** Disclaimer for SVM **
The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. 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 MA. Contains language and sexual adult situations.
Justified Crazy — Chapter the Fours
Sookie watched as Eric opened the wallet and took out the cash and tossed it onto the table and then destroyed the phone with his hands. “You can be tracked,” was all he said.
Sookie nodded as she looked at the pulverized pieces. “Why,” Sookie hesitated, “why did the Glock drop?”
“Because it was not his,” Eric said, not exactly smiling. “If you would please, I would like to see the Glock.”
“Okay, it’s in the closet, also.”
Sookie brought it back and handed it over to him. Eric dropped the magazine and then cleared the chamber.
“First of all,” his smile did not reach his eyes, “the serial number has been filed off. So, you,” he stressed, “cannot carry this. We will purchase you one. And if you know where to look,” he said taking the weapon, apart, “if you look to the right of the firing pin, with super vampire eye sight, there is another serial number inside a crown. This weapon,” his eyes were blazing, “comes from Sophie-Anne’s arsenal.”
“What?” Sookie asked, shocked. “How?”
“If you are a doer of dirty deeds or know the armorer, you can check out a weapon. Courtesy of Her Royal Majesty of Louisiana. Just sign the log book and it is yours for a bit and a bit. Eventually, it gets returned because no one wants Leavers, her armorer, looking for you. He inventories the weapons once a week. Then calls you in if his precious child has not been returned. And it had better be returned, or his report goes forward and you meet the true death.”
“Seriously,” Sookie replied eyeing the pistol. “So, any vampire or Were that works for her could have access to this?”
“And even human. That is correct. It would be most interesting to see who checked this Glock out last. For some reason, it just does not sit right with me that Chow would do that. Chow was many things, foolish was not one of them. He did not leave a paper trail. There is nothing in the club that he has signed, for. No one except for Pam, myself, and Samuel, my brother and our banker, knows that he owns one third.”
Eric was thoughtful. “I do believe it is time for me to return these things to their rightful owners. Maybe start some infighting and leave a few rumors of who is sucking off whom.
Give me a moment, please. I am going to drop these things in N.O. and I will be right back. But first, a stop off in your kitchen to clean these things of our fingerprints. After all, we don’t want to make things too easy for them.”
.
Watching him take off into the night sky, for a moment, Sookie thought she wanted a drink. “Just damn and fuck and shit,” she breathed out. “Now would not be the time to start drinking. I just might not stop,” she whispered to herself as she held head higher and straightened out her shoulders. “This is a day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it,” she told herself. “Have faith, Sookie,” she whispered to herself. “Eric is here now and together we will figure this out. I now have access to one thousand years of experience to chat up weird shit, with. Well, let’s just see what Chow was packing in the wallet department,” she said as she went to the coffee table and counted out the money. “That is twenty thousand dollars,” there was awe in her voice. “All in thousand-dollar bills. What the fuck? Why would you carry around twenty thousand?” she mused out loud. “Well, vampire,” she shrugged. “Pam handed me a handbag with twenty thousand in it. So maybe that is not so weird. I guess I am just glad he did. Apparently, you get to keep what you kill and there are so many things I can do with that money. But, on the other hand, I now have money. I don’t know how much, but if this asshole carried around twenty thousand in his wallet, I am betting there is at least that much in his account. And there are so many things Lafayette could do with that money.”
.
Eric made N.O. in record time. As in, he had never traveled this fast. He was beginning to believe maybe Sookie’s blood had something to do with that.
A little sex-charged blood something in that little bombshell that had his hair color and now Runes on her back that encouraged her along and added to her abilities and killer instincts. Because his flight-time had increased, dramatically. As in…be the doer of dirty deeds in off the chart time and there was no fucking way they could accuse him of anything. Which gave him pause…and a wiggle of his eyebrows.
Landing, he checked the area for cameras and not seeing any, he walked down the street and put Chow’s wallet into a post office letter box. With a few more steps he was into a dark alley and then he was gone, up into the night sky. Landing, he dropped the phone in a dumpster. He laughed out loud when he thought about where he was going to leave the gun.
Heading to the French Quarter, he landed at one of the tunnel entrances to The Blood on the Quarter.
Taking out his phone, he pushed one.
“My brother,” he saw Samuel’s face on the screen. “It appears to me you are in N.O. I recognize the graffiti on that wall.”
“Yes,” Eric grinned. “I have one of Sophie-Anne’s Glock’s. I would like to leave it in your bar, area, if you are agreeable to this.”
“Well of course and just what type of fun are you involved in?” Samuel asked. “And I am a might bit jealous that you have started this fun without me.”
“Come for a visit,” Eric smiled at him. “There is a lot going on and I must plant this and then back to Bon Temps.”
“Bon Temps,” Samuel raised an eyebrow. “How is Miss Sookie?”
“Most excellent in many unexpected ways. And Samuel, have you ever seen an auto turn into a pumpkin?”
“What? Do you mean like in Cinderella?”
“I am sending you the video,” Eric smiled at him.
“I am on my way,” Samuel replied and Eric shut down his phone.
Letting himself into the building, he avoided the cameras and left the pistol on a chair at the bar.
He headed back to Sookie. For the rest of his days. She was indeed, his reward for surviving this long in the vampire world. Perhaps, maybe, for being born.
.
When he returned, she was waiting for him on the front porch. It had been a busy dark, but she appeared to be wearing it well. Probably the influence of the Runes. Walking up to the steps, her curls, did indeed, look like the runes, unleashed.
When he picked her up to kiss her, she wrapped herself around him.
“Kiss me,” she breathed out. “Kiss me,” she whispered, again as his hands pulled her up and onto him.
She felt herself melting inside his mouth, as he licked her tongue and his lips caressed hers.
Opening the door, he carried inside and over to the couch. When he sat down, her legs straddled his. Pushing up her shirt and her bra, he pulled both nipples into his mouth and suckled. Once he had established a rhythm, her body followed suit, and with each moan, she got closer to insanity!
When there was a low, guttural moan of his name, he pulled her pelvic onto his hard-on and held her there while she shuddered and he bit.
“Thank you,” she snuggled in and closed her eyes. “I need a few moments. I’ll be back with you, in five,” she sighed as she closed her eyes and her breathing became steady and even.
Eric delighted in just sitting there, holding her while she dozed someplace that allowed her to rest.
When the old mantel clock chimed, she pulled back from him and leaned in for one more kiss. “Need to get back at it, so I would like to watch the video, again, please,” she said.
“Of course,” he said handing her the phone and hitting play. “This is what we are dealing with. I would not have you uniformed. I have not ever seen that, before. I am not for sure anyone in the vampire world, has. I know you and I have played some strange hands we have been dealt, but not even I have seen anything like this.”
Sookie watched, trying to comprehend what they were doing. “They are throwing their nude bodies against the back door while their song is being played and…and…oh look, the back door takes another direct hit; they are down, crawl back into the car…and yes, it really does look like they are being vomited out. And now…now…the car turns into a pumpkin.
Why, would they throw their nude body at the door? Are they trying to pass through it? Is it supposed to be some ethereal material that gives way to them? And if that was the case, why not just try to stick your hand through it? Why must your entire body be the…the…weapon?” she hesitated. “Or, a blunt object to pass through?”
“How about,” Eric eyed her, “if we look at this in a more cosmic regard. That opening could be the cervix and they are to pass though it to be born a new creature?”
Sookie let out a sigh. “Well just be fucked,” she was shaking her head. “I finally get a job where I can make some money and there are evil fuckers wanting to be born in the building where I am now part owner. Really? Is there going to be a parade of them? Seriously, Evil. Can you not just get a job and work it and go home and be grateful like the rest of us?
Fuck me,” she sighed, again. “Why Fangtasia?” she asked. “Or, maybe it is not about the location,” she arched an eyebrow at Eric. “Maybe it is about you being there,” she stressed. “I mean, I cannot be the only one that knows you are special. Especially if they are doing some who-doo scrying for you. ‘Cause that bathing in your blood, thing. Ick. They are working the dark side of Hell. Or…or…something equally as desperate.”
“There are a lot of variables,” Eric nodded in agreement. “But me, dead, that seems to be the objective. After all, they thought they were vampire slayers.”
Handing the phone back to him, she shook all over and then righted, herself. “And for the car to pumpkin, I have got nothing for that. Other than Cinderella and you know, it was her fairy godmother who worked that magic. I guess I am just glad the women did not turn back into mice. Or a rat, or whatever.”
“Fairy, there is that word, again,” Eric sighed.
“Have you known one?” she asked.
“Sookie, I have known and seen a lot of weird. Even for a supernatural. At times reality seemed to cross a line that I had not, up until that moment, been privileged to know about.
Anything is possible. And I do mean anything. But Samuel, my brother, who is also your banker, he believes that angels walk among us. Good and evil, angels. The good guys, to do your God’s work. The evil ones, to walk their own path and serve evil.
If I were to see an angel, I might think it was a fairy. If I was to see a fairy, I might think it was an angel.”
“So,” she regarded him, “you have seen something?”
“That would be correct,” he nodded.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.
“Not yet. I would not want to influence you in any way.”
“You mean, just in case I see something as well.”
“Yes,” he nodded.
“Do you want to stay with me today?” she asked as he held out his hand and helped her up. “My room is light tight. Or at least my version. Or, there is the bathroom. There is no window in there. Or actually,” she paused. “I have not been down in the root cellar for a while. Not really since Gran, died. That might do you. I mean, it has a dirt floor. Nothing fancy or homey.”
“I believe,” he smiled at her, “that I would not fear for my life with you on guard. And a root cellar, why Miss Stackhouse, I would be delighted.”
“It is dry down there,” she nodded. “And oh, it has a spring. You know, back in the day, the family was pretty modern for having no electricity. The spring runs cold and it keeps things cool if you place them in it.”
“Siege worthy, Miss Stackhouse, I believe is the term.”
“Can we lie on my bed and smooch for a while. I know daylight is not so very far, away.”
“We can do that,” he grinned at her. Then became serious. “I want to believe that you want to kiss me, for your own sake. But that remark is so out of character for you.
Sookie, how are you feeling?” he asked her, the concern in his voice to hear.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” she replied. “I have had nothing but the last six months to reflect on my life and just how miserable I have been. I mean, I know, pity party, etc., but it is just that I have been so fucking lonely. Gran always told me if you find yourself in a hole to stop digging.
But this lonely thing,” she shook her head. “That has been a real eye-opener.” She took a deep breath and then let it slowly, out. “And something else I realized. Since I have been with you for the past five years, okay, maybe emotionally, it has been a roller coaster and non-stop and even death and destruction. But I was a body in motion,” she stressed. “Constantly going forward. Sometimes washing off blood and body parts and there was that time in Houston brain matter was involved, but I was never stagnant and I always had you to talk things through with.
And my life, these past hours, that is not so different. Okay,” she shrugged, “hocus pocus, have the Runes living on you and be the vampire slayer and conquer evil with Eric,” she shrugged, again. “You know, you are just that guy that brings justice and destruction, wherever you go.
The drama, the intrigue, how folks would go missing in the past…” she raised an eyebrow at him. “Not so different than what I am witnessing, now. I think I am doing okay. But I would need some time for self-reflection to, I don’t know, rationalize all this. But seriously, I think I am doing okay. I mean, it is not every day you get tattooed with Runes that empower you with good and positive things and you get to watch a car turn into a pumpkin. And then, there is that thing we did in the truck on the drive over. Just damn…” she took a deep breath and let it out. “I really enjoyed that. I mean…” she stressed, “I really enjoyed that. And while we were doing that, I told myself that you were the only guy who could do that to me.”
Eric just stared at her.
“Yes, I know, I have given you shit in the past, especially when you would call me up and want me to telepath some nobody just so you could give me money. The times I have left Fangtasia pissed off without even gas money…lordy…I have lost count. I know how stubborn I am and the mean things I would say to you and always top it off with I don’t take charity.
And I have watched the blood whores come and go and always told myself that was not going to be me. Not ever. Not in anyone’s universe. Not for any amount of money.
But oh my gawd Eric, I would pay you with whatever I have just to have you hold me.
For the past six months, I have had no one to hug. And I would not trust myself to hug someone for fear that I would not let go of them.
And when you talked about that transference of emotions, I can see the wisdom in why you stayed, away. Because once I found my even footing, again, I would blame you for taking advantage of my weakness.
I don’t think there is anyone on the earth that knows me better than you do. And at times, you have known me better than I know myself. And for all my bullshit that I have shoveled on you, here you stand, with me…” she said softly. “Believing in me.”
“I have always worried for you, Sookie. And no matter how I tried to dress the money up, you always saw through me. And there are many that would do unspeakable things to you because I cared for you.
And I was not willing to risk you. Even if it was for you to show up there, and leave angry. At least I got to see you.
And I know you are safe now. I no longer worry for you. And I know in my heart, that you really do not need me. But I find that I need you.
Do, do you really want to lie with me and kiss for a while?” he asked softly. “I mean, does that feel right to you?”
“Seriously, Eric, the way my body responds to you, I know in my heart that you are the only guy who can do that to me. And the only guy I want doing that to me. And you do not even mind that I am justified crazy.”
Sookie lifted her hand to his face and slowly outlined every part of it. Her fingers lingered on his lips. “All my life, I feel like I have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. Sitting here with you, I think maybe it just did. And I don’t know what that means other than I am no longer lonely. And that the world can just go and fuck off because I have back a part of me that has been missing. And I think, Eric, that has been you. It is like this old computer now has a new operating system. And maybe the Runes downloaded into me what I am supposed to be. A vampire slayer,” she grinned at him, “and your lover,” she said softly. “And just be Sookie. I used to catch glimpses of her when I was young. Then, as I grew up and started working and worrying about daily living, I think I pushed her away. I had no room for the girl who thought if she worked hard enough and never gave up and believed in herself, that she could succeed and make a difference. And working at Merlotte’s, I watched folks come and go. Kids grew up and moved away. Folks died and left behind their legacy. And I, I was caught in a hamster wheel. Until the day I met you. And there was a part of me that responded to you. You were like…like something familiar. Something I should know and cherish. Something that I had been seeking since…since…” she shrugged.
“Or maybe,” he said carefully, “it is just the Runes. You very well could be descended from a Viking Shield Maiden.”
“Well just damn,” she grinned at him. “No wonder I have not been happy land-locked, here. I think I need a dragon boat and go adventuring on the open seas.
Or maybe,” she ran her hand down his face, “maybe just kiss on you and consider myself the luckiest girl in the world.”
“Well, I think that is a place to start,” he smiled at her and lifted her up into his arms. “Seriously, you think you would like to traverse the world on a longboat?” he grinned at her.
“Well, maybe…” she eyed him. “What do you have in mind?”
“How about if we take a blanket and pillow and lie on top of your roof. I think that would give you an idea about the longboat. Sadly, it is not raining. We could, perhaps, turn on the hose and wet down the roof and splash ourselves with it from time-to-time.”
“You think what? That I am a chicken to do that? Let’s go,” she smiled at him. “But with a couple of blankets and with two pillows. And let’s maybe snuggle in by the chimney.”
Eric grinned. “So, perhaps not a Shield Maiden after all. There were no chimney’s on-board ship.”
“On the smaller, shore-to-shore raiding ships, okay; you got off on land and took care of business. But on the big, ocean-going vessels, some were outfitted with two pots on a chain. The lower pot was for the fire and the meal to be cooked in an iron pot suspended above it.”
“Miss Stackhouse,” he raised an eyebrow at her. “You have studied. Was I, perhaps, the driving force behind this interest?”
“Ma-a-a-ay be-e,” she smiled at him.
“Well then, come my Shield Maiden, let us secure our post and watch the night sky and kiss away the old dark.”
Once they were settled on the roof, Sookie could not get comfortable lying beside Eric so she climbed on top of him. “Much better,” she wiggled in closer. “You are so much nicer than my damp shingles.”
Laughing, he leaned up and kissed her. “Well, at least I have that going for me.”
“And did I mention that my shingles were hard, as well.”
“Well, at least I have that going for me as well,” his voice smoldered.
They were lying face-to-face as she rubbed her nose against his.
Eric pulled the blankets in around her and tucked them in.
Their lips met and softly their tongues tasted each other.
“Being with you,” she sighed as they broke off the kiss. “This is the best part of my day,” she smiled at him and then laid her head down on his chest. “Eric, please do not ever leave me,” she whispered and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He could feel the tears cascading down her face. Stroking her back, he laid his head on top of hers. “I will give to you all of my tomorrows,” he whispered back. “I do not wish to walk this world without you, Lover,” as he pulled her in that much closer.
Raising her head up, he brushed the tears from her eyes. “I mean that,” he said as he kissed her. “Relax, Sookie. I have you. Just let me do this. You have no place else you need to be. Just here in my arms,” he sighed as he began kissing her neck and his hands slipped under her clothes. One hand on her breast, the other one in her panties. As he continued kissing her, his fingers became more knowledgeable and the pressure began to mount not only on her clit and her nipple, but inside her as well.
His fingers were vamp speed on her clit as she arched into him and cried out. “Please,” she whispered. “Please…”
Licking her neck, he bit and she moaned his name and orgasmed with her body pushing into him.
Then she was once more riding the wave, this time his pants were unzipped and his hard-on was right there as he placed her nub against his tip and vamp speed, the echo of a scream pushed past her lips and he once more bit.
“Eric,” she shuddered multiple times while she managed to say his name.
Pulling her in next to him, he stroked her back and kissed the top of her head as she dozed off to sleep.
“Lover,” she heard her name and did not want to wake, or move, or even breath.
“Lover, sunrise is approaching.”
Wrapping herself around him, they floated down to the ground and into the house.
.
It was going to be a glorious sun rise as Sookie moved the rug on the floor of laundry porch and lifted the latch that led to the root cellar. Descending into the earth, Eric felt a calm take him as he lay down on the blanket and pillow that they had carried down. This was bliss, it all smelled of Sookie. His Sookie. The fear was gone. Anyone come looking for her and it would be their last, stupid, Were shit idea they would ever have.
.
He/She/It, they could no longer remember, stood looking at the building where fate and destiny would be decided. The sacrifices should be here, to greet them. There were to be five to offer up what had been reclaimed and what was true ownership. But they were not.
Or would not, the memory of the agreement was no longer there. Only the longing to do what was right that was wrapped up in the longing to do what was wrong. Power, once tasted, changes one forever. And the taste had been delightful, and intoxicating, and the ability to fuck with the world had consumed him? Her? They?
Hurrah for the sunlight that washed away the fear of yesterday and the tears of tomorrow. Inside were things that belonged to him…yes…him…he held that thought for a moment and felt down between his legs. Yes, he nodded, him! With a fierce pride he had known in his past, he started toward the building, his destiny. His complete and utter control of himself and the world…
…and just as the sun cleared the horizon, Fangtasia started to burn.
With a howl, and then uncontrolled weeping for what would never be, he turned to the East, that which destroyed the darkness and walked into the first ray of sunrise.
.
The Bon Temps police department got the phone call from a hysterical trash truck driver said that it looked like Sam’s head was lying beside his truck. And maybe that was his body on the hood.
Police cars rolled with sirens blaring and at the bridge that crossed Speck Creek they found his truck in the bridge abutment and the two parts of Sam smelling like pot and alcohol.
.
The fire department got to Fangtasia in time to watch the fire cause the building to fall in, upon itself.
When the police showed up, the fire chief said, “Someone broke in through the front door and set a fire. It began in the back corner of the building.”
In another part of town, a seed store caught on fire.
On the edge of town, an Army Surplus store caught fire.
And at the Shreveport Municipal Hospital, their medical waste incinerator fired up all by itself.
.
That morning, in New Orleans, the Post Office picked up the mail at the letter drop box on Griffin Street. The postal carrier called the police and a uniformed officer drove up and the wallet was signed over to him.
When the day crew came into The Blood, the police were called and two uniformed officers showed up to collect the Glock.
.
Sookie was up and moving at three. She had slept the day and was feeling pretty damn good about herself. Eric gave her a whole new perspective on life.
Shower, some food, and she was pouring herself another cup of coffee when there was a knock at her door.
“Sheriff Andy,” she said when she opened it. “Please, come on in. The heat is on and I have the fireplace, going. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Thanks for offering Sookie, but, this is really not a social, call. I have some bad news.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” he nodded, “you might want to sit down.”
“Okay,” she said, sitting on the couch. “Has…has something happened to Jason?”
“No,” he shook his head. “Sookie, we found Sam’s truck…and Sam. He hit the bridge abutment on Speck Creek and he was not wearing his seat belt.”
“Oh,” her voice was low. “How bad is it?”
“Sam is dead,” he said gently.
“No seat belt huh,” she wiped at her eyes. “We would all fuss at him from time-to-time about not wearing it. About how if he ever slammed on the brakes, he would go through the windshield and lose his head.”
Andy just nodded.
“Oh,” the tears rolled down her cheeks. “He really did,” she sobbed.
“Also, the Compton place burned. You notice anything about that?”
“Not really,” she was still wiping away the tears. “I have been burning the fireplace. I have noticed the smoke smell, but, you know, I just figured it’s my fireplace.”
“I…” he hesitated, “I know you quit working at Merlotte’s.”
“Yes,” the tears rolled faster down her face. “That did not end on a happy note. We were both fussing at each other. I will now never get to apologize.”
“What, what was it about?”
“He wanted to get married, I did not want to. I have a guy that I see in Shreveport whenever he is not deployed. Bottom line, I told Sam that I did not love him,” Sookie shrugged. “That I could never love him in that capacity. And I was not going to marry him because that would be the easy thing to do. I wanted to marry for love. I guess if I would have said yes, he would have spent the night,” she sobbed, “and he would not be dead.”
“I’ll see myself out,” Andy sighed as he stood up.
“Thanks,” she wiped at her eyes and had another swallow of coffee.
When she heard the car back out and leave, she got up and tossed another log into the fireplace. “That was just damn easy,” she said, sounding a bit shocked. She heard giggling coming from her back. “You guys do that?” she asked.
“Yes,” came the happy response, “we supply whatever it is you need. We have the Rune stave to make that happen. We are twenty-four and we are complete! Our casting space is pure of heart and free from blemish!” They all shouted and whistled. “Many thanks to you, Miss Sookie; it is good to be back in the biz.”
.
There was a file on Tower’s lap top when he rose, waiting for him. So, the work load had started, already. Fuck, that was never good. That icon that sat there blinking at him, that only happened when vampire shit hit the fan. He was guessing it had hit in a big way. Sitting down he opened the message. Taking a brief glance through it, he then went back and began to read in depth and was putting together his own profile.
“Chow’s wallet was found in N.O. Chow is dead,” he mused out loud with a nod of his head. “Compton’s and Swynford de Beaufort’s house has burned.
Fangtasia has burned.
And one of Sophie-Anne’s Glocks, found at The Blood put a hole in the truck of one Sam Merlotte of Bon Temps, who is dead.
And to continue on with the fire bug, Army Surplus store burned, that was vamp, owned.
Seed store burned, that was vamp owned.
And to add to the weird shit pile, the medical waste incinerator at the hospital fired up all by itself. Oh man, I hope that incinerator does not turn into a dragon. And that incinerator is vamp, owned. Huh, I am just not for real sure what to think about that, but…Rugger thought it was just odd enough to include in his report to me.
So just who has declared war on the Vamps? Particularly the ones in Area Five? And why are they dumping the evidence in N.O.? Just who are they trying to implicate? Or send a warning, too? Sophie-Anne, just who have you pissed off now? There are rumors running rampant about Edgington wanting to buy into Louisiana’s riverboat gambling and Sophie-Anne holding that up at the state legislature level. Now there is a reason for a greedy assed vampire to go to war.”
He once more hit the video on his phone. “Just what the fuck? How do you turn an auto into a pumpkin? And how do you get to be a slayer? Seriously, you actually think of yourself as a vampire slayer? We may never know,” he was scrolling through the file and came back to the photos, “apparently, the five slayers we brought in, they…well fuck, it says here they died by spontaneous combustion.”
.
When Eric rose, Sookie was there to greet him in the laundry room.
“Lover, you are looking exceptionally well this new dark,” he said, smiling at her as he wrapped his arms, around her.
“This is because I am. As awful as it sounds, I like being a lady of leisure. You know, no time card, no angry faces, no one trying to bully me,” she grinned. “And maybe me kicking their ass if they try. And you here with me, me getting to see you and maybe get a kiss when you rise.”
“A very good day,” he grinned at her, and then his tongue gently made its way into her mouth.
“Hm-m-m,” she sighed. “It has been a busy day,” she stole another small kiss and then continued, on. “Sheriff Andy stopped by and told me Sam was dead. I actually cried real tears and told him that my last words with Sam were fussy. He wanted us to get married and I told Andy I have a fella in Shreveport that deployed from time-to-time and that I just did not love Sam that way. And I was sobbing when I told him if only I had said yes, maybe he would have stayed the night and he would still be alive. Sob, sob, hiccup!”
“So much guilt,” Eric sighed and stroked her face.
“Yes,” Sookie smiled. “I was just amazed at how well I did that. And then, I asked the Runes if they helped me with that and they said yes and woohoo they were happy to be back in the biz.”
“Sounds like Kenza, Sowilo, Tiwaz,” Eric said, after Sookie explained her conversation with Andy. “Kenza gives you knowledge and creativity; Solwilo gives you success and achieved goals. Tiwaz is justice and victory.
And with your hair cut and perm…” he looked at her closely. “It looks like you now represent Tiwaz. That would be Tyr’s Rune. He was our first and only god. And then along came priests and god business is big money and so they invited more into the mix.”
“Sounds right,” Sookie nodded. “And my hair does what?”
“If you stand enough Tiwazs, Sowilos, and Kenzas Runes, together, it would look like your hair.”
“Seriously?” she questioned him.
“Yes,” he nodded. “And your people are from Cornwall, and my Viking ancestors pushed through there and lived there. I am sure there is some Viking blood in you. So the Aett would feel very much at home living with you.”
“Yes,” Sookie nodded, “they were giggling. And felt like vibrations coming off my back, so maybe they were dancing, as well.”
Eric arched an eyebrow at her, took his vibrating phone out of his pocket and said, “I have to take this,” as he answered.
“Viking,” there was no mistaking the concern in the special agent’s voice.
“Yes Tower,” Eric responded.
“Bad news on all fronts.
Your club has burned.
Pam’s house burned.
Compton’s house burned.
Along with a seed store, and an Army surplus store. Then, because we just cannot get enough of burning, the hazardous waste incinerator at the hospital came on all by itself. Those three things were vamp owned.
Chow’s wallet was found in N.O. Wiped clean.
A weapon was found by the day crew at The Blood on the Quarter that belongs to Sophie-Anne.
Sam Merlotte is dead. A bullet from said weapon was found in the engine block of his truck and the bullet was traced to Sophie-Anne’s weapon that we found, in The Blood.
The five women we arrested have all went spontaneous combustion in their cells, while in custody. And somewhere along the way, because they were on suicide watch, you could see when they began to lose their youthful appearance and maybe aged about fifty years.
So that is an on-going cluster fuck of which I am glad I am not a part.
And just how do you shift an auto, into a pumpkin? And how do I even show my boss the video and explain that fucked up shit? Hell, I can’t even look at that rationally, and I live with the fact that I am a blood sucking, super-charged, vampire.
And who is Sam Merlotte? I know that he owned a bar and grill outside of Bon Temps. Any idea?”
“Yes, he is a shifter.”
“What the fuck? A real, life, shifter? Not just a Were?”
“Yes,” Eric replied. “I have had dealings with him from time-to-time. Especially when Compton would roll into town. Things would go missing of monetary value from the locals. Merlotte would hear them talking in his business about this and that, that was stolen. He started tracking the trends and he started contacting me.
Last hurrah was a small heard of sheep that went missing and both herding dogs were killed; they were shot, with some type of pistol. The next evening, Compton was in Merlotte’s and Sam said he smelled like sheep. And you know Compton would fuck a sheep because no woman would have him.
And you and I both know, with money or a sheep farmer that feels sorry for you, those sheep can be replaced; but not those working dogs.
Just what kind of lower than Were shit does that? A young vamp, that is who. One who was born to privilege and has not connected the dots that what effects humans, effects vampires. If that had happened back in the day, that vamp would have been hunted down and destroyed to set an example to others. We need humans to survive. Therefore, they need to survive.
The humans out in these parts are poor, enough. Just what in the fucking hell is a vampire out of N.O. doing stealing from them? Seriously, steal from the rich in N.O.
And now Merlotte is dead. There goes the closet thing I had to an insider to keep me posted on Compton when he is in my area. This Were shit stinks.
This is your friendly heads up. If I ever,” he stressed, “catch Compton doing that shit, he is meeting the sun after I have had my fun with him.”
“I’ll hold him down for you,” Tower replied. “Eric, watch your six. And if you know someone who can work a spell for you, I would let them do it. This is some serious shit.”
“Thanks for the heads up,” Eric replied. “Oh,” he hesitated.
“What?” Tower asked.
“In the what it’s worth, department. Merlotte…he said…well he said he saw the outline of a Glock on Compton one night when he was in. He said there was no mistaking that square shape that was tucked into his pants, you know, the outline showing through those cheap-ass shirts he wears. And he could smell the GSR (gunshot residue) and he said silver, coming from Compton’s waist area. That was my friendly heads up. That Compton was carrying with silver bullets. So, watch your six.”
“Fuck,” Tower said. “And just fuck…”
“Tower, if anyone asks, tell them that you have not heard from me. That perhaps I perished in the fire at the club. Give them all kinds of hope that I have met the true death. It will be interesting to see who makes contact and we can go from there. It will at least give us a working list.”
“Can do,” he replied.
“Walk well in the New Dark,” Eric said.
“Eric, you are what stands between Edgington and S-A staying in power. Could be Merlotte burned out Compton. Or maybe Billy Boy pissed someone off in the hierarchy and they wanted to make their point. Especially if Compton and Chow were in cahoots and thought they could do this on their own and remove all others from the those that would be king playing field.
Watch your fucking back,” Tower replied and hung up.
Sookie was watching Eric. “That was just damned impressive. Compton is guilty of all kinds of shit and now you have implicated him in this, which I am sure he deserves to be.”
“Yes,” Eric nodded. “This is poker. You just have to know when to hold, fold, or just fucking run. There was enough by-blow going on to know that it was safe to deal myself in.”
“So, where do you think Chow got the gun, from?”
“I think Compton gave it to him. Bill has been known from time-to-time to check one out from the armory. Especially if he is running errands for S-A. Makes him the big man on campus when he loans it out. Especially if he thinks it is bringing me the true death.”
“Seriously? This asshole thinks he can what, just shoot you and walk away? Aren’t you faster than a speeding bullet?”
“Well, yes, but not if I don’t see or hear it coming. And most assuredly, he would kill me whatever way he could. Me dead, he would be one happy guy.”
“So, what benefit does it bring him? What happens, then?”
“Edgington overruns Sophie-Anne and Bill is given some sort of job for betraying his queen and for ending me. I mean, Edgington just might make him the savior of Area Five.”
“Are you kidding me?” Sookie looked crossed-eyed.
“No, well maybe,” Eric said shaking his head. “I cannot imagine anyone trusting Bill with a job this big. I think Chow was the ramrod and Bill just a lookee-loo.
I am going to disappear, for a while,” he said firing off a text to Pamela. “You should do likewise. Just kick back and see who comes snooping, around.
You feel up to having a house guest?” he asked.
“I would love a house guest,” she smiled.
“We just might let old Billy Boy think I died in that fire. Now there could be some good times and hurt feelings.
Me having the good time and Bill with more than just his feelings, hurt.”
Dear Readers,
Posting this today, instead of Sunday. Internet is a bit spotty and I am doing this while I can.
As always, thanks for reading!
Be blessed and be the blessing,
CES