Chapter 1:
The grey exterior of the hottest club in Shreveport LA was broken up with the waiting bodies. All were hoping to get in to mingle in a world that was not their own. Among the tourists hoping to walk on the wild side within safe parameters; there were the curious hoping to see what the latest trend was about. Then there were the devotees; they were called fangbangers. These people courted death. Their ultimate goal was to join the vampires in eternal life, but for now they wanted to either have one of the undead puncture their arteries or have the vampire take them to bed, or preferably both. Sadly, they are generally repulsive to any decent vampire for the same reason.
The blood red door opens and a blonde vampire dressed like the typical stereotype walks out. Her nametag says Pam. The blonde takes the patron's money, for the cover charge, checks IDs and stamps hands with a specially made stamp that looks like bite marks. Pam is bored. Night after night, it's the same thing over and again.
Little does Pam know that tonight was going to set her and her maker on a different path.
The next two through the door were wearing long black flowing cloaks with deep cowls, obscuring their faces. They seemed to be talking to each other in an ancient language; Greek in origin maybe. The pair stops before Pam. She could feel the age and power wafting over her as they stood before her.
"There is no reason for you to be worried child," The one on the left spoke. Even though there was no indication outwardly, Pam could tell this one was female. The one on the right chuckles with a deep male voice. The female's voice was melodious and light.
Pam nods and reminds them about the cover charge. The male reaches out and deposits enough for him and his companion. When she leans closer to stamp their hands, she notices that they were whiter and firmer than any vampire she had ever encountered. She looks up under the cowls; what she sees freaks her out. The male's eyes were like a glowing flame; orange and red flickering back and forth. The female's eyes were intensely glowing white; like two flashlights, shining out of her skull.
"I think we should move into the club proper now Sister." The male specter motions toward the club's second doors. "We don't want to hold up the line."
"Yes I think so. I would like to see how my children's enterprise is going." She drops her cowl and inky black hair falls from a circlet atop her head. She pats her side, as if to check if something was still there and continues into the bar with her brother. Awed expressions follow in their wake.
Pam goes back to her door duties, trying to put the pair out of her thoughts. They spoke like they lived elsewhere. Where, she couldn't start to guess. Once the club was to capacity, she locks the one-way door and unlocks the exit. She wants to get to Eric as fast as she can, not that she would admit to it out loud. At her age, she still had twinges of wanting him to explain things to her and defend her. Deep down, Pam sometimes feels like a little child to his Daddy role.
Eric was sitting in a booth talking with Sookie. She came to "borrow" a bartender for the shifter, Merlotte. The pirate Charles will do fine for the job. Eric will pay him for protecting his Sookie. He was still confused about his "lost" memories. It irked him to no end that he had forgotten that much time, not to mention that it was time spent with the only woman that he would lay down his undead life for, other than Pam. Eric realized that he was in love with the telepath, soon after their kiss in Dallas. Since then, he has gone to every conceivable end to make her see that he was the better choice for her.
His attention was torn from the blonde's stormy eyes. Power was just pouring out of the pair of new customers. He follows their progress through the darkened club towards a high table by the dance floor.
The woman had a gold and silver circlet at her brow. Her black hair was piled on top of her head, even then the ends reached to her shoulder blades. Her companion whipped off his cowled cloak with a flourish worthy of a Madrid bullfighter. He too, had the inky black hair. It flowed down to just above his waist. He was dressed in a dark grey greatcoat. Instead of a tie, he was wearing a midnight blue scarf.
The man turns and gently takes the woman's cloak. She was wearing a short, black, Grecian style dress.
"Do you know them Eric?" Sookie's question brings him out of his reverie and away from watching the couple. She was also scanning them.
"No, I don't think they are vampires either. Can you get anything from them, Lover?" He always loved slipping that in whether it was to shock her or to remind her that he still wanted to bed her in the worst way. 'Just once.'
Sookie ignored the jab. "Just a low level buzz, they are like a cross between the snarl I get from the two-natured and the vacant space that marks a vampire in my mind." Eric's face shifts from interest to horror. He was hoping that the two were just some supes on the town. Now he knew it was something completely different.
"They are definitely not fae, but something else." Pam relates in her bored tone, as she sits next to Sookie.
"We need to get to the bottom of this." Eric states. All three watch as a waitress walks up to the pair. The girl walks away to the bar and then walks up to their booth.
"Master." The girl, "Courtney", Pam supplies Eric. "The couple over there told me to summon you, Pam and Miss Stackhouse." The girl bows and returns to the bar to retrieve the couple's order.
After a second of feeling indignant about being summoned in his own establishment; Eric nods and starts to get up. Sookie and Pam follow the tall Viking.
A couple of fangbangers grab chairs for him and Pam. He noticed that they purposely did not get one for Sookie; they even glare at her when she walks up to the table. Eric takes the chair from the woman as she coos at him. He ignores the woman.
"Lover, please sit down." Eric motions to the chair. "It was rude of them not to get you one." He raises an eyebrow at the two that got them their chairs. Courtney returns with her little tray weighted down: Eric's and Pam's preference of flavors in True Blood; a champagne cocktail for Sookie; and straight peach nectar, by the smell of it, for the other two.
"This is the closest that the bartender could find. Please enjoy." Courtney bows to Eric and turns to walk away, but the strange man stops her.
"Dear girl, here is some money. Just keep it coming. Here's your tip and here's a coin for your collection."
"Thank you sir, but how did you know about it?" Courtney then looks at the coin. "A real gold drachma, are you sure? These are one of the rarest coins out there." The girl looked skeptical.
"Yes little one. I have plenty as it is. I really don't use them but to catch a cab, and to mail stuff. Come to think of it, we use them for the phone too. It's automatic, I don't think of it. Please keep it. Also, don't worry. You have a long forty-five years left to go. Make the most of them and you won't be alone at the end. I promise." He pats her hand.
Courtney walks away to wait on her other tables. The man shakes his head at his companion. "She is such a sweet girl."
"You would think that with what you do," The woman trails off. "Arrgh, I need to get you out more often brother. Why do you not go with the other men, they invite you all the time? Stretch your wings some. I know Ares invites you." She turns back to the others, buts hears him mutter. "He only does that because he wants points with my sister and to pump me for ideas on how to get you to see him more. You would think that we never grew up together."
"Miss Ravenscroft, Miss Stackhouse, and Mr. Northman; I believe that is what you are going by at this time?" Eric nods. "My name is Noir, this is my brother Night. We are the eldest and most powerful of our father's children. He prefers to known as Hades, but for some reason your people named him Hel and made him into a female deity. Night's primary job is to guard the doors of death. Mine is to add to our father's dominion. That being said; we are also patron gods of the "other" world." The two vampires look confused, but simple barmaid that she is, Sookie catches on quickly.
"Ma'am are you saying that your touch would kill?" The woman's creamy jade eyes turn to Sookie.
"Yes dear child. It will and my blade, that is very important to remember. For this venture though, my other face is needed."
"Then Mr. Night is Death." Sookie concludes. After all she has seen, she never guessed that the gods would be real also.
"It's nice to meet you three. My sister can be a little heavy handed sometimes. What she didn't mention is that even though Pontus and Nerus have the ability, I am the patron god of the two-natured as you call it. My sister is the patron goddess and the source of the magic for the world's undead."
Eric breaks out of his shock and drops to his knees. "I will be your faithful servant, my lady." Pam drops as well as the rest of the room looks on. Pam repeats the vow.
"Sir, Ma'am, I am neither two-natured nor vampire, so I cannot vow with the rest, but you have my assistance and loyalty." Sookie looks a little embarrassed.
Maybe not now my love, but you will be if I have anything to say about it and soon. Eric thinks to himself.
Noir pats the three of them on the cheek. "Thank you. I accept your pledge. You are now part of my coven, even you Miss Stackhouse. What you need to do now is go about your lives as normal. I will be within range. Eric, are you alright?" The large blonde is weaving in his seat.
"I think so." He shakes his head. "I have lost connection with Ocella. It feels like he and I were never linked." Pam's eyes widen.
"Yes, well when you transferred your allegiance, my power imprinted over his blood. He no longer has the maker's rights to you. I must apologize to you, my child. At the time I had my hands full; between the Black Death, and all the raids, both in the west and the east, I had lost track of him. My reaper job must come first at times. So due to my inattention, he was able to abuse his own child. I am truly sorry, Eric. He will feel my wrath."
"As to what you are Miss Stackhouse." Night picks up. "You have fae blood in you, very powerful fae blood. So in a way, you are somewhat out of the norm also. You need not worry. I know you have heard it before, but your telepathy is a gift; as is your ability to bring back humanity to those around you. Among other things." He chuckles to himself, his melted honey eyes shine with mirth.
"They themselves may not see it but you have woken up the emotions of at least three of these hardheaded people." Noir smiles at the blonde woman. Sookie looks down; she is still uncomfortable with compliments. She hears all the bad things about her and her character more than anything positive. Humans all seem to think that she has an attractive package, but once she allows herself to relax around them, it all sours rapidly.
Thalia comes in from the employee room, to start her allotted time on the floor. She searches the room slightly for Eric. She could care less that he is with a group, she was just going to check in and then go to her corner.
Eric and Pam nod to the ancient vampire. Sookie smiles at her. She doesn't care, all she wants is to go to her corner and get her time in for the week.
When she looks up again though, Thalia drops to her knees. There sits her mother and uncle. She was the daughter of Noir and a mortal man named Flavius. Thalia naturally turned during the reign of Caligula.
"Well, what a surprise. We come to help with all the trouble brewing in the South and we find my little girl." Noir holds her arms out. In rushes Thalia, crying her bloody tears. Night finishes the circle.
"Thank the gods. We have found you." Night cries. He turns to the others. "Thalia is my sister's natural daughter."
The transformation in Thalia is incredible. She is happy for the first time in a great many years. "I will inform your grandparents that we have found you again, my niece." Thalia nods, kisses her mother and uncle and walks to her seat.
Noir turns to Eric again. "As great it is to see my little girl again; I must impart my message. Our cousin has informed us that there is to be an attempt on your "Queen's" life by her husband. This will end up with him being on trial at the Summit in Rhodes. Miss Stackhouse, how attached are you and Eric?"
Eric, Pam and Sookie exchange looks of wonder. "May I ask why you are asking, before I answer?"
"I'll be upfront with you. I would be pleased if you and Eric would have a deeper blood bond than you do now; preferably, a vampire marriage ceremony. It would solve another couple of problems down the road. So I ask again, how attached are you to each other?" She looks at Sookie and the Viking. Noir can see that the hulking man is deeply in love with the barmaid. She only questions Sookie's involvement.
Night focuses on the both of them also. "Ahh, I see." He smirks and leans in to his sister. "Remember that brat of a fox that gave me such trouble a few months back? The one that was trying to escape to get back to "her" Were." Night tells her that the woman is immensely in love with Eric, but that and the thought that he could not return it is holding her back. Noir looks again.
"I see. No matter what you are afraid of, you need to tell him. It will work out. Now Pam, tell me about the power structure in the states."
Pam fills the gods in on the goings on around the country while Eric leads Sookie away for their discussion. "Please just tell me, Sookie. I have had this nagging feeling that I am missing something important. It feels like the hole that I was carrying was filled and then emptied again. I just hope that I didn't act like Bill did. I have never forced myself on any woman and I am proud of it."
"Eric, we made love in every way that I could imagine and some that I could not. You never forced yourself on me, it was mutual. You said that I was the best you had. I understand that was most likely a falsehood, but I enjoyed the compliment for what it was. We talked about our lives, well as much as you could remember.
After the Witch War, Debbie Pelt was waiting for us in my kitchen. When she shot at me, you took the bullet. I shot her with my brother's shotgun and you disposed of the body and her car, while I cleaned the room.
That night before you "woke up", you offered to give it all up for me; get a job, marry and live with me for the rest of our lives. I was worried that you would hold the Debbie thing over my head. You were under a spell, I could not take advantage of you like that. Eric, you love the power that you hold. I could not ask you to give it up." Sookie tells him, while silent tears stream down her face.
Eric gathers her close. "Thank you for being honest with me. I do enjoy my position, but I love you Sookie. I don't know the reason for Noir wanting us to do this, but it is legal now and you would be the only one that I would marry; human, supe or vampire. I know how to do the marriage ceremony. You would be safe from the Queen and anyone else.
Others would have to get my permission to deal with you let alone touch you. No one will hurt you again, if I can help it." Eric holds up his hand to stall her protest. "I know, you think that it's high handed, but I also know the Queen is very interested in you because of Hadley's pillow talk. So what do you say, will you make me a happy man and become Mrs. Eric Northman?"
"OK, fine I'll do it. I have a few stipulations though. No drinking from or sex with anyone else. I am completely OK with the bagged blood thing, heck I'll even warm it up for you. I want a monogamous relationship; if I am yours, then you are mine. I want to keep my job and live in my house. I will still honor our deal, but I like my job. My home has been in my family since before Bill was turned and I don't want to give it up."
"I don't see a problem with that, my lover. I guess, I should amend that to my wife. We can keep both houses." Eric smirks. He leans down and drops a kiss on her lips. They walk back to the table, holding hands and when they sit, Eric pulls her into his lap.
"I agree to your desires, Ma'am. I do love him, so it will not be a stretch to marry and bond with him." Sookie smiles nervously.
"Very good, I will fill out the record and send the knife in a few days' time. Eric, please alert the Queen that I will be in town tomorrow to discuss a few things." He nods and Noir and Night walk over to say goodbye to Thalia before leaving.
"I refuse to call you Mom, Sookie." Pam deadpans with a smirk. The three of them share a laugh over the thought.
Eric lifts her back into her chair, stands and holds his hand out to Sookie. "May I have a dance with my betrothed?" Sookie stands and places her hand in his. Eric leads her to the dance floor and pulls her close.
As they glide across the floor, he notices the looks on most of the faces of the vermin. Utmost disgust and horror. This might mean a downturn in patronage, but Eric couldn't care. He had his wife in his arms and he was not about to let her go for anything. The song ends and Sookie pulls away. She stares up into his face and smiles. "My Eric, you are still in there." She moves a lock of hair from his face and stretches up onto her toes. He stands still, not knowing what she is going to do. Sookie Stackhouse-soon to be- Northman is the most unpredictable human he has met. She leans closer and presses her lips to his.
"I need to leave. The funeral for Col. Flood is tomorrow. Alcide will be driving me. I want you to be aware of what's going on. I'll let you know how it went. I have a strange suspicion that something is up."
Eric nods and embraces Sookie. "Be careful lover. We'll talk tomorrow night. Go home and get some sleep." He kisses her head and hugs her again before she starts for the door.
She is about there when a fangbanger catches her arm. "You are so lucky to be able to talk to him. What's he like?" What does he see in you. I am twice as beautiful as you are. He doesn't even look my way.
"Eric's a no nonsense kind of person. You would not want to make him angry. Especially since he and the female own this club. He is very powerful." Sookie shakes her head at Pam who was about to strut over. The woman had come to the club looking to trap a vampire into sleeping with her. She figured that if they bit her, they would sleep with her and from there pay her way in life.
"I'm sorry that you feel so low that you think it's this or nothing, but these people did not live this long by being stupid." By this time Eric had walked to her side. "Is there a problem Sookie?"
"No Eric. This woman was just asking me about how to get a vampire such as you to bed her and then pay all her bills. She of course, does not know that I have never looked for that. Also insulting my appearance is not going to get me to divulge any tips."
Eric chuckles at the thought of Sookie being thought of as anything but heart wrenchingly stunning. "I'm sorry Ma'am but Sookie's right. She has all her affairs in order. She has never asked for anything that was not owed to her. She works for me as well as she's my betrothed.
No vampire worth his salt, would do that. Willing donors are paid for the service. That's as far as it would go, unless the vampire wanted to be in a relationship with the person." The woman glares at Sookie but turns away. Eric again kisses her and she heads home.