A/N: And now the story...

Frustrated, Jessica pushed her way through the crowd, snarling at the odd human when they wouldn't get out of her way.

Her search had taken her far longer than she'd hoped, but she wasn't about to stop now. This was too important.

She pulled the crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket once more and studied the address, she breathed a sigh of relief: she was close.

It took her a few more minutes to get through the press of people, but she eventually forced her way through the crowds to find the villa she was after. She rang the bell, mentally rehearsing the speech that she'd been working on.

A maid answered the door and asked her something in a language she didn't understand, much less recognise. Her heart sank and she started to panic that she would fail at the first hurdle.

"I need to see your master," she said slowly and carefully, "is he home?"

The maid stared at her blankly and babbled something in the unfamiliar tongue.

Jessica shook her head, "Your master," she repeated firmly, "Eric," she stressed, but the woman continued babbling unheeded, "or Sookie?" she tried again.

The woman shrugged hopelessly, looking almost as lost as Jessica felt. Biting her lip, the young vampire pulled the paper from her pocket again and showed it the woman, "Is this the right house?" she asked, gesturing between the villa and the piece of paper.

The woman shrugged again as she made a gesture that looked suspiciously like she couldn't read.

Jessica felt her frustration start to take over her hopelessness and she cursed angrily, shoving the paper back in her pocket. "Wonderful," she muttered under her breath, "just bloody perfect," she added as her fangs dropped in her anger.

The woman gave a shriek and cowered away from her, snapping Jessica out of her mood as she tried to placate the woman.

A voice barked something in the unfamiliar language from nearby and the woman started to babble to someone out of sight. The voice answered again and Jessica breathed a sigh of relief as Eric stepped into view.

He blinked as he recognised her, "Jessica," he said, clearly surprised, what are you doing here? Sookie's not here at the moment," he continued before she could reply.

Jessica shook her head, "Actually, it's you I came to see."

Eric raised an eyebrow.

"I think Pam might be in trouble," Jessica told him.

She was shocked as he remained unmoved, "She's a big girl, I'm sure that she can take care of herself."

"What?"

Eric ignored her question and made to go.

"How can you say that?" she demanded, "This is Pam," she added, forgetting about her former deference for the older vampire as she tugged on his arm, making him stop and turn around. "You know, Pam, your Child," she reminded him, ignoring his stern look.

"Pam and I aren't exactly on the best of terms," he replied icily, shaking her hand off his arm.

"Don't you even care?" Jessica asked, incredulous.

Eric ignored her question and started to walk away, Jessica made to follow but was stopped by the maid who suddenly blocked her path. Jessica watched him go helplessly.

"Please," she called after him, "you were my last hope!"

"I'm sorry you wasted your time," he spat over his shoulder, still walking away from her.

Jessica's shoulders slumped, "Fine," she conceded, "I'll just have to find a way to get rid of Sebastian myself."

Eric stopped at the name and turned around slowly to face her, "What did you say?" he asked in a deceptively calm voice.

Jessica shifted nervously as she took in his dangerous expression, "I'll just have to find a way to get rid of him myself," she repeated uncertainly.

Eric growled under his breath and took a threatening step towards her, "The name, woman," he snapped, "you said a name."

"Sebastian?"

Eric's snarl was almost feral, "Where is she?" he demanded.