ever done or could ever do. You are my son, my Lafayette. Mine one and only.

I am sorrowfuls santchin’ you away from this…your home…mighty sorrowfuls for what I did…what I had to do…and I would do it again. You were dying. Just a flicker of life left in you. I took you up in my arms and we went to ground. I fed you my blood. If you survive the bonding, you will be dragon in your bones and will be able to shift from dragon to your La La Fineness. If not, then,” he said with a smile as he wiped away his tears, his voice still shaking, “then we shall both pass back here, into the light.

Maybe it was wrongs, I do not knows. But I could not watch you return to dust, to pass on out of this life without me. I am that selfish. So I tied us together with the blood makin’.

See,” he said holding up the slender, beautifully wrought silver chain. “We is now both tied together and we is still tied to the Earth.”

“My Poppy,” Lafayette said through his tears. “When I was little, I would ask men I did not know if they was my Poppy.

They never was,” he was weeping. “But you are mine. Mine. My Poppy. Forever and always.”

“Forever and always, my big mans,” O.I. said as he stroked Lafayette’s cheek.

Those beautiful purple eyes. Guess you explains why purple is my favorite color. I guess some things you just remembers.”

“Tru dat,” O.I nodded.

“Will my eyes be purple like yours?” he asked.

“In the before times, they was. I cannot speak to what this time will be like.”

“How long do we stay in the dirt?” he asked.

“Three days,” Big Sugar answered.

“No foolin’,” Lafayette chuckled.

“No foolin’,” the Eternal son laughed and then became very serious. “If you decide to stay on Earth, you are going to be busy. Very busy. Eric’s son has yet to be born and evil will do all in its power to keep this from happening. You will have Trouble and I am in so Much Trouble to look after. Folks will begin to see dragons on the horizon and will know that justice is being dealt out to those who do not always embrace the light of day.”

“Mo’ fo’n,” Lafayette whistled. “Eric is a king?”

“This place is the heart of the King of the Frost,” Lord Sugar stood and spread his hands out in an all encompassing gesture. “This was his dream. Something he wanted to share with his family.”

“Mo fo’n,” Lafayette said as he opened his eyes and realized he was in the cool of the ground, with dragon wings wrapped around him. “How long, Poppy, have we been down here?” he asked.

“Three days,” came the answer and the kiss on the forehead. “Time to head topside and kick ass and take names. No need to dig, I am just gonna shoot us straight up and out!”

“Why is the world in darkness?” Lafayette asked looking around.

“Dragon is being born,” O.I. chuckled. “Eclipse of the mo’ fon’ sun always announces a dragon’s birth. Welcome my son, to a new day. Now, let us go and kick some ass.

 

 

 

Solar Eclipse…My Selfie

20 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by carrollestewart in *BeCarefulIt'sMyHeart, Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

selfie and eclipse 2

 

Dear Readers,

Nope, not an update.  Just your old Auntie Carroll, along with the rest of the world, warning about the do’s and don’ts of the solar eclipse.

First of All:

If you do not have the Smithsonian Eclipse App  go forth and download. It is free and it gives you the Eclipse Viewing and Safety Guide along with a super neat countdown of the event. We are at 1 days, 02 hrs, 43 min and 48 secs as of right now!

Also, if you subscribe to their mailing list, which is pretty cool, they will give you two free downloads of the sun. And can I say he looks mar-vo-lous!  You get a screen saver and one for your mobile device. Hey, I am all about the day!

And for those of you who ordered the “see the sun” shades from Amazon, check your mail and make sure yours has the okay to you know, look at the sun. They sent us a “Warning! Danger Will Robinson!” (Who out there remembers that TV series Lost In Space? See, I really am that old!) They refunded our account and we do not need to return the glasses, but sadly, there will be no direct looking.

So heed your old Auntie Carroll and all those other government agencies that tell you “NO! Do Not look at the sun during the eclipse without proper eye covering!”

So enjoy the darkness, watch for any early rising vampires and be good to your eyes. After all, you need your eyes to read fan fiction!

And yes, there will be a posting, tomorrow!

Be blessed and be the blessing,

Your old Auntie Carroll

P.S. In my world, the eclipse has already happened and that is my selfie! Woohoo!

 

With the Setting of the Sun—Chapter 5

14 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by carrollestewart in Uncategorized

≈ 18 Comments

With the Setting of the Sun Chapter 5

In memory of Nelsan Ellis  

November 30, 1977-July 8, 2017

 

The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended. The characters on True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball. No infringement on my part is intended.

I have no BETA, editor, or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.

 

They sat in Eric’s office while he made the phone call to Sophie-Anne’s Protocol.  “Lester is a supreme ass kisser and can be useful. I would bet money he is in on the chain Eric deal.”

Before anyone could respond the phone was answered.

“Protocol Officer in Charge Lester Lester,” they all heard the voice on the speakerphone. “Has there been a last-minute to your plans for the evening Sheriff of Area Five? You are expected to be in attendance.” You could hear the command voice of a fishwife. Lester, if not delicate, was at least forthcoming.

“Oh, I will be there,” Eric replied earnestly. “I would just like to bring two guests. I am looking to invest in another property and I have approached Druid House to coach me on the numbers, location, and the loan.”

“Druid House?” Lester replied with a bit of hesitation in his voice. “Has HRM done business with them?”

“I do not know,” Eric replied. “This family has been loaning money for centuries. But perhaps…” he let that thought dangle. “They are very exclusive. They only work with small businesses and you have to put in your application. I applied every year for five years for the funds to put Fangtasia, together.”

“Really?” Lester’s voice held surprise. “I thought you were stand alone.”

“I am,” Eric nodded, pleasure in his voice. “These are very low-interest rate loans. I was able to pay them back at the end of five years.”

Low interest rate loans was booming around in Lester’s head. Maybe he could get enough to start a little war with Texas! It was time to move boldly forward!

“Yes,” you could hear the excitement in Lester’s voice. “I believe I have heard HRM speak of them. I believe she is the one who wrote the letter vouchsafing for Compton to take out that loan from them for that storefront in Shreveport. She needed money and he cooked up this scheme that he was foreign royalty,” he snorted. “That piece of Were shit could not pass for Were shit!”

“Compton,” Eric choked on laughter then became very serious. “He still owes me money from a hundred years ago.”

“Exactly,” Lester responded. “Well, she was not going to pay for his hit or miss scheme and you know how Compton is…” his voice held fervor, “first hand experience. He never pays back money so don’t loan him the time of day. But I am now sure that Druid House is who she contacted for him to earn her the money to pay off the loan sharks that were circling.”

“Lester, this would be very appreciated,” Eric stressed, “if you could make this happen. I want to impress them. Show them around. Let them see first hand that I am a vampire in good standing with my queen and with everyone that will be present there, tonight. I made good on my last loan and obviously I am not a flight risk. I am grateful for their belief in me and this would be a nice thing to do.” Eric thought he was going to gag. The bullshit was now about knee-deep and wafting about on the air. He was sure they could smell it in the next parish.

“Well certainly, Sheriff,” you could hear the good cheer in his voice. “I would perhaps, be asking for a letter of reference for myself sometime shortly. Humans seem to be drinking a lot of coffee. I keep thinking about investing in a coffee-house.

I have hit send,” he said with a smile in his voice. “The invitations are as of now on their way to you. Have a very enjoyable evening.”

“Will do,” Eric’s smile stretched across his face. “Many thanks.

And oh, as a small aside,” Eric’s voice was very conspiratorial, “Lester, do not embarrass yourself. Their family, it cannot be glamoured. That is how you know you are dealing with Druid House. Their money is theirs until they decide to loan it to you. And if you try any ahhh….shall we just say unsavory business practices, word is passed along to every fucking money person on the planet. So be a gentleman and follow all protocols and maybe they will get back to you.”

“Thank you for the information. You are always the gentleman, Eric,” he said. “Hit print.”

Eric smiled as his phone showed the conversation had ended. You could count on Lester to pass the latest and tastiest gossip! Eric hit send to his printer from his phone and looked over at the three sitting on the couch.

“Sorry O.I.,” Eric grinned. “No official invite for you.”

“Mo’ fo’n,” the small dragon grinned. “Since I have no invite, that makes me the official of mighty fine doer of dirty deeds for this evenin’.”

“Fucking perfect,” Eric laughed. “A quick stop at Mr. Woo’s, my tailor, and we are off to New Orleans.”

 

Lester Lester was the king of the ball!

“Who is that with The Viking?” he was asked more than once. “And why does she smell so…so…unsampled by Eric? And why is that male with them so damned sexy and enticing?”

Lester would look shocked that they did not know! “That is The Boss Lady and her escort Mr. Money Bags. The CEO and her Chief Operating Officer of Druid House. They are both untouchable and cannot be glamoured. Part of their family’s charm and their working power and why their money is still intact over the ages and safe from vampires.”

“Who?” more than one echoed back. “And what? No glamour?”

Lester looked down his nose at more than one who thought they were in the know and apparently they…were…not! “She loans money to small businesses. Very exclusive. Family has been in the biz for centuries. They cannot be glamoured. So no vampire has helped himself to their untold wealth. Supposedly, it actually rivals and surpasses Rothschild’s. It is said that they loaned Rothschild the money to set himself up in the banking biz. Their wealth just might rival that of The Da’vid, if I believed in The Da’vid.

They just don’t advertise,” he said with a flick of his wrist. “They have no need.

Eric,” he paused dramatically, then continued on with a smile, “has promised me a letter of introduction,” he said with something of a smirk in his voice. “I believe,” he whispered, “that their family and HRM had some sort of understanding back in our Queen’s very early days. I believe our queen is still paying back the very low-interest loan that got her the crown, scepter and dazzling new refurb on her throne room.

So you had best believe The Viking, for all his charming ways,” he arched an eyebrow to make his point, “has not been sampling that,” he said with a naughty grin.

“And what you smell,” Lester arched an eyebrow, “is Eau de Toilette Old Money. And a lot of it.”

 

And so the evening began for our fearsome threesome (and O.I. makes four!). There were smiles, bows and nods of the head as they passed by. Lots of speculation and just a passing by to shake hands…oh my…and kissing of hands and several even tried the laying on of hands…oh my…more than once His La La Fineness had been felt up and who knows how many times Eric’s fine ass had been pinched, patted and pilfered with lingering touches, wishing they could privately enjoy that Viking goodness.

On each floor there were the slow, wide smiles and very broad winks. “So, Eric was investing in something new! How lovely!” was heard from the movers and shakers of the vampire world. Along with just how fucking lucky The Viking happened to be. And there were many stories being told about Druid House:

“Yes, praise the Heavens! Druid House. I knew the great great great grandmother Boss Lady, a real lady,” the Lord of Lowsberry nodded his head. “Was seen by herself when I needed a loan to kick the British off me land because I was denied the pleasure of doin’ that. I was not allowed to go out and rampage by vampire fangs through them. Oh no!” he spat! “HRM Catherine of the Continent, who was not worth her weight in Were shat, had said no blood-letting on the English soldiers and pay your fuckin’ taxes to the British so they could sit their shitty asses on me land and steal what little I had. I swear, she was bleedin’ us and lettin’ the English crown bleed us.”

Placing his hand over his non-beating heart, his eyes became misty. “Her Ladyship of Druid House, she forgave me the entire debt for such a noble cause,” he confided. “She had no love for the English crown, herself, and I am proud to say that I knew her.”

“Aye,” Cameron nodded. “Do you remember that Were shit Thomas of Mill Yard? Tried, I heard, to glamour one of the Druid House family into giving him gold. He was not heard from again.”

“Is that what happened to him?” Carroll whispered. “I thought Katherine had him put down for the money he owed her.”

“That Queen would not have you killed,” Lord Carroll replied blithely. “How would she collect what was owed? No, she would put your ass to work in her castle scrubbing floors and providin’ entertainment. If nothin’ else, you would be the sideshow and her loyal subjects would pay to see how she put you to death.

And she would not kill you until you brought forth the money that you owed…with interest. Every new dark, for a week, Jameson, that unlucky money owing bastard, drank silver until the money that he earned in betting and entertainment values was returned to her treasury. He was a screamin’ husk by that time, but she had the money that he owed.”

Thus was the talk of the party. Who had the best story about Druid House and who had no story at all as they watched the threesome: Eric in his Viking finery and the petite woman dressed in Druid’s robes with the comedy mask of gold hiding her face. The black male wearing an Armani tux with the tragedy mask of silver hiding his face.

When Compton had reached his limit of hearing just how lucky The Viking was, he decided it was time to step up and be seen because Eric would never introduce him. The Viking was a rude and vicious cocksucker of the most vile! Told lies and ran you through with his sword when the silver he had poisoned you with did not work fast enough! With grace and ease he was on the move, moving through the crowd with a single purpose on his mind.

“Good evenin’” he said in his best Southern drawl as he approached from the woman’s left side. “My name is William T. Compton and I am the Procurer for our HRM Sophie-Anne.”

“Seriously,” Sookie stopped and looked at him. “Compton? You related to the Compton family that the good folks of Bon Temps burned out during the Civil War?”

“What?” he asked, his voice startled.

“These Compton’s had a son in the Southern Army. He stole from his own to bring it home to his family. Medicines, horses…whatever had monetary value.”

“No I am not a part of that clan and who started such a vicious lie?” his voice raised a bit as he bit off each word.

“Not a lie,” she said shaking her head. “You attend a Glorious Dead meeting anywhere in the South…that would be South of the Mason-Dixon line and they have a list of the traitors to the Glorious Cause. W.T. Compton is on that list. W.T., William Thomas. You could see how I made the connection. Especially with those sideburns you are sporting. You look like you just stepped out of the 1850’s. Elvis could wear them because after all, he was The King, thankyouveryuch, but it dates you and makes folks think that you are the personality type that cannot move forward. You should know that is one of those things that folks take into consideration from a business point of view. Seriously, a trip to the barber and welcome to the 21st century.”

Bill had a moment. How did she know that? Who would dare label him as a traitor! And what was wrong with his personal appearance! His wife had found him most suitable! “So, where are you from?” he asked politely. “You certainly know a lot about our history.”

“And lack of current day grooming habits,” Eric chuckled.

Compton ignored that big oaf, wishing they were anywhere else but here so he could stake him!

Sookied stayed on subject giving Eric as much time as he needed to casually look around the room. “My gran used to say if you do not study history you are doomed to repeat it. She was paraphrasing George Santayana. His actual quote was *those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. God blessed me with a fine mind and I studied and I like history. And I still study,” she said with a small smile, “George also spun the pearl of wisdom ** a child educated only at school is an uneducated child. My Gran lived by that,” Sookie stressed. “She would take the time to explain things to me which I did not understand. Define words. Talk about the ways of the world. Which means I lived by that. She also taught me what she knew about the business.

And her life lessons were just the best,” Sookie said with respect. “Many truths in clichés she always said. And I have found this to be a fact.

Which brings me to my all time favorite cliché as well as my Gran’s. ***Fanaticism consists of redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim. I live by that,” she stressed, her voice solemn. “If I am bogged down so deep in a project that I want to see succeed and it is going nowhere, I take a step back and refer to the business plan of what is the final goal. I can be excited and gung-ho about the project but I am not going to invest in a business that is not going to make it. We do not throw money down rat holes. We leave that nasty business to others and governments.

And to answer your question, where am I from,” she looked thoughtful.

“Mr. Money Bags,” she looked up at Lafayette,  “where are we sleeping tonight?”

“The Cardinal New Orleans Plaza Hotel,” he replied.

“So, that is where I am from tonight,” Sookie stated. “Speaking of which. I feel the jet lag starting to take hold.

Mr. Northman,” she switched her attention to Eric, “is there anyone else you want to introduce us too? May we be excused while you continue to party? I cannot sleep on any type of moving vehicle and I am starting to feel it.

And tomorrow night we are in…”

“Shreveport,” Lafayette took her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it.

“Thank you,” and in her voice you could hear her smile. “…so tomorrow we sit down with Mr. Northman and discuss business. I need to be on my game.

Gran warned by about you,” she said arching an eyebrow at the tall vampire. “Charming and then some. Very business savvy.”

“You, you have not met Eric before tonight?” Bill asked sounding a bit shocked.

“No,” she said shaking her head. “Gran passed over a year ago. I have been the CEO for that long and have for the past year been out and about meeting folks. As her assistant I knew most, but not all that we do business with. Northman was on that to meet list.

“Sheriff of Area Five,” Lester hurried over, on business for his queen; looked down his nose at Compton and took Eric by the arm. “HRM wants to meet your guests.

Compton,” Lester said nodding to him as he extended one arm to Sookie and the other to Lafayette.

“Please, dear ones, if you will allow me to be your escort.”

Bill watched them walk away. “That fuck up Lester, thinking he is somebody,” he snarled under his breath. “Protocol! What a limp dick!

However,” he had a happier thought, “I just happen to know someone who works at the Cardinal Plaza,” he smiled to himself as he took the steps up to the mezzanine level. “Fucking costumes,” he hissed as several passed him by and punched him on the arm. “That hurt! That fucker! I wonder if that was Johnny James? He owes me! I got the queens’ lovely leftovers to him last week and he got me not even Were shit!”

 

Lester was the gracious host as he walked them up to the top floor that was also a mezzanine.

Sophie Anne stood at the Juliet balcony, watching everything going on down below her.

Eric….just what had her Sheriff of Area Five stumbled upon? The building was buzzing!

Druid House.

And here came Lester now, apparently with a brother and sister on each arm with The Viking bringing up the rear.

Eric…her eyes flitted over his face for only a second. There were several unsavory rumors floating around about him. Did someone really try to kill him with the old dark? Multiple some ones? If that were true and she was beginning to think that was a very big IF…

…he certainly appeared to be unfazed.

Of course it must be daunting in and of itself to live up to his own reputation. These rumors would just add something else to his I am The Viking, thrown down and die reputation.

And apparently he was looking to open a new business. That would mean more money for her. And she liked that idea, she would have to encourage this endeavor.

 

“My Queen,” Lester said bowing, “If I might introduce to you Druid House,” he said extending his hand towards Sookie. “Druid House,” Lester gave her a slight bow, “this is the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne.”

“Hello your royal majesty,” Sookie smiled behind her mask. “Thank you for allowing myself and my Mr. Money Bags for attending your lovely function, tonight.”

HRM laughed. “Is that really his name?”

“That, your majesty, is a story in itself. I could tell you his name but you are going to end up calling him Mr. Money Bags. We just cut to the bottom line. Because that is what we are about.”

“Most excellent,” she nodded. “Myself as well. I understand Eric is interested in opening a new business.”

“Well yes,” Sookie answered. “We have yet to sit down and talk in-depth, but I have said, more than once,” she held her index finger and pointed it at Eric. “Keep the real estate you have and get rid of the fangbanger bar.”

“What?” It almost sounded like a bark coming out of Sophie-Anne’s mouth.

“I just did a brief and hurried perusal of the bar’s numbers. For the past year, they have been constant. And constant means no growth which is the death bell getting ready to ring. He has his regular clientele but that will shrink over the years. They will find something new to be fascinated with.”

“What?” Sophie-Anne laughed. “All wish to look upon the beautiful vampire countenance.”

Eric heard Sookie distinctly in his head. “Get ready!

That might be,” Sookie countered. “But cheap alcohol at outrageous prices is going to take a dive during a depressed economy. And you certainly don’t need to pay a cover charge to see a vampire. Just go to the mall during an upscale department store’s white sale. You see them everywhere buying Egyptian cotton twelve hundred count sheets and towels so thick I don’t think they absorb water. But they feel very nice against your skin.

He likes his new Corvette every year,” Sookie’s voice was earnest. “That just might become a thing of the past.”

“I have heard that there has been more than one who has met an untimely death,” HRM fixed her gaze on Sookie. “When they thought to take advantage of you. Lester thinks,” she laughed a small forced laugh, “Lester seems to think that you can call upon ghosts to protect you.”

“Well yes,” Sookie nodded. “Our blood carries a couple of unique features. One, we cannot be glamoured. And anyone who does try to glamour us, well, dead relatives come calling. Into the family is always born a Medium so there is a direct family link to the great beyond.”

“Oh,” Sophie-Anne blinked and then regained her composure. “I wish we had more time,” HRM sighed. “Here comes the King of Mississippi. What an asshole,” she laughed merrily. “Sadly, I will never get back the time I am going to have to listen to him.”

“I can relate,” Sookie smiled. “Once more, thank you,” she said with a bow of her head.

“Thank you, your Majesty,” Eric said with a bow.

“I will see them out, Lester,” Eric said extending an arm to Sookie and then Lafayette. Turning, they started for the stairs. As they descended all five floors, eyes would assess the situation.

And many thought, “Well fuck yes, Druid House! My vampire charms would work…maybe…and if not…oh Were shit! Ghosts! Ones that would grant you the true death!”

 

Bill was watching the floors. There were those who wanted the two humans…to talk, to torture, to tempt them from this world into that of vampire. But there would be no getting past Eric and apparently the rumors were not true that he had finally met the true death.

“For once,” Bill was feeling sorry for himself as he muttered, “why can’t that rumor be true! I could stand some good news. Yes, The Viking no longer walks the dark of night, but now roasts in hell,” he chuckled. “Gawd, I would pay money to see that. Eric being tortured forever and a day while I sit on the cool banks of the river Jordan that flows through the Pearly Gates. That would be the perfect ending of this world and the most glorious new beginning of the new!”

 

The suite was quiet. For a Halloween, it was not a bad evening. The sun would be up in an hour and a bit. Sophie-Anne was shooting off fireworks. Goodnight to the old year, hello to the new. All Saint’s Day, Samuel would be up and walking on his God’s holy day.

Eric was standing at the windows, looking out at the lights that created the shadows and dark lurking places when the sun went down.

There were two heart beats that sounded in his head. Oddly, he did not hear O.I.’s.

Lafayette had sat out on the balcony with O.I. and had a nightcap before they retired. Sookie came in and went to sleep immediately.

That was good. They would talk when she woke. As much as he hated having her inside his head, the timing was perfect on that one about the mall! He had learned much.

Sophie-Anne was not, at least at this moment, interested in having him removed.

Lester, however, seemed a bit nervous when Sookie passed that comment. And Lester times two would certainly have access to HRM’s phone. Naughty boy! Compton, which he happened to see down below, was having something of a reaction to that remark as well. A little guilt went a long way on that cocksucker’s face. So he could have made the phone call also.

The king of the dragons was a useful chap to know. Of course, glamouring Chow was a bust. Just an e-mail and the promise of money was enough to get just about any vampire’s attention. And that would be all it would take for anyone is HRM’s residence to climb on board the Northman Chained saga.

Oh wait one. What was that? Eric stepped away from the balcony’s open door. Was that the very soft knocking of someone at the door? What had happened to his quiet? Why, who could possibly be calling at this late and very unsociable hour?

No need to even look through the peephole. But just for a chuckle, he did.

O.I. was hovering over his shoulder. “Mo’ fo’n,” he said with a sleepy voice and a sad shake of his head. “Viking, does it ever stops! Can’t be catchin’ my beauty winks with the this and that of low lives comin’ and goin’.”

Eric chuckled. “Truer words,” he said in a sad little voice while shaking his head and driving an imaginary stake through his own heart. “I have this,” he winked, opening the door and there stood Compton with a bouquet of flowers.

“Expensive bouquet. Aren’t those the flowers that were on the front desk?” Eric asked. “I seem to remember the peonies.”

“Northman,” Bill said through gritted teeth. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, I am presently waiting for the sun to rise. Then I shall retire to my room that is part of their suite. Just how, I might ask, did you get a key to this elevator?”

Bill said nothing, just dropped his fangs, pulled a wooden stake and drove it straight for Eric’s heart, just to have his hand hit an invisible barrier and the wood to shatter, causing splinters to fly in all directions.

“What part did you not understand when she said she was home?” Eric laughed as he grabbed Bill by the throat and shook him around as they walked out into the hall. Slamming him against a wall, Eric reached down and picked up a large splinter and put it in his pocket.

“O.I. if you would please. Tell this lower than Were shit cocksucker that Abraham Lincoln did this damage to him. And to spread the word that Druid House does not tolerate wrong doers.”

“Hello lower than Were shit cocksucker,” O.I. fluttered face to face with Compton. “Yous is doin’ wrong and the great and grand President Abraham Lincoln, who freed the slaves and put your mo’ fo’n ass of prince of the lazy assed mo’ fo’n manor out of business, has served justice on your ass for tryin’ to bamboozle and enslave our fair and just Druid House. So suffers and pukes and spread the word. That word being: Mind you manners any and all who thinks to trespass or glamours here. ‘Members, Mr. Lincoln done fucked you up.

He is yours Eric, to fuck up,” O.I. smiled and moved out of Compton’s range of vision.

“Who gave you a key?” he asked.

“Middleton, night manager. I date her when I need things. Promised to turn her,” he snickered.

Eric and O.I. both rolled their eyes.

“What do you know about who is wanting to chain me?”

“Nothing. I got an e-mail and the promise of money. The money was very tempting but HRM needs you to hold her Northern border. Which means I need you to hold the Northern border. I am going to start silvering the humans I provide for her. When she claims the true death, I will crown myself king.”

“Fucking Were shit,” Eric laughed. “I guess I saw that ego wanting to be king. But willing to keep me alive? I am truly shocked and amazed.

I am going to crush your voice box,” and with his fist he squeezed Bill’s neck until all the bones cracked and popped. “No one wants to listen to you scream as I place this splinter into your eye,” he smiled delightfully and then thrust it sideways through both Compton’s balls and penis.

There was no mistaking the raging fear, anger and pain on Bill’s countenance. His body language summed it up nicely as well as he was bent over, silent screams coming from him.

“Now Bill, man up,” Eric smiled. “The evening is going to get better.

O.I.” Eric regarded the dragon. “If you would release him please.”

“Go back to being the traitorous cocksucker you were, are and always mo’ fo’n will be,” the small dragon said. “You came to here to glamour and take and the ghosts of the family saw to your many hurtful and hurting needs.” O.I. snapped his fingers and Eric dropped him to the floor.

Standing in front of Bill was Eric. He could see his size thirteen feet as he sat huddled down on the floor. Was it true about what they said? Did your foot size really tell a woman the size of your penis? Or was it your hands? Or maybe it was your nose? He could not remember. His mind screamed with pain!

“See Bill, what happens when you walk where you should not. You are a mess? Not that your dick worked before, but will it ever again?

And who knew Druid House was kin to Abraham Lincoln? Wish he could have stayed longer. I would have loved to have chatted.”

Eric picked Bill up by the neck and continued the small talk as they walked down the hall with Bill dangling from his fist. Eric sent the elevator up and then pushing open the doors, threw Bill down the shaft.

“Lower than Were shit vampire,” he said to O.I. as they returned to their suite and Druid’s House New Orleans’ home.

Eric picked up his phone and dialed. “Child, you are needed. Stop what you are doing and get upstairs. The suite now belongs to Sookie so we will conduct business in the penthouse lobby. You know how you always had a thing for Middleton, the night manager. Well make your dream a reality.”

 

HRM’s house was getting ready to retire for the old dark when she got the call.

“Compton is at the gate, badly damaged.”

“Bagged blood and I will be down,” she sighed as she regarded the three toothsome morsels that were in her bed. “Fuck and the lack there of,” she muttered.

Pulling on her robe, she walked out to the balcony and then with grace, fluttered down to the ground. Vamp speed she was to the guardhouse.

“No voice box,” one of the guards said, pointing to the huddled mass of bloody bits that was sitting in a chair in a corner.

“Who did this?” she asked, walking over to him and lifting up what was left of his bashed in skull.

“We asked him and all he could write was Abe Lincoln.”

“You mean President Abraham Lincoln?” in her voice was doubt but weirder had been known to happen.

The skull nodded yes while Compton’t hands made agitated movements.

“Hook him up to I.V.’s, multiples. Then get him in the ground. I need him healed and working with the new dark.”

Sophie-Anne had a pretty good idea of what had happened. Good old greedy Bill. Sometimes he did all right by her but he was always trying to do better for himself. Kneeling down by the miscreant she asked the question that she already knew the answer too. “Did you try to see Druid House?”

The bloody skull nodded yes.

“Did I ask you too?”

“No,” the head shook back and forth and the body winced in pain.

“Fucking right I did not, you piece of Were shit,” she hissed and then slapped him full vamp force just for good measure. When he hit the floor, he curled up into the fetal position, she kicked him.

“Spread the word,” she said to those in the guard shack. “Leave Druid House the fuck, alone. Unless you want to look like this,” she said pointing to Compton. “Ghosts,” she shuddered. “They all come with attitude! And you cannot fucking kill them!”

“Yes your majesty,” they all nodded.

“Now get him plugged in and in a hole. He is supposed to be in Shreveport with the new dark, keeping an eye on things, there. He will be keeping that date with his brains in his skull or hanging out.”

 

 

With The Setting of the Sun—Chapter 4

07 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by carrollestewart in Uncategorized

≈ 20 Comments

With the Setting of the Sun Chapter 4

 

In memory of Nelsan Ellis  

November 30, 1977-July 8, 2017

 

The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended. The characters on True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball. No infringement on my part is intended.

I have no BETA, editor, or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.

Chapter 4

“This is fun,” Sookie smiled as she looked around the small alley way that was gated on both ends with fiery angels wielding swords worked into the wrought iron. There were pumpkins and cornstalks and baskets of apples and dried corn everywhere along with vendors selling caramel apples and apple cider. All the doors in the alley were open and they wandered in and out of shops, Sookie often stopping to admire the antiques in the windows or the material in a one of a kind window fashions house.

“Just look at the material on those drapes?” she was shaking her head, afraid to touch.

“Parisian,” the sales lady by the name of Lois smiled. “Go ahead, feel it. It is incredible.”

“How much?” Sookie asked.

“By the yard, it is five hundred. The labor is three times the cost of the material for standard size windows.”

“Beautiful,” she nodded as all three walked out of the store.

“You know you can afford that,” Eric said as they stepped outside.

Sookie looked up at him. “For right now, I am fine. Maybe once I see how the money shakes out, I can custom order them from Penny’s. I don’t know about paying five hundred a yard.”

Lafayette had been monitoring the two. The vampire was minding his manners, Miss Sookie….well, she always minded her manners. But she seemed a bit off. A bit less Sookie and a bit more what the fuck! towards the vampire. Yes, something had definitely happened.

But not on his watch! He was eyes and ears and La La goodness on those two. Especially that one…day walking’ mo fo’n vampire!

Time to change up the beat from a waltz to a mirror ball disco! It was time to stop them from walking side by side. They just seemed to fall into step, together. This was not good. They was both doing a couple dance without the music! “Squirrel dance party on the front porch,” he thought as he watched them stop and window shop.”No, no and no to this this mo’ fo’n cha cha chasin’ vampire.

It is four-ish or close enough. Let’s have some nourishments at the Warring Dragon Tea Room. Sounds made to order,” he grinned as he pushed open the door.

“Could use a little somethin’ to take off the hunger edge,” Sookie nodded in agreement. “Eric, is there someplace else you would like to be?” she asked.

“Here is perfect,” he smiled as he regarded the castle theme the small room had embraced.  “These walls look very authentic,” he said to the hostess.

“That is because they are,” she grinned. “Rumor has it that some vampire back in the day had them shipped over. Set up shop here as a deposed ruler who would help you finance your newest venture. That was before the outbreak of World War II. When the war started, he disappeared along with his clients’ money. It has changed hands a couple of times. The last hurrah was a very small but very exclusive antique store.

The new owner bought everything, to include the antiques for a fair price. That was five years ago. And we have been serving tea, since.

Come on,” she grinned, “I will seat you in the vampire’s daytime hidey hole. We removed the brick wall and put up curtains, instead, so you can see out or have privacy.”

“Perfect,” Eric smiled as she ushered the small party of three toward the back of the room.

“This is lovely,” Sookie smiled as the hostess pulled out her chair and shook out her napkin.

“Well thank you. Your server today will be Jenny. She will be right out. Here are your menu’s. And if I might suggest the green tea ice cream as a palette cleanser between your courses, you cannot go wrong.”

“Thank you,” they all three said and then picked up their menu’s and started looking in earnest.

“High tea,” Sookie kept coming back to that. “I feel like I could have a meal…and then, finish up business and maybe just sleep this Halloween, away.

What?” she said looking at Eric who was looking at their neighbors.

“They brought that table their sweet…and…and I can smell it.”

“Yes?” Sookie said looking at him. “Is that good, bad, indifferent?”

“It smells good,” he replied, his eyes cutting to the three plates on the caddy loaded down with fresh fruit tarts.

“Yes?” Sookie nodded not sure where he was going with this.

“Food does not smell good. Has not in a long time,” he stressed. “That smells really good.”

“Oh-h-h-h,” she and Lafayette both said at the same time.

“Samuel, he is so old, on his God’s holy days, he can eat fruit based things he knew when he was human. And honey. He can even drink wine from his homeland.

Have you any type of reference for this? Any previous history that talks to this…sampling?”

“Oh,” Sookie raised an eyebrow at him. “That has never come up. You want to give it a try?” she asked. “We will tell them you have allergies and just to bring out fruit. What do you think?”

“Yes, maybe so,” he said as he perused the menu with something other than wondering what his date for the evening was going to smell like. “Strawberries, I knew those. And blueberries.”

“That is a place to start,” she smiled at him. “I am going for the full out tea. I hope she comes back around soonest. I am starving.”

 

It was chatty and cheery. So this is how women liked to spend their afternoons. Eric was intrigued. Carefully he dipped his berries in a pot of honey and ate them daintily while Sooke blasted through three pots of tea, her savory plate, where included a Scotch egg, a small cucumber salad and a small loaf of brown bread and butter.

When she hit the top portion of her tray which was the sweet, there was not one crumb left.

“Wow,” she closed her eyes and dabbed at her lips. “That was so nice and so delicious and can I just say how much I enjoyed being waited on!

Woof! I could use a nap,” she sighed. “Yes sir. Just sleep right on through this Halloween,” she snuggled into her overstuffed wingback chair and closed her eyes.

“I was wondering,” Eric began. “If perhaps I could interest you in accompanying me tonight?”

Lafayette looked like he had something he was going to say about that…none of it good from the look on his face.

Looking from Sookie to Lafayette he began. “This will be a huge crowd. Everyone will be in costume. Dark is falling. I am old enough I can be up a bit early. I could easily send a text asking if I might bring my business associates. Protocol will either yes or no and send me the invitations that I can print out.”

“That is this side of mo’ fo’n gettin’ us killed,” Lafayette offered up as he poured another cup of tea.

“Yes,” Eric nodded. “Under normal circumstances I would not suggest such a thing. But times are not normal. You now have O.I. to run interference for you and…and this will be my best opportunity to check for indiscretions. Namely by those who want me for their own reasons.

No other night would offer this opportunity. There will be all manner of local, state and federal officials. Hollywood types.

HRM will have invited all she can curry favor with. And if not favor, perhaps a little glamour.”

“Okay you bring guests. So why are we there with you?” she asked. “Some one is going to ask.”

“Because you are Druid House. An exclusive financier. You are the CEO and make the money decisions and Lafayette is your Chief Operating Officer. He also approves or not of the worthwhile of the investment opportunity.

Our backstory, basically, is that I am asking you to loan me money so I can start a new business and Lafayette will decorate it accordingly so that it brings in the maximum amount of money.

Before taking this venture on for me, I thought I would introduce you around, impress you and get you to side with me about what a good fellow I am and how fiscally responsible I can be with my money…or your money

My queen will be in favor of this because this will be more tax revenue she can expect from me.” Sookie looked interested. Lafayette was going to take some convincing.

“You will be in costume. I suggest your Druid robes. Because after all,” Eric smiled, “you are Druid House and everyone expects you to be dressed like a Druid. That would be all the time. And Lafayette, you are flame on just as much as you want to be. Or not,” he said shrugging. “You play it however you see best.”

“Eric we are charmed, I am sure,” Sookie started by saying. “But I have been up now for over twenty-four hours and I am draggin’, just a bit.”

“I can fix that,” he smiled charmingly. “Just a small taste of my blood…just a drop the size of a pencil lead.”

“No,” Lafayette was shaking his head. “I have heard the stories about V,” he whispered.

“Probably all true,” Eric nodded. “And I do not share my blood. But I am desperate. They took Pam right out of her office,” he stated matter of fact.

“That is a nasty-assed no to the V. She is not doin’ that. If we agree, when she hits bottom, we will just make our jet lag excuses and be done.”

“How about,” Sookie sighed, “If I just push on through. Maybe some coffee. Just stay awake the best I can and we go from there.

And I like the part about the jet lag,” she said taking Lafayette’s hand. “That could work. What do you think, Lafayette?” she said looking at her friend. “It is Halloween and a party. I have never been to a Halloween party. Especially one that might get me killed.”

“Get you killed is right!” he arched an eyebrow at her. Then he turned to Eric. “They gonna’ I.D. us and come lookin’ at a later date?” Lafayette asked. “Like when yous happy ass is not around?”

“You are Druid House,” Eric replied. “Those in the know know you. You believe in the small business person. I am a small business person. One or two will come sniffing around, but I think between the three of us we can put them in their place.”

“Well alright then,” Sookie nodded. “Let us take care of Chow and then get ourselves to New Orleans. I have only been a couple of times on short trips. I guess tonight is no different.”

“I will get us there,” Eric nodded his thanks. “We will have a room at the Cardinal New Orleans Plaza Hotel. You are paying, of course,” he grinned.

“Of course,” she nodded. “You own the hotel?”

“Well yes,” his grin got bigger.

Sookie grinned despite herself. “Most excellent. I see the lights comin’ on outside. I would love to linger and walk between the gates, but I guess not tonight. Happy Halloween to us.”

“Some other time,” Eric gave her a genuine smile. “I promise. We have to make a stop and then head for the club. Pam is going to meet us there at nine.”

 

Pam sniffed, sat up, wondered just where the hell she was and then saw the note left by her maker along with a new phone. “That fucking Chow!” she hissed and fell into full vampire mode!

”Just where the fuck, Eric, am I?” she shuddered. “I can smell overtones of you but just what the fuck?” she watched the candles burning. “This place reeks of magic. Oh…and empties.” The last of the I.V.’s was feeding into her. “And just how the fuck did you come for me in daylight? That was daylight…I mean…I was not that delusional. I could smell it all over you. Right, I mean I could?

Fuck it!” she hissed. “Because damn, I do feel good. I feel like I am completely healed and maybe a virgin again. And on bagged bloods. Well good on me! And these bagged bloods I am sure look good on me,” she said stretching. “And just what cheery words does my maker leave for me in this lovely missive to aid in my speedy recovery?” as she picked up the note and began reading in Eric’s voice:

Child, “Yes, I am just the best,” she blew air kisses.

A Buddhist prayer altar has been delivered to the club. “Well fuck, are we having church now my maker?”

It is in my office. I am luring Chow to the back with that. There is room for you inside of it if you wish to jump out and surprise him.

“Damn, always wanted to be the hot babe in the birthday cake…not!”

On a more positive note, Sookie, Lafayette, and O.I., the King of the Dragons are now my newest cohorts in crime and other pleasantries.

Chow is scheduled to open tonight. So your abduction has been in the planning for some time. “Thanks Eric,” she smiled. “For making me feel important…we both know it is you they want. So that was very sweet,” she sniffled a bit.

After you deal with Chow, put the Shreveport packmaster Herveaux on your to do list. Start with him and work your way through the pack. You know by their smell who had you. Make sure you have them.

But as of right now, get you ass to Shreveport. Meet me at the backdoor of the club at nine.

Eric

P. scriptum…I promised Sookie whatever money was in Chow’s accounts. Samuel is draining those fuckers tonight. So don’t count on that for shoe whoring money.

P.s.s. Sookie charged me so I can day walk. My shoes are going to wear out faster. Sadly, Henri died a hundred years ago. I am going to miss the alligator boots that he made for me when they wear out. Did I mention Day Walker?

Most sincerely,

Your Perfect Maker.

Pam read the note several times. “Day walk,” she snickered. Then became serious. “Fuck,” she kept whispering, “what the fuck is an O.I. and what the fuck does he mean by king of the dragons? Day walk! Fuck Eric, what kind of magic did you step in?” she screeched. “And is that the same magic I am stepping in now? Were shit Eric! If I start ovulating I am gonna stake you!

Now, oh…directions for getting the fuck out of here. Let us make that happen!”

 

 

Halloween night at Fangtasia was just another night. Eric had refused to decorate the club. The crazies came out in the Supe world looking for Supres who celebrated and he did not want to be a part of their debauchery when they invited themselves in and decided to step the party up to the next level. No one needed police cars with sirens going sitting at the exits.

Glancing around, the parking lots were moderately full so it would just be business as usual. Eric used his key and let them in through the back door. The altar was waiting patiently to come inside.

Pam walked in at the same time behind them and picked up the altar.
“Child, this is Lafayette and Sookie. Lafayette and Sookie this is my child, Pamela.”

Pam glanced at them and nodded then the tirade began as she looked down the hall. “Those fuckers…would you look at that…!” she hissed as she passed by her office. “He replaced the door, just like nothing happened. Like not one thing happened…” she glared at her door. “Just for fun I ought to kick it in myself. See what that lower than Were shit poser thinks of that.

And just what the fuck my maker? I am looking and I do not see an O.I., king of the dragons? Is he in this altar?”

“Limited on time, child,” was all he said as he unlocked his office door. “Put that against the back wall. Now, do you want to wait inside of it or wait behind the door?”

“Behind the door,” she said as she took her position.

“Good,” Eric’s face was set. “Sookie, Lafayette, if you would just take a seat on the couch and wait for us there. I am going out front.

Please, O.I. if you would introduce yourself to my child.”

As Eric walked away he heard a gasp and then Pam’s feet going vamp speed dancing on the ceiling. By the time he reached the outer door she realized she had just shown joy in front of two strangers that also happened to be humans. Some days, he grinned, it was all this and money too. For the rest of her days, when she got snippy, he could reference the dance party in his office. He would give them five minutes to say their how do’s and get acquainted. For Chow, it was going to be the best last five minutes of his life. Sad he did not know that.

 

The door between the back and the bar opened and the vamps working the bar all looked over. Eric…okay…the boss was in.

Chow was having a different reaction. He had hoped Eric was not coming in tonight, but going straight to N.O. Well fuck, the gods of fate were not walking with him at this moment. But he could lie. He was very good at that.

“Eric,” he nodded when The Viking pushed up to the bar. “Have you seen Pamela?” he asked. “I sent her a text about Ginger’s complaint. She said she was coming in early and straightening out the humans’ hours. Ginger was complaining that she had been shorted this week by the new one with the big tits.”

“By all that is unholy,” Eric sighed. “I hate dealing with humans and their pettiness. When Pam gets here, have her talk to Ginger and pay her out of petty cash for whatever hours she is missing.”

“Really?” Chow asked, disgust in his voice. “Petty cash…that effects our nightly gross which effects my money.”

Eric arched an eyebrow at him. “You want to be here during the day to sign for deliveries and answer that fucking phone when a beer truck is running late? Or a breather asks should I wear spandex or the just the mask to impress the vamps behind the bar?”

“Got your point,” Chow nodded. “Anything else?” he asked.

“Yes,” Eric nodded. “Did you happen to order that Buddhist prayer altar that is sitting in the back? Ginger signed for it but had no idea where it went so it is taking up real estate in my office because I had not one fucking clue. Just had to get it out of the employees’ restroom.”

“Prayer alter?” he looked confused. “Restroom?”

“Fire codes,” Eric answered. “Could not stay in the hall. Everything else is locked. And yes, altar.

Looks to be from the 16th century. And Japanese. Nice enamel work. Probably a family altar.”

“With the double doors?” Chow asked, interested.

“Yes, a saffron color. Has shelves on the inside. Some type of inlay on the shelves. The inlay looks to be ivory. Has a very large and impressive fish lock.”

Chow was nodding in agreement. “That would be true to the emperor’s palace. Only altars in the palace were allowed to inlay the shelves. They used whale teeth.”

By all the Buddha’s that were sitting on the seventh cloud! Just be cool and he could walk out of here with a million dollar altar! Oh my! Time to rethink the order of the universe. This could be his for a song! And the child bitch…well…a lot of good had come from getting rid of her! Just look at his karma stick! It was glowing!

“I did not order it, but I did tell Pam I was interested if she ran across one the next time she was in San Francisco. I was willing to spend twenty thousand if she could do well by the piece.”

“Most good,” Eric nodded. “Very possible. She knows several antique dealers in that area. She has a passion for samurai swords.”

“That is what I have heard,” Chow responded, thoughtfully. “Would you mind if I took a look at it? If I like it, I can pay her for it whenever she comes in. I can move it from your office. I’ll borrow a truck and come and get it before sunrise.”

Eric chuckled. “Excellent. It clashes with everything in my office. Especially me. It is a bit gaudy for my liking but I would not ever question Pamela’s taste. If she purchased it for you,” Eric smiled as they walked toward the back. “I would just smile, nod, say thanks and give her the money.”

Eric opened the door back to the offices and then opened the door to his office.

“Lovely,” Chow breathed out as he saw it. Noting the two blood bags, Eric must be up for a party. This should be easy. Eric would want it gone so the nudity could start. “Exquisite workmanship. Yes, Japanese and it is a family altar.”

“Good,” Pam said stepping out from behind and tossing a silver net over Chow. “Because you are leaving in it. Now,” she smiled as she wrapped the chains around him, “O.I., your majesty, I believe this is where you take over.”

“Mo fo’n,” O.I. fluttered up and caught Chow’s eyes with his. “We are speakin’. Remove the silver. Not necessary for the now of his existence.”

“Listen up mo’ fo’er,” O.I. began. “We is startin’ with who paid you to step up and make yourself king and this lovely lady your prisoner?”

“Do not know,” he answered his eyes fixed on O.I.’s as only his mouth moved. “I got an e-mail. Followed the links to an account in Switzerland. They gave me fifty mil to start and they deposited the other fifty mil today. It was there when I rose.”

“Be so kind,” O.I. grinned. “And give forth the account numbers and passwords. Everythin’ you has gots. Brother Samuel, you listen’?” he asked.

“Indeed I am,” there was a throaty chuckle. “King of the Dragons, I am inputting the information as the wanna be child slayer is saying it.”

“What?” Pam grumbled. “They think I am only worth a hundred million?” she hissed. “Fuck’m all! Bunch of fucking posers!”

“Samuel,” Eric eyed Miss Pam. She did not want anyone to think she was a cheap piece of meat. Even if it meant her death. It had better cost in time, money and man power. “Can you trace the e-mail?”

“Working that,” he said and then shook his head no. “Who ever it was took the links down. It originated in what looks to be New Orleans. But they could have bounced the signal from anywhere and left it there.”

Pam was watching O.I. And her maker did indeed smell of sunshine. Sitting down on the floor at his feet, she wrapped herself around his legs. “Fuck it Eric,” she wailed. “Magic,” she wept. “Fucking big magic. Just what the fuck? How am I to deal with this? How do I continue my nightly walk? There are dragons my maker and they are fucking perfect,” she whispered then started again. “And…and…you left me in that chamber. You know when I woke, for all that I had been through, I looked fab-u-lous! My hair and makeup perfect! My shoes not even scuffed. Fuck, it looked like I just gave up without a fight,” she sobbed. “You know I would never do that. Fucking magic fixed what was wrong with me. Made me look like a coward I was so fucking perfect!”

“I know child. It was the chamber. I am sure you were bloodied and your clothes rent and what horrible things you shoes must have suffered.”

“Thank you,” she nodded as he helped her up from the floor. “A fucking dragon,” she sighed. “And not just any dragon…oh no…my maker has to have the king of the dragons!

And a Druid!

And a Medium! He fucking talks to ghost!

Fuck…me…” she whimpered. “Oh woe, all is lost…”

“You able to handle Chow?” Eric asked.

“Fuck yes,” she arched an eyebrow at her maker, her tone righteous. “I am wrapping him back up and your majesty,” she bowded to O.I. “whenever you are ready to release him.”

“Chow,” O.I. grinned at him, “your ride is here.”

Before the vamp who should have known better could scream, Pam crushed his voice box and tossed him into the altar. Closing the doors she dusted off her hands and smirked while she batted her eyelashes.

“Thank you my brother,” Eric saluted Samuel. “More later.”

“Shalom to you my brother,” the small vampire grinned. “Child, enjoy your evening,” and the screen went dead.

“You want some help getting the altar to the van?” Eric asked her.

“Oh no,” she smiled, “I have this and you need to get to N.O. Don’t let the breathers slow you down.”

“Mind your manners,” Eric said, his voice stern.

“Lafayette, Sookie, a pleasure to meet you,” she said with a sincere voice as she mumbled under her breath, “Magic…both of them…we are so fucked! And a dragon. Cute little fucker and useful…but a dragon…”

Eric cleared his throat.

“Oh and my maker, my regards to HRM. Silver her for me if you get the chance,” she grinned as she picked up the altar and left.

Pam opened the van’s back door and slid the altar in . “Pity I cannot keep you,” she said as she slammed the doors shut. “I will give you an hour of my undivided attention,” she smiled when she got in and started the vehicle. “Then I have a hot date with my sniper rifle and several Weres who have been very naughty. Momma is gonna’ have to spank them good.”

 

Alcide was sitting in front of the fireplace in his bedroom having a beer and watching Debbie pack her shit up. For all the crying and boo-hooing and swearing you would think someone had died. Oh…someone had…her free ride.

Hearing the glass break, he turned his head to see what the noise was.

“Stupid cocksucker,” Pam grinned. She had adjusted her sight for movement. The bullet hit him right between the eyes.

“Has to look like a drug deal gone bad,” she said when Debbie turned and started toward the dead Were.

There was another pull of the trigger. “Two down, ten more to go,” Pam grinned and vamp speed she was gone.

 

Dear Readers,

Busy week…woot woot! And woof! But good….got lots o’ things done. Good things…fun things…happy things…(read that to mean no editing!) Yard work, furniture stripping and am trying my hand at chalk painting (and making my own) and the preverbal wax on/ wax off that goes with the chalk painting! Experimenting on just a very small shelf before I take on the Hoosier.

So, a short little something before N.O.

As always, thanks for reading!

Be blessed and be the blessing,

CES

 

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  • The Curse of the Eclipsing Blood Moon—Chapter 16
  • The Curse of the Eclipsing Blood Moon—Chapter 15
  • The Curse of the Eclipsing Blood Moon—Chapter 14

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miss mephistopheles

Satan Is A Lady

Carroll E.Stewart

Words are symbols for sight, sounds, smell, touch, and taste. Spirit and human combined to express what God has thought and we have experienced. --12/1/04

Trajedy99

Our Odyssey

JustWanderingNeverLost

For the Love of a Viking Vampire and His Faerie Princess

Kittyinaz

My humble stories for your viewing pleasure

Kittyinaz's Reblog Page

This is for reblogging all the wonderful content and updates!

The TB/SVM Writers Directory : Fangfuckingtastic FanFiction

suzyq591

I love to read

Nicole A. Raslich

Archaeology, Adventure and Anthropology

SVM & TB Stories

My SVM fanfic stories

Kelpie's Korner

Candida's Musings

pjenkinsblog

This WordPress.com site is the cat’s pajamas

There's more to it than blood, sex, and vampires...

My great Wordpress blog

Parallel Worlds

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