Author's Note: I just watched True Blood again and I had this story come to mind. It was fun using Eric again. I love to torture the man.

Anyway, my new character is a werewolf/psychic mix. She was changed when she was a young woman and raised by a pack in Dallas. More in the story.

I do not own True Blood, only my character who uses an alias through the first half of the story.

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Eric waited patiently for the door to open of the sprawling mansion in Jackson, Mississippi. He would there if it hadn't been for Sookie Stackhouse, his favorite blond waitress ad current romantic interest, asking him where her vampire boyfriend Bill Compton was being held. Sometimes he wondered what she saw in the younger vampire.

'You're zoning out again.' The remark was short and pleasant as it rang clear in his mind.

He looked to his left. A young blond woman was standing close to his side, her scent wafting to his nostrils making him suddenly glad that they had taken precautions. Their hands were linked loosely but the connection was strong. She had belonged to his maker before he had died, the only werewolf close to the sheriff of Area 9. After that he hadn't heard much from her until he desperately needed her help. She had gracefully decided he was worth it. She was his favorite psychic gone werewolf, able to read everyone's minds and speak to them freely.

'Sorry. I don't know what got into me.' He replied.

He heard her snort at his side. It sounded more animal than human. 'Liar.'

'Careful of the animal growls. You'll give yourself away.'

'Yeah. Yeah. I know the drill.' He smiled at her response.

The door opened. A tall, well-dressed man stood in their way. His black hair was curly and it brought out his darker colored eyes. His full lips parted in a seductive smile that had Eric's companion tightening her hand painfully. She was the only person who could really hurt him.

"Welcome!" There was another man, this one shorter, who came into room. "I have never seen you before."

"Your Majesty, my name is Eric Northman, sheriff of Area 5 in Louisiana. This is my human confidant Baker Cornick." Eric replied with the utmost courtesy, keeping his tone neutral as to not give her away.

The man turned his eyes to her. "She's a beauty. Do you use her?" curly asked.

Eric had to tug viciously on her hand to keep her still. "No. We have an agreement that she is not used."

Curly tsked unhappily. "What a pity." Baker scowled.

"Talbot." It was a warning. He looked at the girl, taking a good long look at her. "My name is Russell Edgington, King of Mississippi."

"Mr. Edgington." She inclined her head respectfully.

Russell clapped his hands together excitedly, earning a slight jolt from Baker. Her nose twitched. "She's so respectful!"

Eric smiled, feeling the tight pull of her hand in his. "She was raised that way, sir."

"Please!" Talbot waved them forward. "Come this way." He had recovered rather well from his rebuke minutes earlier.

"Excuse me," Baker said politely, pulling her hand from Eric's and tucking them both behind her back as he gently placed his hand around her neck. Talbot turned to her expectantly. "Where's the restroom?"

"Down the hall, third door on the right." He replied as his eyes slid over her pulse.

Eric released her neck as she walked down the hall. He could feel her mind processing all the information she had been collecting with all her senses since she had arrived in Jackson. He figured it was taking a toll on her but he needed her to do it and keep her cover until the very end.

"Your friend seems to be easy to please." Russell said as he took a seat at the head of the table.

"Trust me. She's not. She's a normal human with a mouth on her. The only exception is she lives with me." It was a bold faced lie but he hoped his body language was enough to show neutrality.

"She's young."

"Eighteen." Which was right had it been six hundred years ago.

"That is young." Talbot admonished. He had taken on a dreamy look.

"You didn't come here to show us your human. What do you want?" Russell asked.

"One of my subordinates has gone missing. At the behest of my queen I have to search for him." Eric explained. He knew when she was at the door.

"Who might this man be?"

"His name is Bill Compton."

"I've never seen him."

'That's a lie.' Baker's hands landed on Eric's shoulders as she came in the room. She was accustomed to talk to him in such a manner that it was personal to them. 'He knows where Bill is.'

"Last I heard he was here." Eric continued fluidly.

"Well, if he was, I would have known." Russell examined his fingernails boredly.

"May I speak?" Baker had everything so down pat Eric had to hide his smile that was tugging at his lips.

Talbot smiled. "Of course, my dear."

"I may have this wrong, considering I'm not privy to vampire customs, but aren't other vampires supposed to let their presence be known if they're going into a different Area?"

"They're supposed to but many times they don't."

"If I know Bill Compton, he would have let you know he was coming. So my speculation would be either you're lying to us or he never came here."

Talbot shot to his feet in such a way that Baker clenched Eric's shoulders tightly. "You are in our home, human! You do not make accusations."

"Check mate." Eric whispered calmly. He looked at Russell. "It seems you do know where Mr. Compton is. My human is a great judge of character." He rose, completely blocking Baker with his height and width. "It seems we all need to settle down."

"Do you know how to settle down, Eric?"

A crystal vase shattered on the mantel as Lorena walked in. She was dressed immaculately but her eyes were glued to Eric. Talbot looked around in surprise, trying to figure out where the explosion came from. Only Eric and Bill, who had walked in behind his maker, seemed to know.

Eric tilted his head. "I can if I so chose."

"So you've chosen to settle down with your maker's human?" That jab came from Lorena.

The Viking heard Baker's teeth snap together. "She needed a place to stay."

"Right. From what I've heard, she's wealthier than you are."

The room swelled with energy and no one seemed to know where it was coming from. Baker was standing stock still against Eric, the small amethyst at her throat glowing hotly against her flesh and dog tags.

"Eric, don't the higher ups have a human psychic that you know?" She was baiting him.

"Yes, they do."

"Russell, what will you do if she shows up?"

Russell had been following the exchange closely. At the mention of the famous hunter of the oldest vampires alive, he snarled. "I'll drain her dry and then send her body back to Italy. I heard she was your maker's as well."

Eric nodded, feeling Baker bite into his shoulder, her teeth marking him. "Yes, she was his bodyguard and trusted assistant. She had a hard time believing me when I told her Godric had died. If Baker hadn't told her, she would have gone on believing he was still alive."

"Do you think she's here?" Lorena asked. Her entire motive was to bait this man into lying but she was entirely unaware of the fact that he had already lied.

"She doesn't concern herself with me very much anymore."

"What a pity." Russell responded blandly. He waved his hands as if to wave away the situation. "We have important matters to discuss. Miss Baker, if you wouldn't mind leaving."

Baker stepped out from behind Eric and shook her short blond hair. "Not at all. I'm afraid to say that this isn't my scene."

"Thank you, child."

As she was walking out, Baker threw her thoughts to Eric. 'I'm going to check on Sookie. I'll be back shortly.'

'Be careful. We don't need them knowing what you are just yet.'

'I will.' She was gone and he was left to pull off the first part of their plan.