When Pam had given me her address I thought she was joking. But when she insisted on the address at the old Ravenscroft place, I laughed and explained we were neighbors. She shrugged it off.

"So why the Ravenscroft place, that place has been abandoned for years?" I had to ask.

"Exactly. No one wanted it, it needs to be torn down. I can have a house built on the land to fit my needs." I didn't ask her to explain what needs she meant.

When I came to her door that night, I felt I had dressed inappropriately. She had a black, leather mini-skirt over fishnet stockings, a black lace choker, and knee high boots. Her blonde hair fell around her shoulders and accented the cleavage popping out the top of the black peasant top she was wearing. Mentally I had her three different ways before I could say hello.

"Well, are you going to take me out, or are you going to drool all over yourself?" Again, she had a smile on her face that didn't match the tone in her voice. I wondered if that was normal for vampires, to always sound so bored with everything.

"I'm not drooling. Let's go to this 'proper' bar of yours." I offered my arm before I remembered what she said about not being touched. I was going to touch her before this night was out, and I just might lose a limb for it. Watching her walk down the steps in front of me, seeing her ass shake like that, I knew it would be worth it. I wiped my mouth.

We talked a little on the way to Shreveport. She explained that she was moving to Bon Temps in order to do something called "mainstream." She said she'd had enough of her nest mates and was looking for solitude. Pam wanted the Ravenscroft place for the land, not the house, and the ground breaking for her new house was to begin on Monday.

I talked about Jason and his string of women. I told her about my parents death when we were still little and how I had lived with my grandmother, taking care of her until her death a year ago.

"Didn't you find living with her difficult? How were you able to bring home women?"

"Once I hit a certain age, Gran knew she couldn't tell me how to live my life anymore. I know she wasn't proud of either Jason or me, but she let us choose our path."

"Well, it was certainly very gallant of you to take care of your ailing grandmother."

I shrugged at her, not sure how to respond. After a quick pause I went on to tell her about growing up with Sam, who was like a second brother to me. Sam treated me like a kid even to this day. After that we just kind of settled into silence.

We got to Fangtasia and there was a line halfway down the block. "Are you sure you want to wait in this line?" I asked Pam.

"Funny human. None of those creatures waiting for a chance to be told they are pretty enough is vampire. We will not have to wait in line." Pam looked me in the eye with a warning, wrapped her arm around mine, and guided me to the bouncer at the door.

Pam nodded deeply to the man, "Bill. How are you this evening?"

"I am doing well, thank-you Pam. And who is this marvelous creature?" He looked up at me with a look that creeped me out, even if it didn't scare me. Hearing about it from Lafayette was one thing, being hit on another guy, even a vampire guy, was something else entirely.

Oh, well, Southern manners first. "Good evening, I'm Eric Northman."
"Well aren't you the gentleman." Bill's fangs dropped slightly, and it finally clicked that the fang exposing was an equivalent of whistling at a woman walking down the street.

"Not always."

Pam cleared her throat, a smile spread across her face. "Thank-you William. Maybe we'll see you inside."

Pam used the arm that was wrapped around mine to pull me in through the doors. Pam wasn't the only one wearing black leather in this place. The red and black interior acted as camouflage to all the fangbangers and vampires, who wore pretty much the same outfit as Pam.

With a look at my own outfit I said, "I never thought I would stand out so much just by wearing jeans."

"You are rather like the candle in a dark room." Pam led us to the bar and introduced me to Long Shadow, a Native American vampire with long black hair and dark eyes. "I'll have a Royalty Blended - O positive please and . . ." Pam looked to me.

"A seven and seven for me, thanks." I laid money down for the drinks and we went off to sit in one of the booths in a back corner.

I didn't have to be a telepath to know that everyone in the room had sex on the brain, but it did take several minutes of serious concentration to put up adequate blocks of the disturbing images that the fangbangers were mentally projecting. Sitting next to Pam was a big help; not only was she mentally silent, but she didn't have that need to talk about nothing. If I read her body language right, she seemed to be happy that I wasn't talking either.

I closed my eyes for a moment and counted the blank spots in the room: twelve. I visually located each vampire and half of them shared the same bored look. The other half had looks of forced entertainment. Only one vampire truly looked like he was enjoying himself; Bill. He had come in from the door and was "mingling" with the fangbangers. He kicked one man in the shoulder who had bowed low and then dared to touch Bill. He was positively gleeful over frightening a couple of college freshman girls who had come to the club on a dare. His path of terror led him to the stage where another blonde beauty was sitting on a throne. Seriously a golden throne.

This little bombshell had on a deep blue corset, a tight leather skirt that ended at the knee, fuck-me-heels and fishnet stockings that were both the same color as her top. Her hair was pulled loosely back from her face. Her back was straight, her head was held high, and one eyebrow was arched, she looked like royalty. But, she was one of the bored ones. Her eyes never flickered from the blank spot she was focused on.

When Bill got to her, he dipped his head and whispered something into her ear. She turned and looked at me and simply nodded. The nod was not to me, but in response to whatever Bill had said, and it was the response that Bill was hoping for. I started feeling a little queasy about whatever made Bill happy.

"So, you've a thing for blondes I see." Pam finally spoke and the humor was in both her voice and eyes.

"No, actually concerned as to what could make Bill so happy."

Pam gave a slight snicker, "I could hear just fine. You have nothing to worry about."

"You could hear that from over here!"

Pam simply nodded, her face again bored.

"Well remind me not to speak ill of you."

"It would be wise never to speak ill of any vampire."

"I don't normally speak ill of anyone, I was making a joke."

"Oh, yes, ha ha." Absolutely deadpan.

"Pam, have you always been this damned cheerful?"

"Oh, yes. Indeed, during my human years I was often the life of many a party."

"I can only imagine."

"Here's another drink for you. Don't suppose I could get you to dance, you sexy viking?" Bill just appeared at my elbow.

"Viking?"

"I can just picture how you would look wielding a sword. As I said, very sexy."

"Don't you have some place to be, Bill," said Pam.

"You don't have to be such an uptight bitch, Pam. Times have changed since QV was on the throne," Bill retorted.

"QV?" I looked to Pam for an answer.

"Her royal majesty Queen Victoria," Pam intoned.

"Ah. And how old are you Bill, if that isn't too improper?" I asked Bill.

"Thirty-five." He actually winked at me.

"Good age." I didn't know what else to say, and since Bill had been staring expectantly at me I had felt I needed to say something.

"Is there something else my human companion can help you with, Bill?" Pam asked.

"Isn't it customary to ask who a drink is from when it is bought for you?" Bill asked.

"Sorry. Yes, thank-you for the drink, who is it from?" I asked.

"From Sookie."

I may not have been able to hear their thoughts, but every single silent spot seemed to hum with concentration that was suddenly directed towards me. When I looked around I met ten different sets of eyes. I stopped at the one on the throne and asked, "Is that Sookie?"

Sookie simply nodded her head. I raised my glass to her and that was all. She turned back to her spot and every other vampire resumed their bored looks. What was I supposed to do with that? To be obviously taken note of, by someone who is obviously important, just made me sit there and stare.

"She's the oldest thing in this bar." Pam said after a moment. Bill was no longer with us.

"What was that about?"

"Don't sound so simple. She will be summoning you."

"She can do that? What exactly does that mean?"

Pam huffed quietly and drained the rest of her blood. She leaned slightly back in her chair, she seemed to be measuring me up. "She'll like you. You've caught her interest."

Jason was always the. . . uh, ladies man, man-whore, take your pick . . . but, I've never had problems being able to pick up a woman. Gran tried desperately to raise us with a sense of humility, but hell, I was proud of being able to just smile and seal the deal. But, this situation was a little more than crazy.

"I think I would like you to explain a little further, thanks."

"Honestly Eric, are you a virgin?" The tone of her voice assured me she knew it not to be the case. "The game is won one of two ways, being incredibly sweet or being in charge. Which path do you think she takes?"

"So, she thinks that by flaunting her power she's going to get me in bed?"

"Silly human. She's not going to throw herself at you. You are going to have to work for it. She was showing you that her power allows her to have you whenever she wants you, but she isn't interested."

"I think my head hurts."

"It would have done you good to put forth a little effort in bedding human women. She is interested, but she will not give you any sort of power over her. You will only get her in bed when she is ready for you to join her." She paused. "And when she is done with you, she will kick out of her bed." She jumped up and grabbed my hand. "Now, dance with me."

I drained my second drink and followed Pam onto the dance floor. Oh. My. God. That woman couldn't have moved better if I had dollar bills in my hand. She placed my hands on her hips with a look that warned me not to move them. It seemed Sookie on the throne was not the only blonde into power trips. I can dance, but I was left far behind Pam. She dipped, shook, wrapped herself around me, but when she began to grind against my body, I felt pure lust flood my body. I moved my hand ever so slightly and gently caressed the top of her ass. She looked at me with a fire in her eyes that was absolutely an invitation. My hand went further South and she allowed it to stay there. Without warning she suddenly stopped and spun towards Sookie. She stood there glaring at Sookie, and then, she bowed her head deeply and pulled me off the dance floor.

Without any explanation, Pam was pulling me to the exit. I looked over my shoulder at Sookie. She was staring at the back of Pam's head with fire in her eyes that was absolutely a threat. I had a feeling that those dance moves weren't just for me and that those blondes were definitely engaging in a power war.


It took me a couple of tries on Chapter Two, but I finally understand the process of adding extra chapters. Thank-you for your comments and your additions of me to your alerts and favorite stories. This is the first time for me doing this, and it really helps to have your support. As always, these lovely characters are the property of Charlaine Harris. Happy Reading!