A/N: Characters created by Charlaine Harris are hers alone. I'm just taking them out for a walk.
Please don't sue, I own nothing but books, an old car, old husband and old dog.
I will be using some quotes from the books, they will be recognizable. Otherwise this story is AU, and OOC.
A/N: Thanks to TXONE, my friend, who beta'd this chapter for me.
Post War Dead
Chapter 1
"It is I, the vampire Victor Madden, " said a cheerful voice.
We weren't feeling very cheerful, huddled as we were in my old farmhouse. Eric, Bill, Amelia, and myself had been surprised there. Sitting very still on a chair was Franny Quinn. Bill had glamoured her when she started screaming. After not hearing from Quinn, whom I considered to be my boyfriend, for about three months, Franny showed up unexpectedly, an hour ago, with the message that Louisiana was being taken over by the Nevada vamps. And here they were, led by a smarmy vampire, who wanted us to smile and be happy that our lives would never be the same, not even thinking that they might end.
Eric and Bill seemed to be talking to each other without moving their lips. I didn't think Eric was telepathic with Bill, only Pam. But I thought that they both knew how things went in a battle, and they knew what to expect now. Eric took my hand and led me into the bathroom.
"Pam could not raise either Cleo or Arla Yvonne on the phone tonight," he whispered close to my ear, "they may already be gone. Dear One, he'll spare you. You're too unique to waste. But I'm afraid that Bill and I may be expendable."
It may have been the blood bond, or it may have been my heart, but the thrumming in my head got louder as I contemplated life without Eric.
"Look, Eric, I don't think that you're expendable. We are becoming friends again, and I like that. I don't want to lose you."
"What about the tiger? You say that he is your "boyfriend."
"He's betrayed us. I could never trust him again."
"My Sookie, I am happy to hear you say that," and placed a soft kiss on my lips. He turned, opened his phone, and pushed speed dial.
He spoke very quietly, "Pam. What is the situation there?"
"Eric! Hold them off as long as possible. The Queen, Mississippi and Texas are on their way to you. We have their Captain here, and she will say what we want on the phone or die."
"Very good, Pam. I will see you later."
Eric looked down at me, with a small smile, "Dear One, it looks like we may have a chance to become very good friends after all. Come, we must play 'defeated' for a while longer."
We walked back to the front door, with nothing on our faces but determination.
Victor Madden was still standing at the bottom of the porch steps. Amelia's wards would not allow him to come closer to us. "So Northman, have you checked with your second? Fangtasia is surrounded, and we have flame throwers." He paused a moment, "Oh yes! Your Queen is dead! So are the other two sheriffs."
Eric stiffened, and asked, " Why am I still alive?"
Victor smirked, "You are pragmatic and useful. You have the best run area with the state's two most important assets. We believe that you will weigh the odds and decide that it is better to join us, than risk all your followers in a futile fight. May I come in to discuss it with you?"
"Sookie, it is your house, do you wish him to enter?" Eric asked me.
"I suppose that it's necessary," I looked at him with the question in my voice. He nodded his head in answer.
"Victor Madden, you alone, may enter my house," I intoned.
Victor cautiously stepped up to the porch and came to the door, I stood back to let him enter. His eyes moved over me in an obvious way, and his smirk got bigger. I stared back at him as he try to glamour me in vain. Then I turned my back on him and went to stand next to Eric. As Eric's bonded, I was protected from other vampires. At least, that was the law, but we could see that not everyone behaved in an honorable way.
"Final offer, Northman," Madden demanded, "do you accept the sovereignty of King Felipe, or do you wish to fight and die tonight?"
Eric never needed to answer, because we heard the clash of swords outside. Victor turned to look, and it was the last movement he ever made. Eric drew his sword, and slashed it at Victor's neck, severing his head from his body. Victor started turning to ash in front of us as Eric and Bill raced out the door to join the fight.
I ran to the kitchen to get my shotgun from the closet. It wouldn't kill a vampire, but it would slow one down. As I returned to the living room, Franny broke the glamour and started screaming. In response, Quinn came bounding in, still in his tiger form. Amelia stood by me trying to think of a spell she could use on Quinn to keep us safe. I stood with the Benelli loose in my hands, waiting to see if I would need it against the giant cat. Quinn stood over Franny licking her face with his big tongue. As long as he stayed there, I wouldn't shoot him, even if he had led our enemies to my door. I was learning that good Christians can protect themselves with force if necessary. But Quinn didn't know I had learned a lesson, and turned to me.
"Quinn, stay back! I don't want to hurt you!" I said firmly. "Take your sister and go!"
You could almost see him thinking about it. He put his nose up in the air and sniffed. He knew Eric had been here, but when he caught his scent, he growled anyway. I didn't want to shoot him in front of his sister, but I wasn't going to be mauled by him either. He hadn't contacted me in months, and brought the Nevada vampires to Louisiana, after telling them everything he knew.
"Go on, Quinn! Get out of here! I don't ever want to see you again!" I shouted at him.
He stopped moving, and stared at me. I could see how smaller animals might fall from fear of that stare, but I was unmoved. Almost losing my life again had shown me what I treasured most. In an instant, the air around him shimmered, and he started shifting back into a human form. A very naked human male form. I was too mad to care that he was naked. I wanted him out of my house.
"Babe, you can't mean that! We're good together! I was looking forward to spending time with you, now that we're under the same King," Quinn sounded surprised.
"Stop calling me "Babe"! I have a fucking name! You betrayed all of us to Nevada, why do you think I'd welcome you with open arms? We all could have been killed!" I was furious.
"They wouldn't have killed you, Bab...I mean, Sookie. You're too valuable! The King said I could have you. Only the vamps would have been killed. You'd be free of the Viking then."
"And you didn't think I'd mind if you killed my bonded? Do you know how much pain I would feel if Eric died? Even if he wasn't my friend. I haven't heard from you in more than three months, not even a warning that something like this would happen. He said you could "have" me? What am I, a turkey? Didn't you think I felt any loyalty to the Queen and my friends?"
"Come on, Babe. They're just fangers. They don't feel anything towards you. They just want to use you."
"Quinn, you are so fucking ignorant, I don't think I can help you. Take your sister and get out before I really lose my temper."
"Aw, you wouldn't shoot me, Babe. We could have a future together..." and he started walking towards me.
"Aw shit!" I said, pulled the Benelli up and pulled the trigger. "Don't call me "Babe"!
He was a big target, and I couldn't have missed. But aside from some pain from the shot, he wouldn't be very injured. I just needed one of my vamps to come in and drag him out before I had to shoot his sister too. As expected, Bill was the first to show up. He greeted me with a smile, and glamoured Franny again to shut her up. She made more noise alone than the rest of the supernatural beings fighting on my property. Then he dragged Quinn from the house, with Franny at his heels.
Amelia and I collapsed into each other's arms. "Way to go Sook! You're fierce!" she crowed.
I laughed. It was getting quiet outside so I thought that we'd be OK. If our side was losing, I expected the house to be ablaze. We peeked out the front window, and saw that the battle was over. Sophie-Anne was being carried towards my house, and she was accompanied by King Stan of Texas, and King Russell of Mississippi. I was never so happy to see some vampires as I was at that moment. I opened the door and said proudly, "Your Majesties are welcome to enter my home!" I had a big smile on my face, and it grew bigger when I saw that it was Bubba who was carrying the Queen, "Bubba! It's good to see you again. Let the Queen sit on the big chair, so she can put her legs up. Your Majesty, I'm so happy to see you!"
Queen Sophie-Anne smiled at me, but she didn't speak. I think she was in a lot of pain with her legs growing back. Her dress was long and it covered her extremities, so I couldn't see how far along she was. The other kings must have had great respect for her, to leave her alive. Injured as she was, she would have been easy to kill. At least, that's what King Felipe of Nevada thought.
"Where's Eric?" I asked. I knew he was alright, I could feel him alive in my brain.
"He'll be here, in a minute," Russell smiled at me. I hoped he had forgiven me for stealing Bill out from under his nose, but he didn't seem mad.
"Would you'all like some True Blood?" I moved into hostess mode. When all three nodded, I went to the kitchen to heat up the bottles. I poured Sophie-Anne's into a glass, but served the Kings theirs in the bottles.
I was surprised that I wasn't seeing any bloodlust from the monarchs. Perhaps, they filled up before they came, or maybe they brought some fangbangers from Fangtasia with them. As long as Amelia and I was safe, I didn't care who they drank from. Then I thought about Quinn and Franny, and realized I had no say over the behaviors of three sovereigns. I was either a gift, to be passed around like Quinn wanted, or I would be treated with respect. So far, Sophie-Anne had treated me well, and I had Eric to protect me. At that moment, Eric stood in the doorway, nearly filling it. I felt his pleasure at having had a good fight, and his happiness in seeing that I was alright. I smiled at him, and took a step in his direction, but he moved quicker than I could see, and picked me up in his arms. An audience of monarchs didn't deter him. He slanted his mouth over mine and gave me a patented, toe-curling kiss, that would have led to more, if he didn't have business to take care of. He tucked me under his arm, and turned to the Kings and his Queen. He bowed, "Your Majesties. Thank you for the perfect timing of your attack. I almost had to swear fealty to Felipe. You were prepared for this..."
Russell was spokesman for the three, "Yes, Northman. We've had a spy in de Castro's court for some time. We knew he would try to take over while Sophie-Anne was recovering. It was just a matter of 'when'. We were waiting for him when he showed up at the Area 4 nest. He didn't even have time to be surprised." Russell gave a wicked grin, that showed he wasn't just the lover he seemed to be in Rhodes, when Eric married him and Bart.
"Tomorrow there will be a meeting at the Area 4 nest, at 10PM. We want you, Pam, Sookie and Bill to attend," Queen Sophie-Ane spoke for the first time. Her voice was strained, and she looked tired, but she smiled as she looked at me and Eric.
We both bowed to her. I didn't care about Americans not bowing to royalty, she deserved it.
"Yes, your Majesty," we replied.
Bubba picked up the Queen, and left to fly to Baton Rouge, Russell and Stan followed. I guess tomorrow would be a big day, but the night wasn't yet over for us.
Eric still had his arm around me as he kissed me and said,"Lover, I have to speak with Pam."
"Of course, Eric. I'm going to get ready for bed. Are you staying?"
He looked surprised. I don't think I ever asked him in just that way, "Would you like me to stay, my love?"
"If you can. But Pam and your people may need you in Shreveport," I tried to be realistic.
"Let me see," he said, sounding puzzled.
I walked up the stairs smiling to myself. I had a lot more surprises in store for my Viking if he was staying overnight.
