I'm new to FanFiction, so go easy on me. English isn't my first language so any advice on grammar is welcome.
Victor Madden eyes followed Eric Northman around the room with barely disguised disdain. Northman would have met the true death if he had had his way five years ago. Filipe had taken Louisiana with surprising ease and instead of getting rid of Northman, who was part of the old regime; he gave him a chance to swear fealty to the new king much to Victor's anger. Filipe's reason had been he needed the money Northman made for the previous Monarch. Indeed he did make money, a lot of it for Filipe in an area Victor thought was just too out of the way to really make the money Northman was making. Northman paid more tribute to Filipe than he did, which he found impossible considering he was the sheriff of New Orleans.
Of course, Filipe picked up on it and questioned Victor believing his loyal servants was somehow stealing from him. It didn't help when Northman looked surprised by the news that he paid more tribute from his little hole in the wall than Victor did. Victor was then forced to subsidize this tribute with his own funds. He tried raising the tribute the vampires in area 1 paid only to have several leave in the space of a few months. Filipe refused to take into account the loss of several vampires in the area due to the takeover. Northman's area had lost none due to his surrendering and swearing fealty. He knew Northman was padding the tribute with his own funds, except he didn't have the funds Northman did. He had made his suspicions known to the other sheriffs, but one or more of them had told Northman about it, and he had replied by increasing his tribute significantly.
Eric Northman had more money than most monarchs and he was using it to drain Victor dry. Surprisingly it was also Northman that had come to his rescue. When the vampires revealed themselves, Northman opened a club in Shreveport and one in New Orleans. He also opened a restaurant, a vampire hotel, and several other little enterprises. All these served to increase Victor's tribute and throw doubt on his belief that Northman was out to destroy him.
Over the years Filipe had started trusting Northman more and more and he was proving that that trust wasn't misplaced. On Filipe's first anniversary as king of Louisana, Northman's gift was a cape of some historical value. Apparently, it had belonged to some king from Spain. The very king Filipe modeled his style of dressing on. Victor didn't give a fuck about such things, but clearly, Filipe did, and his elation when Northman had presented the cape said it all.
Northman's gifts became more extravagant with every passing year, so much so, it had turned into a guessing game with the other sheriffs. A game both Filipe and Northman encouraged.
Filipe finally graced them with his presence and the sheriffs all took their seats. Northman sat in the middle earning a chuckle from the room. Everyone knew Filipe was impatient to know what Northman was giving him, after all, it was the five-year anniversary of Felipe's takeover. "I think we will do things differently today and start from the middle." That earned more chuckling from the room.
"I should have known better," Eric replied with a smile. "But… I really believe it will be best to leave me till last." Eric added. Filipe looked even more eager to know, but acquiesced and started with Victor. As the month was the celebration of Filipe's fifth year as king of Louisiana, this months sheriffs meeting was taking longer than usual for his liking.
"Eric," Filipe said none too patiently when it got the Vikings turn.
"This year I need a little help with securing my gift." That had everyone's attention if he didn't already have it.
"What is it?" One of the sheriffs asked.
"Two months ago I found a young lady sleeping outside the emergency doors at Fangtasia. Despite all the drugs she smelled sweet. My childe decided to keep the young lady for her blood, which tasted incredible for a human. The young lady, however, proved difficult and problematic because she couldn't be glamoured." The murmuring had Eric pausing.
"A human that can't be glamoured? Is she by any chance a two-natured?" Filipe asked.
"No, your majesty, she is entirely human. That is not the point… realizing she had outlived her usefulness, she revealed that her cousin happens to be a telepath." Eric sat back and absorbed the looks of shock from everyone and one of disdain from Victor with a smirk.
"A telepath… how unique and…" Filipe found himself thinking of the effectiveness of having a telepath in his retinue. Traitors were a dime a dozen in almost every court and the news of a telepath would not only discourage more joining his court but could help root out the ones already in his court. "What help do you need?" He asked having weighed out the pros of such a talent in court.
"I have spent the last few weeks learning everything there is to learn about Miss Sookie Stackhouse and I believe you have the perfect vampire in your court to get her to come willingly."
"Why not just take her?" Victor sneered.
"She is a telepath," Felipe said glaring at Victor. "An unwilling telepath could sport a traitor and tell me they are loyal or tell me a loyal one is a traitor, considering the information is in her head how do we know she's telling the truth. We could always tie her to a vampire, but she could easily over time learn to master her emotions, therefore, deceive us." Filipe said having seen it before.
Victor nodded realizing the folly of his plan. Indeed a willing telepath was better than a forced one. "Who do you need?" Felipe asked.
"Bill Compton. Compton I believe is from Bon Temps and still has a family home across from the Stackhouse's. I'm told he knew their ancestors personally. His last living relative died recently. Under the pretense of mainstreaming he could get to know Miss Stackhouse and tie her to him. Compton was a procurer under Sophie-Anne, this task should not pose any difficulty."
"Someone get me Compton." Filipe bellowed smiling from ear to ear. "A telepath… Eric, you have outdone yourself."
"It's all well and good, but if she can read the minds of vampires…" Alonso the sheriff of area 2 started.
"It's a chance we have to take… if that proves to be the case, we will find another way." Felipe said waving away the concern.
Victor found himself wondering whether he'd been wrong about Northman all this time. Had he found a telepath, they would be bonded to him long before the king found out. He would have lauded it over the king. Filipe would be the one paying him for the use of the telepath. Been bonded, there wasn't much the king could do to take her from him, but here Northman was prepared to hand over such a prized asset. Maybe, the Viking is truly loyal and not just ass kissing.
Bill Compton was hoping his time had finally come, he had hoped for more after helping Las Vegas takeover Louisiana. He had been De Castro's inside man at Sophie-Anne's court and yet after it was all over, he had been left with nothing. Under Sophie-Anne, he had at least had a role. Under De Castro, he was merely a body at court. He had an idea for a vampire database and had hoped he would have been at least rewarded with some funds to get that project going.
"Bill, I believe you approached me about lending you money for a project you've been working on." Finally.
"Yes, your majesty."
"I have a job for you and on the successful completion of that job you can have the money for your project."
"Understood," Bill responded with a small bow.
"I understand you are from Bon Temps…" Fuck. The last place I want to go back to is that backwater town.
"Yes, your majesty."
"Excellent."
Bill packed his clothes with little restraint. He had hoped the days of tying himself to humans and their emotions were over. He knew the Stackhouse's in his human days, but that was over a century and a half ago. The sheriff of area 5, Eric Northman would be driving him to Bon Temps this evening. He had two weeks to get Miss Stackhouse tied to him and to court. Vampire blood was sacred, and yet monarchs had him giving his out like candy.
"Eric," Victor calls as he walks towards him.
"Victor." He responds barely looking up from his phone.
"I will admit I'm surprised by your willingness to hand over such an asset," Victor confesses.
"Such a gift is far more useful in court than in a bar in Shreveport. What could I possibly need a telepath for?"
"The king asked me to inform you that he will be staying in New Orleans until the telepath is delivered." Eric simply nodded in response as Bill walked up to the passenger side of the Corvette and got in without a word.
Bill hated Eric Northman with a passion, he who helped with the takeover ended up languishing at court while Eric who he believed should have met the true death seems to be reaping the rewards of his hard work. The king trusts and favors him, despite Eric's loyalty to Sophie-Anne, De Castro believes he can still be trusted. Compton would never make that mistake. Even with the two-week deadline, he was going to approach this with caution, as it could easily be a setup.
" I need to speak to the cousin to…"
"Pam drained her weeks ago, the girl was just too much trouble. I should warn you, Miss Stackhouse, I believe like her cousin cannot be glamoured. I would also advise you not to drink from the girl, or you will end up draining her." He warned.
"That good?" Bill asked.
"Yes." Eric smiled. "Here the file on Miss Stackhouse," Eric said handing a folder over.
"Who discovered her?" Bill looked at Eric waiting for an answer that never came.