Best Laid Plans
A Let Love In companion story
By Terri Botta
Disclaimer: I don't own the Southern Vampires. Sole copyright belongs to Charlaine Harris. I'm poor so don't sue.
Rating: M
Timeframe: Post-From Dead to Worse
Pairing: Eric/Sookie
Summary: The Wednesday night announcement.
A/N: This one is shorter and it ends on a cliffhanger. Yes, I know, I'm evil, but the fun really starts now!
Chapter Two
The bar was decorated in much the same way as it had been for Dracula Night, except the color scheme was red and gold. No carnations and coffins in the flower arrangements here; the centerpieces were roses ranging from bright red to almost black. As per the usual custom, there was a blood fountain serving up refreshments for the vampires, and a small buffet for the non-blood drinkers. WDED was playing through the bar's sound system, but she knew that the Duke of Death had been hired to perform for tonight's entertainment. She'd seen the contract during one of her training sessions with Pam on how to fulfill her new duties as Fangtasia's Entertainment Coordinator.
The biggest change to the bar's décor was that one of the booths along the wall, but centrally located with a view of the room, had been ripped out and replaced with a dais. The carpeted platform was raised up about eight inches, and the wall behind it was draped with red and gold satin cloth, softly illuminated by recessed lighting positioned slightly off center. Two very comfortable-looking, cushioned chairs were placed next to each other on the dais, and each was accompanied by a low side table.
The renovation appeared permanent and that bothered her. It was as if Eric had carved out a full-time place for him to sit and survey his customers while she sat beside him, like a king and queen presiding over their own throne room, and her suspicions were proved correct when he guided her over to the dais, the crowd parting to allow them to pass. She tried not to look too much like a fish out of water as they crossed the bar, and she did her best to nod her head to the vampires that she knew, even as she was bombarded by the wild thoughts coming from vampires and humans alike. The vamp brains were still very different from the human ones, and the thoughts all seemed to run together in a jumble. The human brains were all too predictable.
'Whore. She has no right taking the Master away from us.'
'Smellssosweetandluscious. Hungerfeedneedwant.'
'Stupid bimbo. She's not even that pretty.'
'Masterwouldhaveusbowtoher.'
She tested a theory and brushed against Indira as she passed, touching the Indian vampire's hand briefly.
'Master Eric looks so happy…'
Yep, physical contact brought things in loud and clear. Which was both good and bad. Good in that she had confirmed what she had already suspected, and bad because now she was sure that she would have to touch Victor in order to glean any information out of him.
Eric brought her to the platform and had her step up onto it ahead of him, then he guided her to one of the chairs and waited for her to lower herself down into it. She hoped she did so with some grace and class.
"You are magnificent," he whispered.
She managed a smile and watched as he sat down in the other chair, his hand still holding hers. He looked out over the crowd, his blue eyes sweeping over the guests, and she noticed that everyone was staring at them. She recognized Sandy and Victor and Rasul. Both Sandy and Victor were dressed in almost matching suits, although Sandy's was cut for her womanly figure. Rasul was wearing a tux that looked a little well used, but he grinned a toothy grin when she nodded her head at him.
Eric waved a careless hand indicating that everyone should return to doing whatever it was they were doing before he and Sookie had come out, and everyone relaxed and went back to socializing. A buxom waitress promptly delivered a gin and tonic, and put it down on the side table closest to Sookie's chair. Sookie noticed that the girl looked unhappy, and also noticed that she leaned over facing Eric for maximum flash of cleavage in the low-cut uniform the female Fangtasia employees wore.
'My tits are nicer,' she heard the fangbanger think.
She stiffened a little and felt her mouth tugging up at the corners, but Eric turned his head and gave the waitress a bland look.
"Melinda," he said sweetly in a voice that was frigid. "You would do well to remember that Miss Stackhouse is telepathic."
The girl actually gulped and ceased her boob display, casting her a terrified glance before removing herself as quickly as possible.
"You didn't have to do that," she said softly.
"Yes, I did."
"Eric… I've been dealing with crap like that ever since I figured out what I could do."
"You will not be disrespected in front of me. I will not tolerate it," he replied firmly, turning his head away in a gesture that said the subject was closed. She knew better than to argue.
They sat there for the next twenty minutes, Eric presiding over his bar, the master of all he surveyed, and she trying desperately to look like she belonged there beside him. She was nervous and sweating – she now knew what Pam had meant about latex and sweat – and she was certain everyone in the bar knew she wasn't wearing any underwear. The sexual tension in the room was almost unbearable, but she put on her best smile as she nodded to the people she knew. Calvin Norris was there, but Alcide, thankfully, was not, although she felt a number of Were brains in the crowd who no doubt had been sent on behalf of the Packmaster.
The whole thing felt like a weird wedding reception, and she wondered if that made Pam her Maid of Honor. She felt Eric jolt and swallow a laugh, but his eyes danced with mirth and amusement came bouncing across the bond. Oh, he was having far too much fun.
Finally at exactly ten pm, Eric stood. The crowd immediately stilled and the music was turned down. He offered her his hand again and she stood by his side, trying to match his straight back and proper posture, but a bead of sweat was rolling down her back, creating quite a distraction. She might look amazing in the dress, but she was really starting to understand why it was a punishment. She was squeezing Eric's hand very hard to keep from squirming, but he didn't seem to notice.
"My guests and loyal subjects, I am pleased to see you here tonight. I have asked you here so that you may bear witness to my official pronouncement," he said in a voice that was full of authority.
No one made a sound in protest, but there were plenty thinking it. She drew herself up and held her head high. She wouldn't give them the pleasure of knowing that they had hurt her. Eric drew her closer and made her take a small step forward, and she was reminded of the way he had displayed her in the dining room on Isle Elena after the whole orgy incident. She felt her cheeks flush and struggled to get herself under control.
"This woman is known to many of you. You know that she has been part of my retinue for almost three years. Her beauty and talents have graced us all, and she is directly responsible for saving your Sheriff's life, and that of many vampires both here and in other Areas, during the despicable attack on the Pyramid of Gizeh hotel in Rhodes."
There was a murmur of assent and the overall resentment in the room faded a bit as they were reminded of her service to the vampire community.
"Her bravery that day was unparalleled. She also directly intervened and saved the life of our new King when he was under attack from Sigebert, the former Queen's formidable bodyguard, thus earning her the official protection of Felipe de Castro's regime."
More murmurs, more nods of assent, and she felt like a prize dog having her pedigree read to prove that she was worthy. Good bloodlines and all. Fairy blood included as an extra bonus. Never mind the weird mind reading thing.
"You also know that I have pursued her most ardently, and I am happy to announce that she has been won. This woman, Sookie Stackhouse, is mine. We have blood-bonded. The bond is permanent. You will afford her the same respect and deference that you do to me. All those of you who owe me fealty will honor her."
With that, he spun her to face him and planted one on her that made her toes tingle and her heart race, which was absolutely no good because it only made her sweat more. Now she really did feel like a stuffed sausage, a boudain even.
'The night will be over soon, my lover, and I will let you out of that dress,' her Viking comforted.
'You're going to have to skin it off me.'
'That could be fun.'
He bent her backward for a moment, then allowed her to stand up again, but her head was spinning from lack of oxygen so she ended up clinging to his arm like a love-struck groupie.
"Thank you all for coming and sharing in my happiness," she heard him say while her vision was still clearing. "We will have entertainment later, but for now enjoy yourselves and the amenities of my bar."
She had to sit down because her legs were wobbly, and he lowered her to the chair like a gallant gentleman. He was beaming, his fangs down, and lust was swirling in the bond. She quivered and tried to dampen it.
'No panties,' she reminded.
He grinned. 'I know.'
She took a deep swig of her gin and tonic, finishing it off, but she waved away a second and asked for a ginger ale instead. The waitress brought it to her along with a tall glass of steaming red liquid for Eric.
"Reconstituted AB-neg blood vine," Eric explained to her raised eyebrow.
"Oh. Um, what about the… uhh… others?" she asked.
He shook his head and took a sip from his glass. "Not here, not now, but I gave one to Pam for testing. She said it… was nearly full potency."
"Oh." She hadn't seen Pam since Sunday night. No wonder Pam was in such a good mood. She hoped that her friend had had company during her "high."
'She did. Several willing human females who enjoyed themselves as much as my child. A good time was had by all, supposedly.'
She coughed into her ginger ale but recovered. She both eagerly anticipated and feared her turn at seeing a vampire high on fey blood.
'It will have to be done in the right way,' her Viking said, and she felt his reluctance in the bond. 'Usually fairy blood is saved for when multiple partners are available. Since you and I will be alone, I must put certain precautions into place to insure your safety.'
She smirked. 'Don't want to fuck me senseless, huh?'
'Oh, I'll fuck you senseless. I'll fuck you in every room of your house, my house and our Ruston nest. You won't be able to walk for days. You will come more times in one night than you normally do in a week. All of that goes without saying. I just want to make sure you survive the encounter in one piece.'
She quickly downed her ginger ale and sucked on the ice while Eric smirked.
The first vampire to present himself was Clancy. The redheaded vampire bowed deeply to Eric, then bowed to her.
"My mistress, I honor you. If you ever have need, call upon me and I will aid you."
"Um. Thanks, Clancy," she replied weakly, feeling very uncomfortable. She looked to Eric, who gave her a sober nod.
Clancy stood, gave Eric a tilt of his head, which Eric returned, and backed away.
"What was all that about?" she demanded in a low whisper.
"They are declaring themselves to you as per their duty."
"You mean, like, pledging their loyalty?"
He nodded. "Exactly. As my mate, you are afforded the same rights and privileges as I am. In my absence, or if I am indisposed, you speak for me and my interests."
She gasped. "Eric, no. Pam should do that. She's your second. She's a vampire and I'm not. No vamp'll listen to me."
"Then you would name Pam as your second and delegate to her, but she would be obligated to obey you."
Oh, boy. As if half the Supe community didn't want her dead already.
Indira was next, followed by Maxell Lee and a new vamp named Cynthia who'd moved up from the south. Cynthia was a very young vamp and her mind was still somewhat easy to read. She was thinking that she had best do as she was told otherwise she would end up like her nestmate, Peter, and she didn't want that.
When the young vamp was gone, she turned her head and smiled at her bonded, and asked mentally, 'Who is Peter?'
She heard and felt the little flinch before Eric answered, 'Who was Peter. He was a transplant vampire who moved up from New Orleans. He swore fealty to me, but he proved to be untrustworthy and a threat to you.'
'You killed him.'
'Yes.'
The plain truth of it made her shiver, and she was starting to feel a little sick so she excused herself to go to the bathroom. Pam was at her side the moment she stepped off the dais.
"Am I not allowed to go to the ladies' room by myself?" she asked.
"No. Your position is too vulnerable right now. You require protection. You will use the employee bathroom in the back," Eric's second – now her second? – replied matter-of-factly.
She knew better than to argue and make a scene, but she was squirreling away a whole list of things she wanted to "discuss" with Eric later. Read: seriously bitch him out about leaving her in the dark about a few things. But for now she was a good little bonded, and obediently followed Pam to the back of the bar. She caught Victor leering at her as they passed, and she wondered if the "distraction" was immanent, but nothing happened as they walked out to the service corridor.
She did her business, although wiping was a tad awkward in the latex, and came out of the bathroom feeling sticky and uncomfortable.
"Pam, can we put on more powder? This damn dress is plastered to me in some very sensitive places," she complained.
Pam laughed and guided her to Eric's office. "I won't be able to do much. If I roll up the dress now that it's warm from your body heat, it will pucker and not lay right when I try to put it back down."
The female vampire gently pulled back the warm latex and sprinkled a little more talcum down the crack of her boobs, and did the same for the rear of the dress, then she knelt and reached the powderpuff up between Sookie's thighs and patted liberally up there.
Sookie had been refraining from dipping into Pam's mind, but now she lowered her shields and took a quick peek. Pam was happy, still coming down from her maker's wonderful gift. She was thinking that Eric bonding with a human wasn't going to be nearly the disaster she had originally feared, and she genuinely liked her master's bonded.
"Thank you. You're having fun," she commented to hide her transgression. Both she and Eric knew that, if anyone would figure out that Sookie could read vamp minds, it would be Pam.
Pam chuckled. "Eric is full of happiness. He has been very easy to work with these last few days. He is no longer broody and conflicted. I admit I had my doubts about this situation, but I think this will work out well for all of us."
"You aren't unhappy about my… position?"
"I know you will not abuse it like some other stupid humans would, and you are smart and entertaining." Pam gave her a wink and a wicked smile as she stood. "And you give me much to tease my maker with. It is very amusing."
They snickered like two girlfriends for a few moments, before she decided that Eric was going to go into a snit of she didn't get her butt back to the bar. Sure enough, he was waiting just on the other side of the door, and he took her by the arm for a spin on the dance floor. The DJ Duke of Death had set up in a corner of the room and was beginning to get the place hopping.
"Dance for me the way you danced in Club Dead, the way you danced in Rhodes with that telepath from Texas," he whispered.
"I thought you didn't like me wiggling my assets around," she teased, but she was already starting to swing like J-Lo. It was the dress. Pam was right; latex was… freeing.
His eyes dilated and he licked his lips. "That was before you accepted my claim. Now that you are mine, I can enjoy all of your talents knowing that I will be the recipient of your favors in private."
'Not if you keep up this crap of not telling me everything,' she scolded, turning around and shimmying her butt.
She heard him growl as he gripped her hips. 'Your knowing beforehand would not have changed anything. My subjects would still have had to declare themselves to you. All that my telling you would have done was make you fretful and nervous.'
Okay, he had a point, but she still didn't like being kept in the dark. She pressed her butt to his crotch, feeling the bulge there, and decided that teasing him mercilessly for the rest of the night might be a sufficient punishment for him.
'Only if you can handle the consequences,' he shot back, but she could feel his lust and anticipation in the bond.
They danced two more fast ones, then the DJ put on a slow song, and she found herself pressed in his arms, gliding around the dance floor like they had a number of times before. His feet were sure and his cues were clear, and she felt like she was floating.
Her high came crashing down when she saw the one vampire she dreaded most seeing in the whole world, and she came to a complete halt in front of him. Bill was dressed like a Southern Gentleman, complete with dark blue frock coat and an ascot. His posture was straight and formal, and his face was perfectly blank.
She felt awful. She turned from Eric's arms and faced her ex-lover, her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Oh, Bill. I'm so sorry. I didn't want you to find out this way," she apologized, then hugged him.
The room came to a collective stop as everyone held their breath. The Master's bonded was hugging another vampire, her ex-mate no less, in front of the Master. Bloodshed was immanent, but at the moment she didn't care because Bill's mind was an open book, and she didn't like what she read.
He'd already known. Eric had left the notice for tonight's meeting in his mailbox – wrapped around a pair of her underwear. ('You're gonna get it for that one, buster! You promised!' 'I agreed not to tell him. I did not tell him anything.') She wanted to scream.
But there was more. Eric had come to him and enlisted his help. He was to be the distraction. He was supposed to make a jealous scene and cause a tiff, but he didn't want to. No matter how upset he was that she had chosen Eric over him, he still loved her and he wanted her to be happy. He could see that she was happy, and he didn't want to ruin her moment with a big fight or make her cry or upset her in any way. (He wasn't too happy about the dress, though. He felt it degraded her. Well, she'd thought that, too, at first, so she didn't blame him.)
And he was really sick of other vampires telling him what to do. He was seriously considering relocating to South America and getting out of the US Vamp politics.
She wanted to tell him that she'd miss him, but that she understood. He'd been a pawn in a game of chess where she had been the prize, and they'd both been hurt by it. But she also wanted to tell him to stick to the plan because they needed the distraction to get her alone with Victor, and that it was okay because now she knew and was aware of what was going to happen.
Of course, she couldn't tell him any of that, and Eric's hands on her shoulders were starting to hurt, so she pulled away from Bill and gave him an apologetic smile. He smiled back, then raised his dark eyes to Eric. Eric was tense, waiting for the prearranged scene.
"I apologize for being late," Bill said gently with no hint of anger.
Surprise arced through the bond, then ire, and she hurried to intervene.
'He doesn't want to. He sees how happy I am, and he's tired of being a pawn.'
'He should do as he's told.'
'He doesn't want to make me sad. You didn't tell him why we need the distraction. He thinks you're just being melodramatic.'
Eric mentally sighed and regrouped. "Compton. You missed the announcement of my bonding. Sookie is now my blood-bonded."
"So I have gathered," Bill replied formally. "Congratulations." Then he kissed her hand and bowed to her. "Sookie, I am in your service. Always."
He held her hand a little too long because Eric snorted and yanked her away.
"Thank you for your loyalty," her bonded said, an edge to the word loyalty.
Bill didn't bat an eye. He'd decided not to play, and since he didn't know what was really going on, he didn't understand why his role had been so vital. Eric was mentally scrambling for a new plan, but he was going to have to count out Bill Compton as an accomplice.
As it turned out, he didn't need to think too hard about what he was going to do next, because at that moment Quinn came storming into the bar. The weretiger took one look at her, saw the latex dress, and went into a rage.
"Northman! You disgraceful son of a bitch!"