Author's Note: Someone requested this story and I couldn't resist the temptation!

Warning: There is a very brief spanking scene in Chapter 2. Just a few swats. I guess this story is set sometime before or at the very beginning of Season 3 (no specific episode setting) and it heavily implies Bill/Eric, so in a sense it's AU.

TASTE THE POISON

With her now heightened senses, Jessica could smell the bouquet of daylilies and periwinkles. It was far into the night, but the flood lights illuminated the garden and every flower had a special glow. They lined a walkway of polished stones, which curved gracefully through the Corinthian columns. Jessica took in the sight with wide, innocent eyes. She visually explored the world around her as much as she could since she didn't need to pay attention to where she was heading as long as she had Bill by her side.

Of course, with two guards closely accompanying her and Bill, there was no opportunity to wander.

Bill and Jessica were led through the wide and dramatic hallway. The empty space was dominated by a large portrait of Russell and Talbot. It should have been a hint to Jessica about the dangers that possibly awaited her, but she was too taken in by the grandeur of her surroundings to notice.

Bill heard the footsteps before Jessica and he gently took her hand in his. He couldn't fathom why the king of Mississippi would want to meet his unwilling progeny, but he could not shake the feeling that she was going to be ripped from his hands.

"Good evening, Mr. Compton," the king greeted with customary courtesy as he appeared before them. "It is with great pleasure that I welcome you and your progeny into our home."

Bill was not fooled by this show of good manners, but Jessica was excited to recognize the person from the portrait. She knew she was meeting a king tonight, but there were still elements of vampire life that she found surreal.

"What do I do?" Jessica whispered to Bill. His dislike for the vampire king was known, but it seemed to Jessica that he blew it way out of proportion. That was something she was used to.

"Do I curtsey?

"Oh, no, child," Russell answered quickly and Jessica blushed softly at being overheard. "We can forget the formalities for now. Let's just try and enjoy ourselves, shall we?"

Bill agreed with a curt nod, but he had no intention on being caught off guard. The only problem was Jessica. He had warned her to be on her best behavior, but it seemed that she was easily deceived by a gentlemanly veneer.

Jessica's eyes widened a little more when the royal consort entered. He was another face she recognized from the portrait and even more beautiful in person. However, the consort immediately stopped in his tracks and eyed the red headed vampire. Jessica nervously pulled at the hem of her dress. She stared back at Talbot, wondering what she did wrong already.

"What's this?" Talbot nearly hissed, forcing Jessica to toss a worried glance at Bill. Then Talbot turned to Russell. "You only informed me an hour ago that Bill was coming… and I know I never told him he could bring a date!"

"It's not a date, Talbot," Russell responded, sounding almost bored. "This dear girl is Mr. Compton's progeny. Just a few weeks old, if I was informed correctly." Then he nodded at Jessica. "Isn't that right, dear?"

Stunned for moment, Jessica could only stare. Above, the crystal prisms rattled against one another on the chandelier and sounded very close to the gnashing of sharp teeth. Jessica suddenly realized that her new surroundings were enough to swallow her whole. She never stood in front of anyone as old as Russell, let alone a king, and she wasn't sure if she was allowed to speak. There must have been some protocol to answering a king.

A slight tilt of Bill's head caught her attention, and he nodded at her reassuringly.

"Yes, sir," she managed to smile.

That wasn't so hard. However, Talbot was no longer paying attention to the youngest vampire in the room. Instead, his eyes were fixed on Russell with complete contempt.

"The servants drained enough blood for two," the consort pointed out cautiously. "At a stretch, we could have served three, but four?" Then he crossed his arms angrily. "There won't nearly be enough blood."

"Oh, Talbot," the king chided lightly. "She's just a tiny slip of a thing. A mouthful will do."

"Slip? No, no, no. She's at least a size 9 and you know as well as I do that appetites are strongest shortly after being turned."

Jessica, being just as self-conscious dead as she was when alive, resented the implication and her fangs spontaneously slipped forth. All eyes darted at her at the sound of the click. Not meaning any harm, Jessica quickly squeaked and covered her mouth with her hands.

Bill quickly grabbed her shoulder and protectively pulled her close to his side. However, Russell didn't look insulted, so Bill settled on squeezing her shoulder instead of reprimanding her. No harm was done.

However, Talbot cradled his head in his hands and groaned.

"I'm s-sorrrry," Jessica stuttered at Russell. She really was embarrassed after she promised Bill she'd behave. Then she looked at Talbot, who seemed to be pained by her mistake. "…are you okay?"

"He's fine, dear," Russell answered. "Talbot fakes a headache when he doesn't get his way. It's a habit he retained from his human days."

Talbot slowly removed his hand and pinned Russell with a hard stare. His king had a way of answering for him while ignoring him at the same time. Talbot clenched his jaw, but managed to straighten his back and offer his hospitality to Bill and Jessica. He was the royal consort after all and these guests were strangers to the Mississippi kingdom.

"Would anyone like a drink?" Talbot asked; voice almost strained. "We have sparkling blood infused with Chardonnay. Perfect to wet your appetites before dinner."

Since all was well, Jessica jumped at the thought. She eagerly clapped her hands together and looked at Bill. "Oh, Bill!" she squealed. "Can I?"

She only ever tasted Kahlua when she was alive. She never thought she'd have the chance to enjoy Chardonnay as a vampire. There were certainly aspects of this lifestyle that Bill neglected to tell her.

Bill cleared his throat then grabbed her hand to settle her down. He ignored her request and spoke directly to Russell. "Jessica only drinks synthetic blood."

"Come on, Bill!" the girl whined. "It's a party! We're supposed to have fun! At least give me a sip of yours."

Bill tightened his jaw. He certainly wasn't having fun. And from the looks of it, he wasn't going to have fun for the rest of the night.

"Synthetic… Blood…?" Talbot interrupted. He spoke so slowly, almost as if he couldn't believe what he had heard. "You expect me to serve Tru Blood? In our home?"

Russell tightened his smile. "Talbot… it's really not a big deal."

Talbot scoffed and shook his head dismissively. Apparently Russell just expected him to make accommodations for their unexpected guests. Of course, they weren't actually unexpected. Russell just happened to neglect to inform him of their dinner plans.

Talbot's teeth were blunt, but he still scowled at Russell as he turned on his heels and walked out of the room.

"Well…" Russell sighed as he watched Talbot depart with his usual annoyance. Then he smiled at Bill and Jessica. "I guess you better both walk this way."

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The dinner table was magnificent. It stood at a grand 17 feet long, but Russell, Talbot, Jessica, and Bill all gathered around the one end. Again, Jessica looked all around her. She was very pleased to see ceiling medallions that resembled the flowers she saw along the walkway. It was evident that the king and his consort put great care into their home.

A servant came along to hand out their meals. They were carried in beautiful gold-plated platters. The lids were lifted to show off the porcelain bowls that cradled the blood. Each dish was garnished with a sprig of green. Jessica beamed at the thought of blood being so refined, but as she looked around her, no one else seemed to be impressed.

Russell had his spoon in hand as he smiled across at Jessica. "What's it like having Bill for a maker?"

"It's alright," she shrugged with a blush. She was embarrassed to have any attention on her, especially from a king. "I'm not always with Bill. Sometimes I'm with Eric."

"Jessica…" Bill tried to whisper warningly, but his voice was overshadowed by Russell's.

"Oh!" the king jumped a little. His devilish smile traveled from Bill back to Jessica. "I bet there's a story there."

"I'll say," she laughed with a snort.

"Jessica!" Bill warned more sternly. This time, he was heard.

"What?" she huffed. She did indeed recognize the warning, but she just slouched in her seat in response.

"Don't silence the girl, Bill," the king ordered with amusement. "Let her speak."

At that statement, Talbot shot Russell a look. He remembered many occasions when he was silenced. However, no one seemed to catch his glare, so he continued to eat his meal without a sound.

"Jessica was only in Eric's care for a few nights," Bill explained slowly. "He couldn't handle the responsibility. She stays strictly with me now."

"And where does Eric stay, Bill?" Jessica asked innocently. She couldn't help herself and smiled.

Bill didn't answer, but he stared at Jessica with stern disapproval.

Jessica may have been able to ignore that admonishing glare, but Russell was not. He chuckled and said, "It appears I should have invited you and Eric here tonight."

It wasn't often that Russell was surprised. Certainly not from an outburst by Talbot, but the royal consort managed to lift his plate and fling it across the room unexpectedly. The imported china shattered against the wall and pieces of porcelain and droplets of blood scattered across the room.

Suddenly, the whole room was silent. Bill and Jessica were too stunned to say anything. They would leave that up to Russell. Usually Talbot followed his outburst with a long winded rant, but instead he sat shivering and hunched over the table.

"It appears that Talbot is displeased," Russell observed to break the silence. "Care to tell us your worries now?"

Talbot shuddered for a few moments longer. He could feel sweat dripping from his brow. Everything was an aggravation and he just wanted it to go away.

"You sprung this on me," he whispered hoarsely. "Out of nowhere." He was actually taking breaths to calm himself. Finally, he muttered, "I'm sick of it all."

Russell threw his napkin aside. He no doubt assumed this was a continuation of a previous argument they had. He just wasn't sure of which one. Either way, he felt Talbot picked the wrong time to rehash their old fights.

"You must excuse Talbot," Russell apologized flatly to Bill and Jessica, but never took his eyes off the royal consort. "This was sprung on him so suddenly."

"Don't you dare apologize on my behalf," Talbot warned in a drawn-out, dangerous tone. "I've had enough of this mindless conversation."

Talbot stood up and braced his hands against the table to support his heaving shoulders. Russell mistook it for his usual fuming of anger.

"How's the weather, Bill!" Talbot snapped. "Did you catch the game last night, Bill!"

"Talbot!" Russell warned with a strained hiss. It usually took a single word from a maker to get their progeny in line, but something was amiss. He knew Talbot saw this as mindless conversation, but he did have a plan at play. It all depended on patience.

However, Talbot did not appreciate the reprimanding tone. He latched onto Jessica's plate and threw it at Russell. The king dodged the object quickly, but the full plate covered the wall in a tacky, bloody mess. The Tru Blood clumped together and clotted onto the floor.

"Talbot—" Russell began, but his consort quickly stormed out of the room. He was tempted to follow Talbot, but he needed to save face in front of their guests.

"That was my meal," Jessica whined at Bill. She thought this was her last chance for an elegant, vampire dinner. She wasn't even able to take a single bite.

But Bill shook his head frantically. Now was not the time to cause any more trouble.

Jessica was also tired of not being heard. She took a saucer and flung it across the room. She may not have had the same grip as Talbot, but the porcelain managed to shatter with a satisfying chime.

"Jessica!" Bill protested, accepting fully well that Talbot was a bad influence on her.

Russell took a look at the once matching china. "It's alright, Bill," he sighed. "The set is ruined anyways."

Jessica did look somewhat apologetic. She was still adjusting to her undead life. She couldn't always control her impulses.

"Please excuse me," Russell asked as he stood up and pushed his chair in. "I'll only be a moment."

Once Russell was gone, Bill turned to Jessica.

"I don't care how the royal consort acts in his own home," Bill scolded reasonably. "This is not appropriate behavior for my child. We are guests here and you will present yourself as a lovely young lady in front of the king. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Jessica answered with her head lowered. "I was just excited," she mumbled. "You never include me in anything."

Bill flinched slightly. He may not have anticipated Jessica in his life, but she was here now. He had a responsibility to her. Begrudgingly, he pushed his human blood towards her.

"Really?" she asked excitedly since Bill never encouraged her to eat anything besides the synthetic stuff.

Bill didn't approve, but Jessica did deserve a pick-me-up for being forced into this lifestyle and they were sitting inside the belly of the beast. "You need your strength."

If that wasn't enough to make her smile, Bill handed her a spoon.

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Russell made his way to the master bedroom. Talbot never threw a tantrum unless he wanted attention. If he could calm the royal consort down now, then he could salvage the rest of the night with their guests. However, the door to their bedroom was locked shut. Complete avoidance. Now that was part of the game Russell was not yet familiar with.

"Talbot," Russell knocked on the door irritably. "Open up so we can solve this quickly."

"Just fuck off," came the strangled reply. "I need to be alone right now."

Russell clenched his jaw and flinched. He absolutely detested anything that didn't go his way, but he let Talbot get away with a lot more than he ought to. "Fine," he hissed. "But when I come back, this door better be open!"

Locks didn't bother Russell. He could always break the door down. However, he preferred to appease Talbot to avoid further arguments. If Talbot needed time to simmer, then he shall have it. Guests were waiting and perhaps enough space would eventually smother Talbot's flame.

Downstairs, Russell rejoined Bill and Jessica. It seemed that they ate in silence. Well, at least Jessica did. Russell heard no murmurs of conversation from them. Russell had thought that he saw a spark from Jessica, but he heard all he needed to hear. He had no more use for Bill's red headed progeny.

"I'm afraid we'll have to call it a night," Russell announced as he reentered the dining room. "I shall take Miss Hamby home."

"That isn't necessary," Bill insisted. He hadn't known Jessica long, but he had the vampire instinct to keep his progeny safe.

"Oh, I insist," Russell continued. "She is a delight. I'm sure we'll find something to talk about on our way to Bon Temps."

Jessica looked at Bill. She still wouldn't do anything without her maker's okay. The worst thing that could happen would be if Jessica misspoke, but Russell didn't seem to put much thought into what young progenies had to say. At this point, Bill saw no reason why Russell would cause her any damage, so he gave her an approving nod. There was no harm because he could always feel her distress.

"Okay," Jessica said at his nod, then smiled and grabbed her purse.

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Jessica sat across from Russell in the limo. She remembered her school friends talking about limos for prom. After being turned, she thought that was no longer possible. However, after meeting Russell, she found that there was still much vampire life could offer.

They sat in silence for most of the way. Jessica didn't know what to say to a king and Russell, maybe, didn't know what to say to a young progeny. Eventually, he broke the silence.

"That is a lovely shade of red lipstick you have on," the king noticed. Makeup was still something all females delight in. Whether dead or alive.

"Thanks," she smiled sweetly. "Bill doesn't like this shade of red. He thinks it's too vibrant. He says I should stick to gloss. I guess I'm just a little girl to him."

"Oh, what does Bill know?" And that was the answer. They could always talk about something as long as it was Bill.

"Bill doesn't approve of a lot of things," Jessica continued. Her sweet dimples deepened as she smiled nervously. "That's why I prefer Eric."

"Ohhh…" Russell hummed in amusement. "It appears Jessica Hamby has two daddies. I didn't know Bill had it in him."

Jessica giggled and shook her head. Bill would never let her talk about his complicated relationship with Eric. "I wouldn't say that. Bill is still my maker." Then she shook her head again. "It still feels odd to say that."

Russell studied the red headed youth for a moment. She had a naiveté he hadn't seen for a long time. A genuine ingénue.

"You still have a human quality about you," Russell declared as he settled back against the cushion to study her some more.

Jessica mistook that as a compliment and blushed. If Bill was there, he would have informed her of the king's distaste for anything human.

Finally, the limo stopped and they sat right outside the Compton home.

Whether dead or alive, Jessica was still raised to have manners. "Would you like to come inside?" she asked as she stepped out of the limo.

There wasn't much she could offer a king. There was a Nintendo Wii and warm Tru Blood. The dilapidated home lacked the luster of the Mississippi mansion. However, there were still a few surprises in Bill's home she wasn't aware of.

But Russell had no interest in Bill's house. He had thugs like Franklin for that. Plus, he felt a slight twinge deep inside that Talbot was distressed again.

"I'll have to take a rain check, dear," Russell answered, which was a relief to both him and Jessica. "I'm sure we'll meet again one night."

He shut the door and allowed Jessica to go in peace. After all, he still had Bill and Talbot to check in on.

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When Russell arrived home, the mansion was still quiet. Bill must have already been escorted to his guest bedroom and Talbot, probably, still locked himself away in his. However, Russell knew his progeny well. It wasn't often that Talbot had a brief fit. He probably continued his tantrum, smashing valuables and collectibles in his wake. Russell was gone long enough to cause some serious damage. In fact, his distance was probably enough to put the whole mansion in discord.

However, the wrought iron gates where still intact. The twin chandeliers still illuminated the halls in light. Their home continued to be a masterpiece of grace and style. If Russell still wanted to see evidence of Talbot's tantrum, he would have to look further.

Russell expected to find more. There was absolutely no way Talbot would behave himself without supervision. Russell looked all around him, but he neglected to look down. As he walked along the spiral staircase, he stepped into a puddle of blood.

Thick and tacky and browning with age. That was it. This was more like his Talbot. There was some comfort in knowing his progeny's routine. Russell did a quick headcount to determine which guard was the poor casualty of his fury. Surprisingly, all guards were accounted for.

It was an observation that confused Russell for a moment, until he heard panting and a rapid heartbeat steadily approaching. Suddenly, a servant boy came crashing into view. Out of breath and panicked. It was Gavin, the mortal servant Talbot seemed to favor for whatever reason. He satisfied Talbot's palete while Russell was ancient enough to enjoy all blood types. Personal preferences to taste were not nearly as pleasurable as the lives he took.

But Russell was not a patient man. Gavin was already sputtering nonsense, so he gripped his neck harshly to crush his rambling. Russell had no interest in what a human had to say. They always took too long to stutter out their thoughts, which were meaningless to begin with.

"T-Tablot," the boy managed to gasped. Since his windpipe was quickly collapsing, he had to choose carefully which words would set him free.

Russell loosened his hold, but did not let go. His consort's name was enough to grab his attention. "Yes. What about him?"

"He's… c-choking up… b-blood."

Russell twitched. That couldn't be right. Unfortunately, that slight tic tightened his grip around Gavin's throat and his neck snapped instantly. The human boy fell limply to the floor, but Russell didn't give it a second thought. Human lives were so pointless it didn't matter if there were sometimes accidents in their home. There was only one thing of value in the mansion and Russell rushed to the master bedroom to find his Talbot.

This time, the room was not locked. Talbot must have forgotten the latch or was simply too distracted to even bother. Either way, Russell could still sense his progeny inside and knew he had locked himself in the master bathroom.

Russell crowded the bathroom door and pounded purposely. "Talbot. Open up. Let me see you."

"No," the royal consort coughed. "P-please, Russell…. I n-need time to myself."

"Tell me what's the matter," he ordered firmly. He could sense his progeny's distress and even heard it in voice. "Darling, please…"

There were a few more strangled gasps and gurgles.

"I will break down this door," Russell threatened. Talbot was known to put on a show, but this was different. He had no response to the king's threat, which sent a jolt of understandable, but violent fear through Russell. A trace of blood and gore found its way through the air and the king could feel Talbot's energy slowly wavering from behind the door.

With a single, but brutal slap, Russell sent the cherry wood door the floor. The golden hinges snapped and shattered. There now was nothing to stand between him and his child.