Second~class Concubine
[Warning: Mature adult language/sexual situations in this chapter. Please enjoy:)]
Chapter. 2
Bill Compton winked at the young shoe~shine boy as he snapped his buffing cloth to the side and stood up to admire his work, then looking back into the vampire king's eyes.
"Nice job, Mitch….as always," Bill said, giving his newly polished shoes one final inspection. Bill reached down into his pocket with his handkerchief and produced a silver dollar that he then tossed into the air at the shoe~shine boy. The boy watched the large silver coin as it momentarily spun in mid~air, then he caught it in his small hand.
Bill stood up and stepped down from the alleviated chair.
"Thank you, sir. Nobody has these but you, Mr. Compton," said the boy, gazing down at the shiny silver dollar, turning it over and over again in his fingers.
Bill smiled. "Well, I know you appreciate them, Mitch. And I have quite a supply."
Bill looked at the boy, then reached down to straighten the brim of the boy's baseball cap. Mitch looked up at the vampire king with admiring eyes.
"Sir? You got time to give me a chance to win some more of those coins you got, Mr. Compton?" the boy asked, looking up through his dark lashes. Bill chuckled lightly.
"I have a couple more in my pocket," Bill nodded; "Let's do this."
Mitch looked around to see if he had any waiting customers and there were none at the moment. He picked up his shoe~shine box and together the vampire king and the young boy walked just outside the main entrance of the Monroe Mall. Mitch was almost skipping as he hurried along side Bill, who was walking at an even, long~stepping gait. Bill buttoned his suit jacket against the brisk evening air as they stepped outside. They turned the corner together and Mitch dug down into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change that he had been working for all day. He quickly knelt down on the side of the building and tossed a quarter at the wall. The coin hit the mortar and landed back, five inches from the wall.
"Whoa! Double or nothing', sir! Top that!" shrieked the boy, smiling.
"Good shot, Mitch," Bill confirmed.
Bill knelt down on one knee, reaching into his pocket again with his handkerchief, careful not to touch the solid silver coin with his fingers, then he tossed the coin against the side of the building as Mitch had done. The silver coin hit the wall then landed back further from the building than Mitch's, about six inches.
"Damn." Bill shook his head as he stood up. "Guess I'm out of practice tonight. You win, Mitch."
Mitch scrambled to pick up his winnings. "Thanks, Mr. Compton!"
"Don't thank me. You won, fair and square, Mitch," said Bill. "See you next time."
"Good night, sir," said the boy, tipping his hat slightly, smiling, picking up his shoe~shine box and running back around the corner and into the Mall. Bill watched him as he disappeared inside the automatic doors. Bill then turned, walking across the lit~up parking lot towards his waiting Escalade. His driver was already opening the back door for Bill, the Vampire King of Louisiana. Bill stepped inside the vehicle, unbuttoning his suit jacket.
Not winning a whole lot these days, Bill thought to himself. Certainly not winning Sookie's affections. The light mood that Bill had momentarily been in, just a few minutes earlier while playing a game with his shoe~shine boy, quickly faded as he thought of Sookie. She was never more than just a few minutes out of his mind.
It had only been three weeks since she had forgiven him…then walked out of his life. Sookie had decided that she wanted to go her separate way minus the drama of vampire business. And who could blame her, Bill thought.
She had not said yes to Eric either, which did not really surprise him. Sookie had rejected them both. Three weeks ago, after Bill had declared his love for her again, he could not help thinking that maybe he might have had a slim chance to win her heart again. But it was not to be. But incredibly, before she left his house, Sookie had asked Bill for his forgiveness, as well. It had been absurd to him. But that's who Sookie was.
Bill surmised everything had been his fault. His fault alone, for having come into Sookie's life in the first place. Bringing along his vampire angst. The witches mess. His treacherous Queen. And the AVL. Also Eric Northman. Inspite of all the loving moments they had shared. Inspite of the deep and abiding love Bill felt for her…along with his presence in Sookie's life, Bill knew he had brought along many, many troubles into her life. All the pain and upset he knew he had caused ~simply by being there ~ Bill had been more than willing to shoulder all of the blame for it. He had felt all the responsibility for it was his alone.
But Sookie would not let him take all the responsibility. She never had. Bill remembered, after Gran's death, Sookie had once told he that everything that was happening, was partly her fault, too. Because she had chosen him to be in her life. She had wanted him there. Because she loved him.
Bill stared absent~mindedly out of the window, as his driver headed the black Escalade back across the Cascade River Dam Bridge, back to Bon Temps.
All of that was gone now, Bill thought to himself. Because Sookie had walked away. She did not want to be with him. She did not want to be with anybody.
Sookie had told him and Eric that it was the best thing for all three of them.
That was the only thing Sookie had said that Bill knew was not true. Because Bill knew he would never stop loving her. Never stop wanting her. And it hurt like hell. And it would continue to hurt like hell as long as he walked this earth. Every night when he arose, he wondered, how was he going to lessen the pain and go on without her?
She just wanted to be left alone. There was nothing he could do about it.
He would always respect Sookie's wishes. If she wanted him to stay away….then he would. Bill had tried to find solace by ensconcing himself in his demanding work as the vampire king of Louisiana. There had been so much to clean up after the witches conflict.
Nan Flanagan had wanted a full report. Something Bill was loathe to do. Part of him was thankful for the absorption and the tediousness of pulling the report together. He had to make a formal dissertation in front of the Authority in New Orleans. All the loose ends had to be tied up regarding the activities of the necromancers. And there had to be a final judgment made as to whether or not he and Nan had successfully squelched the witch up~rising in Louisiana. And as to whether or not Nan was even fit to continue in her job as an AVL spokesperson for the mainstreaming cause. There had been some very tense moments and difficult questions set forth from the Authority panel to himself and Nan.
Ultimately, Bill's position as a member of the current Monarchy was never really brought into question. The Authority had put Nan Flanagan's head squarely on the block, holding her responsible for the escalation of the witch's conflict due to her many bad decisions. The Authority knew Bill had only been following Nan's orders. So, nothing nefarious was sticking to Bill in the matter. He had actually received some praise in dealing with Martonia. And in overseeing the end to the matter at the Moon Goddess Emporium.
Of course, Bill being technically her subordinate, as king, and being absolved of any wrongdoing in the matter had only infuriated Nan.
But what had frosted her buns even more, was the declaration from the Authority that her job, and her undead life, had actually been saved by Bill's intervention at the MGE. And thanks to Bill's vanishing of witch and her followers, without any embarrassing televised moments for the AVL. Much to Nan's dismay, she was in some way beholding to Bill.
Bill understood this, of course. And that was a marker that he filed away and would definitely use when the time was right.
The down side for Bill was that Nan Flanagan was still in charge. Still his superior.
As the Escalade approached the outskirts of Shreveport, Bill's cell phone began to ring.
"Hello?"
"Good evening, Your Majesty…"
"Eric. Is there a problem?"
"Not in the slightest, Your Majesty."
"Really? Then, for what reason do I receive this unexpected call, this evening?"
"All is well in Area 5, I assure you. Actually, I just wanted to remind you, in case you have forgotten, that Fangtasia is closed this evening. For Ginger's birthday party."
"Ah, yes. I had forgotten, sheriff. Undoubtedly, a very special evening to be sure."
"Yes. My invitation still stands, Your Majesty. Isn't it time you got … out?"
"How nice of you to be concerned, Eric. But I am doin' just fine. I'm on my way back home from a meeting in Monroe."
"That's not quite what I meant. Bill, aren't you tired of a steady diet of TruBloods?"
"As you well know, Eric, I have at my disposable an endless supply of willing donors."
"Of course you do. When's the last time you've been to a party? I mean…a real party?"
Bill paused for a moment.
"You, Pam, Ginger and two hundred of Ginger's personal fang~banging friends?" asked Bill, sarcastically. "Is that the kind of party you mean?"
"Yeah. Something like that, Your Majesty," Eric said evenly. "If I tell them our King is coming for some real fun…it would serve to make me a wildly popular guy tonight. Might even top three hundred before the night is over."
"That's a lot of fang~banging, sheriff."
"Oh, indeed it is. And it's been awhile, but you are no novice in that regard. Anonymously, of course. I have only the most discreet accommodations for you, Your Majesty. Come on, Bill. It's time you turned off the computer screen and got lost in the moment. Don't you think?"
Bill could hear the snarky smile in Eric's voice. It was true. The only social events Bill had been to lately were meetings with business owners or his sheriffs. And Bill had not been with anyone sexually since Portia. After that, Bill had wanted to steer clear of any entanglements. The king had thrown himself into his work. The king had plenty of willing blood donors to feed from. But of course, it was not like being with someone. Not like being lost in the moment. Bill was not even sure he could relax and just let things happen. But, he thought, maybe it was time to atleast try.
"Alright." Bill said finally. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Very well. We here at Fangtasia, look forward to your arrival, Your Majesty."
With Eric's sarcastic response, Bill clicked off his cell phone and placed it on the leather seat beside him. Truth be told, Bill did not want to go back to his big, empty estate just then. It was not so strange that Eric would know how he was feeling. After Sookie saying good~bye to both of them, there was one more thing they had in common with each other as vampires. Although, Bill had no doubt and suspected that Eric had not denied himself anything over the past few weeks. And why should he?
Even though fang~bangers and blood orgies was not something Bill found incessantly amusing, on that particular evening, Eric's invitation had tapped something inside Bill. They both were in the same boat, as far as Sookie was concerned. And even though the realization of that fact hurt Bill, he had to admit Sookie probably had a very good point in rejecting them both. At least he was trying to see it from her prospective, as difficult as that was to do. He loved her beyond all reason. And he knew that would never change.
Maybe it was just pure loneliness that was finally settling in over Bill. Maybe it was just a need to surround himself with a different atmosphere. The anonymity of boisterous, carefree strangers. People who were not in love. Part of Bill hoped that he could, indeed, get lost in the moment. If only for one night.
Perhaps the pain of losing Sookie could be assuaged… if only for a few hours….
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The very large sign taped onto Fangtasia's door, printed in huge black and white letters, told the story: CLOSED TONITE! PRIVATE PARTY! GO AWAY!
Bill did not even have to knock. As he approached, the club door swung open suddenly.
It was Ginger, smiling, bright~eyed, intoxicated… with big red painted lips, a 'Birthday Girl' party hat sitting precariously atop her head. She curtsied to Bill, wobbling as she dipped down, again and again.
"Oh Bill! Oh! I mean…Your Majesty King Bill!" Ginger squealed. "King Bill! Thank you! Thank you, for comin' to my birthday party! We are sooo glad to have you here!"
Bill stepped inside the club, sideways, as Ginger took every step with him.
"Thank you for inviting me to your birthday celebration tonight, Ginger," Bill smiled.
Ginger was delighted.
"We got the V.I.P. table all done up and ready for you, Your Excellency!" Ginger gushed on. She clapped her hands, staring at Bill as Eric swaggered up.
"Twenty minutes did not take very long. Ginger, please give the King some space," Eric said, extending his arm out; "Right this way, Your Majesty."
Bill followed Eric further inside the club. The entire place had been decorated for a vampire birthday celebration. As Bill walked inside the dimly lit room, the house stereo amp speakers blared some loud, alternative rock music, the lead singer moaning out the lyrics to a doomed love affair. Fangtasia, already color~schemed in black and red, was now fashioned even moreso in Death Black and Blood Red. Wide black streamers hung in twirling masses from the ceiling down to the dance floor. All of the dancers, in various stages of undress, swaying to the slowly torturous music, wrapping themselves in the streamers as their undulating bodies pressed into each another. Some were not dancing at all, but just standing there, rubbing against and thoroughly pawing one another as they were engrossed in heavy French kissing. Vampires were openly feeding from each other and humans from their throats, arms and wrists. The groans and moans of pleasure from both vampires and humans, mingling into the bass chords of the loud music.
Red glitter was strewn over every flat surface, the tables, across the bar, and gobs of it on the floor along with too many streamers and black and red balloons. There was a huge sign hanging on the red curtains, above the stage, behind Eric's throne:
Have a Truly Bloody Birthday, Ginger!
It was still early… a quarter past ten, but the patrons~ vampires and mortals alike~ were three sheets to the wind already. The bar area was stocked heavier with alcohol, for the humans, than Bill had ever remembered seeing it. And vampires were feeding everywhere. Twosomes. Threesomes. Bill noticed a cluster of four at a back table, obscured in the shadows, the vampires standing and feeding while the mortals reclined themselves receiving rear~entry sex across the tabletop.
Bill knew this was only the beginning.
He sat down at the V.I.P. table, located just to the right of the high stage and Eric's throne. He watched the dancers directly in front of him taking off more clothing. A few were dancing completely naked now and continuing to change partners whenever they fancied to do so.
Ginger had followed the two vampires and was standing just behind Eric, still staring at wildly at Bill.
"Remember now, it's my birthday. So if… I can do anything for you tonight, Your Majesty…I mean, anything at all…don't you hesitate to let me know," said Ginger.
Bill nodded his head. "Thank you, Ginger. I will certainly keep that in mind."
Eric turned, looking at Ginger, slightly amused. "I'm sure His Majesty appreciates the offer. However, right now, we need to have a word alone. His Majesty and I. Better run along now, Ginger, and continue enjoying your other guests," Eric said.
As Ginger turned and faded away, Pam appeared standing next to Eric.
"Bill." Pam rested her palm on her hip. "You made it."
"Well, there she is. How are you tonight, Pam?" Bill asked.
Pam looked around. "I'm curious. Where are your bodyguards?" she asked in her usual monotone.
"Didn't think I would need them in here tonight," Bill said. "Am I wrong?"
Pam glanced up at Eric. Then back at Bill.
"You probably won't,"she smirked; "you're in for a real treat."
"Don't spoil it, Pam," Eric piped in. "Go ahead and bring the first course."
"Enjoy yourself, Your Majesty," Pam said, as she sashayed away behind the nearby curtain.
Bill watched Pam as she walked away. Eric took a seat at the table.
"What is Pam talking about, Eric?" Bill said. "it's Ginger's night for treats, isn't it?"
"She's not the only one, Your Majesty," Eric smiled. "Look at this…"
Eric glanced at the black curtain behind Bill's table and snapped his fingers. Pam standing at the curtain pulled it back.
Bill turned in his chair to see a lovely, olive~complexioned woman, dressed in a long flowing red gown, slowly emerge from behind the curtain only a few feet away. She walked up, standing directly in front of the table. Her long dark hair almost reaching to her waist. And her dark eyes staring intently at Bill.
"Bill, this is Darla… .she is from the United Arab Emirates. She's mortal…and she loves to be bitten. And fucked. Preferably at the same time." Eric smiled broadly at Darla; "And anything else you might be inclined for. And, Your Majesty, she is of course completely yours. To do with, as you please."
Darla dropped her eyes downward and bowed her head to Bill.
"Your Majesty," Darla said, in a very quiet voice. "My wish is whatever you choose."
Bill cut his eyes warily at Eric. "You've really gone the extra mile, haven't you, Eric? It's Ginger's birthday, not mine."
"It's not every day we get a visit from the King. Only the best for you, my Liege," Eric smiled; "I don't want you to regret your special evening here at Fangtasia. I do have one more surprise for you …but that will be later."
Bill drew his attention back to Darla.
"Whatever you have next, it will be hard to top this one," said the King.
"Exactly," Eric said. Both vampires looked at Darla with admiring eyes.
She was absolutely beautiful. The red gown was made with only one strap, so one of her shoulders was fully exposed. And the silky material of the floor~length gown clung to all of her well~defined curves before it pooled to the floor. She smelled amazing. Slightly like the sweet but earthy aroma of fresh rosemary. And even though Bill was sure Darla was a seasoned fang~banger, there was not one bite mark on her tanned skin. Eric suddenly stood up and ushered Darla over to his seat next to Bill. Bill could not help his visceral reaction to this lovely woman. Darla leaned over and pressed her arm timidly against Bill's, smiling sweetly. Bill stared sidelong at her, his eyes looking deeply into hers for a moment.
He began to realize just how lonely he had been. And how vulnerable he was. His eyes could not help wandering over all her womanly attributes. And down to the pulsating artery in Darla's throat. She was inviting him, her shoulder touching against his arm, leaning into him a little more. Suddenly, Bill's fangs snapped out.
"Well," said Eric;"I think I will just let you two get …a little more acquainted. Enjoy."
Eric smiled at Bill then left the table. And without another word, Bill placed the palm of his hand along side Darla's jaw, tilting her head slightly back and steady, he bit his fangs deep into her warm jumping vein, penetrating her thoroughly. He clamped his lips to her soft skin as he siphoned out her thick, delicious blood. Darla completely relaxed her upper body against Bill, her breasts against his chest. She closed her eyes and Bill listened to her softly moaning as he continued drinking from her, pulling her closer.
He stopped for a second, reaching up to stroke her long dark hair that fell down past her shoulders. He placed his nose behind her ear, smelling her perfume…anise, cinnamon,
jasmine… Bill was pleasantly surprised.
He could get lost in this moment, he thought. She's dark. Exotic. Foreign. Nothing like Sookie. So very different from Sookie….
Bill indulged himself, finally, ferociously sinking his fangs back into Darla throat again. She cried out a little more, groaning, moving her hands forward, searching out Bill's hips. Her left hand stayed at his waist while he fed. But with her right hand, he felt Darla's fingers fumbling down to his crotch, laying the palm of her little hand across the zipper in his pants, feeling his hardening manhood. Bill pulled her head back, slowly licking her blood from his lips. He looked down into Darla's eyes. Yes, he had made up his mind to suck her blood and fuck her, too. She wanted it. And so did he.
Darla's eyes slanted under Bill's unwavering gaze. She only pretended to be demure, but Bill knew better. He moved his hand from the side of her head to hold the front of her swan~like throat, the latent blood from the fang wounds he had made, dripping slowly down to her delicate collarbone. He licked away the rest of the dripping blood before it reached the bosom of her red dress. Bill could sense the fire inside her. He could sense that Darla liked it rough. And that's exactly how he intended to give it to her. She wanted him to kiss her mouth, but he wouldn't do it. Bill opened his mouth wide and flattened his tongue against the wounds he had made on her throat.
He slowly, sensuously squeezed the vein, licking the blood from her skin, as it pumped upward. Under the table, Darla squeezed the head of Bill's member through his trousers with her thumb and index finger. Bill was uncomfortably aroused now. He wanted her so badly, had thought briefly of taking her back to his place, but that would take too long. Not in the Escalade. Now, with such an urgency in his loins, and having made up his mind to take her, Bill decided to let Eric know that he would need a private space in the back of the club. A place to quench his desire for the lovely Darla.
Bill nicked his fangs back into Darla's throat, for one more taste. She cried out her pleasure again, panting into Bill's ear as he sucked on her. He knew she was having a series of tiny orgasms, just from him biting her. She pressed down her palm more firmly across him erection, shifting her legs in frustration.
Bill pulled back again. This time looking around the room for Eric. The club was even more full with party~goers than just a few minutes ago. The music had turned up~beat. And the vamps and mortals were bouncing on the dance floor now. Gyrating up and down and against one another. Dancing with everyone and anyone who happened to dance near by. Several new people were stripping away their clothing. The smell of marijuana floating in the air. The smell of sex in the air. The smell of losing control in the air.
Bill saw the birthday girl, Ginger, lying naked across the top of the bar, her arms up above her head, with Pam and several other female vampires biting Ginger in different parts of her anatomy. Ginger's face was euphoric. She was blissful and happy in the turning white and red lights that whirled and reflected from the ceiling down over her face. Humans guzzled liquor from open bottles now. No highball glasses necessary. And Pam, the bartender, was busy eating Ginger and getting screwed from behind, anyway.
There was no telling where Eric might be in all of this, Bill thought. But then, Bill looked to the stage where Eric's throne was. And to his amazement, Bill saw a girl sitting on Eric's throne. A girl with a long blonde ponytail, her eyes covered with a red blindfold as she laughed, her chin up high. She was dressed in a tight~fitting, white tee shirt that clearly had the Merlotte's Bar & Grill emblem on the front left corner of the shirt.
She was leaning back, sloughed down on Eric's throne, her black short~shorts pulled down to her ankles, her legs sprawled open. And there, on his knees in front of , was Eric Northman, his mouth wide open covering the girl's mons, pleasuring the little blonde by giving her cunnilingus.
Bill stood up so suddenly, Darla fell forward onto his chair when he moved. At vamp speed, Bill was standing behind Eric in an instant, staring down totally dumbfounded at the little blonde. If Bill had had a beating heart, it would have stopped. The girl went on giggling as Eric lapped his tongue at the folds of her pink vulva, his big hands covering each one of her little knees. Suddenly, Eric raised his head slightly, found the femoral artery of her right leg, clicked his fangs into place and bit down into the girl's thigh. She groaned in delight. Bill quickly reached down, over Eric's head and snatched the red blindfold from the girl's eyes.
It was not Sookie. But it was a girl who was dressed up to look like Sookie.
Eric disengaged his fangs from the girl's thigh muscle. He licked his lips and snapped his fangs back in. Eric stood up. He knew it was Bill standing behind him.
Eric turned and looked at his king, wiping the girl's blood from the corner of his mouth.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty," Eric crooned; "but you are going to have to wait your turn with this one." Eric was quite amused with himself.
Bill gave Eric a piercing, loathsome stare. "You sick bastard."
Bill glanced down at the girl who was dressed in the Merlotte's work clothes with her hair in a ponytail. She had willingly been a part of this disgusting joke. Bill shook his head, wondering why he had ever thought showing up at Fangtasia was a good idea in the first place. Eric continued smirking as Bill turned on his heels and strode away, headed for the door. The King pushed aside several humans and vampires as he made his way across the dance floor.
The absurdity of the decision he had made to let Eric talk him into attending Ginger's birthday party, weighed down on him with every step he took towards the exit door. Finally Bill was free, out into the fresh, night air. Bill stood in front of Fangtasia for a few seconds, angry with himself for making such a ridiculous move.
He thought about the girl with the blonde ponytail who, for ten terrible seconds, he had stupidly thought was Sookie. And he realized there was hardly anything else that could have been more of a disgusting shock to his nervous system. He was not alive. But whenever he thought of Sookie, he was most certainly the closest thing to being alive.
"Where to, sir? Home?" Bill's driver asked, opening the vehicle door, breaking Bill's concentration.
"Yes….home," Bill said, stepping into the Escalade.
All along the way, Bill stared out of the window as the dark landscape whizzed by and he thought of Sookie.
Images of her going through his head. Sookie invading his sense in every way.
Sookie's face lit up in soft candlelight, reaching her hand across a table to find his touch. Sookie on a warm summer's night walking with him hand~in~hand through the cemetery, her face bathed in moonlight. A smile on her lips, only for him.
The way she looked as he caught her eye when he used to walk into Merlotte's.
Sookie happy and warm, snuggling close against him, wrapped in his arms in his bed. She would look up at him. He remembered all the love in her eyes. So many images ~ the beautiful warmth of her body, her sweet breath on his face as she whispered something to him, the intimacy that they had shared together ~ so much that now made his soul feel broken in two. And desolate. And useless. And empty.
This is what he truly hated. To have the time to think about all these things~ missing Sookie when he had idle time like this. This is why he would rather be working. Rather on a conference call. Rather arguing with Nan Flanagan or her dim~witted AVL cohorts. Rather in a meeting with his sheriffs. Or the Magister. Or on his computer, puzzling out a problem with the highest levels of the Authority. Anything was better than having time to contemplate what he had lost with Sookie. The love that he no longer had. The love that had made his soul soar to the heavens, and brought him back from the never~ending darkness of his curse, his eternity.
Now the thing that had brought him endless joy was gone. And there was nothing he could do to get it back.
Here he was, Vampire King of Louisiana. With every trapping of luxury and influence at his disposal. But the one thing he wanted more than anything ~ he could not attain.
Bill had told himself that he would stop ruminating on this and try to get on with his undead life. He knew he had to do that. But right then, after going to Fangtasia and then sitting in his chauffeur~driven SUV, he felt almost as wrecked as he did the last time he had seen Sookie, standing in his main parlor. He felt almost as hopeless as he had watching her walk out of his door.
That last time, his hand had been gently on her cheek. He had looked into her eyes. He had declared to her that she was 'the love of his life.' He had also informed her that if Eric was what made her happy, he would accept her decision to have Eric. But, thankfully no, Sookie did not want Eric either. She had rejected them both. Rejected Bill's love. And she had walked away from him. Telling him not to pursue her. That her decision was 'best.' And he had to accept it. No matter how difficult it was.
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When the Escalade pulled around the circumference of the King's front driveway and came to a stop, one of the outside perimeter guards opened the vehicle door and King Bill stepped out.
"Your Majesty, you have a visitor," said the guard.
"At this hour, Reynolds?" Bill asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. We told her that you were out for the evening, sir. And that we did not know when to expect you back," said the guard; "but she insisted on waiting for you to return, sir. She said it was a matter of great importance and she needed to talk with you as soon as possible, sir. And she said she would just wait. For as long as it took for you to return, Your Majesty."
Bill ascended the front steps with the guard next to him. They walked up to the front door. The guard quickly opened the front door for his King.
"Who is it?" Bill asked impatiently.
"She's been here before, Your Majesty," said the guard; "Sookie Stackhouse. I asked her to have a seat in the main parlor, sir."
Bill stared blankly at the guard for a second.
"Alright. That's fine, Reynolds. I want no interruptions. Thank you."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard bowed his head and left.
Bill walked slowly across the foyer. He placed his hand on the double doorknobs and pushed open the doors to the main parlor. He saw Sookie as she stood up from the sofa. She was still dressed in her Merlotte's Bar & Grill white tee shirt and the little black shorts. Her golden hair was up in the ponytail. And the familiar grey and white running shoes on her feet. She had come to his house, straight from work.
She stood up, looking at Bill expectantly with those chestnut brown eyes of hers.
"Hey Bill. I-I'm sorry to bother you so late… but, I need your help with somethin'. I mean…I hope you can help," she said quickly; "It's not really about me. It's for a friend."
[End of Chapter 2.…..to be continued…]