PART ONE

Prologue

Surveying the property, he smiled. That some things had been ferreted away was something of a small miracle as he knew that all the information in the original location had been obliterated. But the late governor had been smart enough to leave a bare bones outline in his possessions and with it, Frank Leland had been able to reconstruct the place under the guise of a new psychiatric hospital. And it certainly looked the part, the stately two story complex also gave off the vibe of being a prison. Which it was and seeing as it was on his own private property, no one would ever be the wiser as to what this place really was. Well, perhaps the couple dozen he had recruited to help restart that which the governor and Sarah Newlin had put their blood, sweat and tears on. Though this had cost them both their lives, Leland felt sure he could not only restart the camp, but make it even more innovative than the original one had been. With the allies, the money that he had access to, he knew the sky was the limit. He would, of course, have some help and help from, ironically, those he wanted to exterminate permanently. A necessary evil and when he had gotten what they needed and wanted in place, then of course, he would dispose of his hired help. He had promised the human guards he had hired a hefty payday and the few vamps that he had managed to use magic on to keep them loyal that they would be well fed. He would send them out to glamour humans to help lure vamps into their grasp and then bring them here. Leland had discovered, through sheer dumb luck that it seemed that the effects of glamouring were now lasting longer than they used to. Perhaps a evolutionary step in those freaks of nature, he had surmised in his first steps at bringing his group in line and together. His plan was to start at the heart of his supernatural headache and first ensure Bon Temps was purged of all the fanged persuasion and looking at one of the few clues left in the office of the late governor, he held on to the file that had been secreted away and as part of the inner circle of the late governor, he had been left this one breadcrumb by him. And as he flipped through the file, Leland grinned. It wouldn't be long before he had this one firmly trapped in camp once more. And this time, this particular smart ass blonde vampire was not going see the moonlight again. Nor were his loved ones, for that matter.

Chapter 1

Summer was in the air and the humidity didn't bother any of them, having been born and raised in this all but sleepy little town. A haven for supernaturals, second only to New Orleans in the state. Sunbathing was one of her few times she took for herself and making the most of her day off, she had grabbed a book, a glass of sweet tea and flopped into a huge hammock that had been set up for her as a special surprise for her. He was too good to her and she had had to tell him she didn't need the diamonds, the jewelry or the flashy cars he had offered. All she wanted was the simple things in life, family, friends and maybe the occasional garden accoutrement or maybe some new tools for her garden. But she supposed, things like this plush hammock, that was a compromise of sorts. She smiled at the moment she had arrived home and saw the hammock in the yard. She had gone over to the second, more "Him" house on their property for answers but he was at the bar that night working. Working…which was perhaps doing the books, which seemed to always amuse her that he took care of that and wondered just where he had picked up that talent….but she knew working for him was also being on display for those to fawn over. To look but not touch. Though they were bound together in every way possible, she still had some reservations about him being so on display like he was. She tended to worry too much, especially after recent events. But she also knew he could more than take care of himself that one would be a moron, a idiot, to try anything funny with him. All those who had tried had paid and paid dearly.

Her brother was thriving at his job as deputy to the sheriff and together, he and Andy had helped bring the police force to a more acceptable level. Not only had Hoyt joined up, but in a strange turn of events, they had even taken on their first camp cops in James and Keith, their skill sets have paid off ten fold in many cases already. Not that the town had become increasingly violent, mostly petty crimes but Andy had felt, and with good reason, that considering past events in the town, it was a good idea to bulk the force up somewhat. And she supposed it was a good idea, though she knew there was still inherent risks on the force. There had been a high speed chance that had taken place from a few towns over and was stopped just outside the town limits of Bon Temps. A carjacking that had led to a brief standoff. A standoff that had left James with a bullet wound and a broken arm and the assailant immediately regretting his error when he realized what the officer that had chased him down had been. And speaking of the local force, her brother was pulling up in his cruiser and she shot to her feet at the sound, calming when she saw who it was.

"Hey sis." he said as she got out of the car and flashed that charming grin of his. "Looking like you're working hard today."

She grinned back as she led him into the house and five minutes alter, they sat on the front porch with a glass of sweet tea in hand each. "So what brings you by? You need a sitter for Harper?" she asked, hoping that perhaps time with her niece was in the cards but her brother shook his head.

"Naw, but Bridgette and I are planning a getaway in the not too distant future and you, as always are at the top of the list. I can't imagine the kid being in any safer hands than you two." Jason said with a grin, that faded into a more serious look. "Look, I came to see you for more than a drink. There have been underground rumors that reached my desk…rumors of some building being put up where Hotshot was. Since those werepantheres up and deserted the area, everything was razed, the property sold to some private owner. But the building, rumor has it may not be something we want. I am going to investigate, for peace of mind."

"Ok….well, what is this building supposedly for?" she asked

His face was grim as he answered her and her own face fell slightly.

Chapter 2

"Another one? After the first one was destroyed? Sookie said as the idea of another vamp camp possibly existing sent chills up her spine. "But all the information was destroyed, all the research-"

"Like I said, it is only rumors and I am not worried. After all the destruction I helped enact for the original site….for my peace of mind, I am heading out there tonight just to make sure the place is on the up and up. People do tend to start crazy rumors though…." he shrugged. "Andy and I are heading there, so don't worry about me, we are going armed and….well, like I said. Rumors. They cause more trouble than reality sometimes."

"That's true." she replied, trying not to sound worried, knowing what she did about the original camp, those she cared about who had been there and had been perilously close to…she shuddered. To think that someone else would try to bring about another one was alarming. But she also knew that the information kept, the research had been obliterated. Unless the long dead governor had a card up his sleeve and knowing what she did now, she knew the one vamp eh had so dearly wanted to eliminate more than all others. Knowing he had managed to escape from it wasn't much comfort, having been told what had gone on there, what he had been placed in against his will. But in the end, she was grateful that he had made it out, that all those she had cared about had come out safe and sound. The idea that it could happen all over again, the target seemingly on her Viking was something she was not going to take lightly. "Just be careful and if there is any hint of trouble…..I want to know and I can be there in a flash. Literally." she said, imploring her brother to let her help if need be.

"Like I said, its just rumors but I want to be able to take things in for myself and….well…..I would hate for the rumor to be true. Apparently some vamp saw things at this complex and was able to tell someone before he mysteriously vanished. hasn't been seen in days and I can only assume that he was silenced before he could say anything else." finishing his drink with one gulp, her brother got to his feet and reassured his sister. "it will be fine, you just sit tight and I will call for you if need be. Don't come looking for trouble if there isn't any." he kissed her forehead and left his sister to fret, ponder what could be and yet hope that it was nothing more than rumors.

Chapter 3

The two had driven the short distance to the newly erected complex and thought it looked more like some kind of office complex. It was even immaculately done up with fancy gardens flanking the path into the gated area. Though the gate was closed, they were buzzed in by a friendly woman's five and soon, the two officers were standing in the foyer of what could be a doctors office. Nothing leapt out at them as being anything other than that. But they also knew that appearances could be deceiving. They had a warrant to search the place and striding towards them from what they assumed to be a office, was a immaculately dressed man who introduced himself as Frank Leland. And he went on to explain that this place was to be headquarters for his real estate company.

"The end of Hotshot was a opportunity for me to restore the land to something less….hillbilly." Leland explained. "I plan to expand my operation here over the next few years and turn something vile and with a poor track record to something….worthwhile. Something to better humanity."

Andy frowned. "And yet I have to see anything promoting you or your business here….can you direct me to something that cam cement your story, that this is merely a real-estate building. Because if you are bullshitting us-" Andy said as he looked around the room they stood in. "Perhaps a tour of this place could alleviate any of the rumors I have heard about what this place really is. " and he explained what he had heard about this place, about the now missing and presumed dead vamp that had spoken of this place being more than it appeared.

Leland looked as cool as ice. "Well believe what you wish but I am more than glad to assuage your fears. I would personally be glad to give you a tour and show you what we are about. And as he led the two up a hall, he craned his head back to the woman at the supposed reception desk and nodded slightly and she nodded in return, pressing a button that was under her desk. He led them into the first room and they looked at a room with presumable bulletproof, anything proof glass. On the wall, they saw shackles built into the wall and weapons hanging neatly on the wall to the left side of the room, all silver. All looking rather deadly. "I had hoped to snare some law enforcement officers, you know. To help deliver me what-who-I so sorely would love to meet. Would you like a demonstration? I have already gathered a few dozen vamps from the streets, some working with me for the time being and others-" he pushed a button on a pad on the wall and a door opened, some armed guards bringing out a few vamps and in short order, the three prisoners were hanging on the wall and the guards, who Andy and Jason noted were vamps themselves, began cutting, slicing and merely savoring the bloodletting that was taking place. "They will bleed out eventually, but I wanted this camp to be more hands on." he explained how he had paid off some vamps to help him in this but when he revealed his plans for his vamp guards, Andy and Jason looked repulsed, even more so than they already were. Both pointed their pistols at the villain and Andy went to cuff him.

Silently and with a fluid motion, a figure emerged from out of nowhere and knocked the two cops to the ground and as the vamp picked the two back up, Leland watched with glee as his plans were finally getting going. A little glamouring and the two were let out of the building. With orders not to return without a certain blonde.

TO BE CONTINUED