Chapter 3
"And now, Your Majesty, if you will allow me to escort you home. I still have a number of people to see and I'm sure you have calls to make for which you desire privacy." Eric stood and offered Sookie his arm.
Becoming a vampire had not given her the power to resist his charms. If anything, she was even more enamored of him than ever. "Yes, I would like to make some calls." She took his arm and they walked out together.
Mina stood as they came out of the office, as did the ten or so others in the waiting area.
"If you will excuse me, we will resume in twenty minutes," Eric announced. "Mina, join us."
When they stepped into the cool night air, Sookie looked up at Eric. "You know, you could just fly us up to the roof and we could walk down the one flight of stairs to the apartment."
"Shall I?" he asked with a grin.
"No," Sookie replied with a giggle and squeezed his arm. "If we walk, I have you longer."
"You have me always, my love."
Mina looked away and smiled to herself. They were always so intimate with each other. Mina knew Oliver loved her, but she also knew they would never be like this. Oliver was always hyper aware of everyone and everything around him. Of course, she knew Eric never missed anything either, but when Sookie was near him, he was somehow able to push the obviousness of his vigilance aside so all anyone saw was how he interacted with her.
Mina wondered if they even realized how often they made others feel they had accidentally walked into their bedroom and caught them in the act. They were never publicly lewd or indecent in any way. It was the way they looked at one another, the way everything about them changed when one spoke to the other. When Mina looked at them together she always got the feeling they could happily sit, forever, in one spot and simply stare at each other as time faded into nothingness around them.
When they arrived at the penthouse, Mina went inside, leaving Eric and Sookie in the hall.
"How much longer will your business take?"
"An hour, perhaps a bit longer. But I will give you two full hours before I return.
Think of everyone you know and how they can help you. Think of everyone who owes you a favor and everyone who might enjoy being owed a favor by the vampire Queen. Don't concern your self with how favors will be repaid. Your objective is to use the people who can best do what you need done. Whatever markers you incur can always be bought back. You have vast resources at your disposal, but try not to use them on the front end of your deals. If Calvin Norris is unable to produce Jason when Alcide asks, we will fall under suspicion immediately and everything about us will be subject to scrutiny. Alcide's network of people he can call upon is almost as extensive as mine.
Work out what you will say before you make your calls. Have it clear in your head so you don't waste time.
Alcide will call on us again and soon. When he comes he will have questions and he will expect answers. How well you do what you do in the next two hours will determine how well we will be able to give him the answers he is entitled too.
Above all else remember this, I am no longer merely your lover and your mate, I am also your maker and as such you cannot lie to me. So any question I ask of you, privately or before the world, you will be compelled to answer truthfully. Keep that in mind as you make your plans."
"I love you," she said softly.
"And I you," he replied. "Now go inside. I'll not leave you lurking in the hall."
Sookie went inside and he was gone.
She didn't waste any time, she went directly to the bedroom where she could think in quiet. It wouldn't take much longer for Oliver to get to Bon Temps and once he was there, it probably wouldn't take too long to find Jason. Jason was such a creature of habit anyone who had been around him any time at all would have little difficulty locating him most nights.
She took stock of her options, but it was a very short list. In fact, there was only one name on the list. She only knew of one person in Bon Temps who would have any chance against Oliver in the find Jason sweepstakes. She got her cell phone off its charger and called Bill.
"Hi, Bill. It's Sookie. – wait, please, I don't have much time, -- No, Eric didn't do anything to me. What do you – Oh, well, yeah, he did that, but I asked him too. And Bill, I don't have time to talk about that right now. I need a favor. – Please don't call me that, not now. This isn't an official request. It's just me asking a favor of a friend – I need you to find Jason. Right now. Oliver is on his way there to find him and I need you to find him first. Get him out of Bon Temps as soon as possible, don't let him bring anything. I'll call you back to tell you where to take him. Just find him, Bill, please and don't let Oliver find him and Bill, you'll need to travel some way the Were trackers won't be able to follow. – Yes, I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm asking just the same. You know I wouldn't if I had anyone else to turn to right now. – Thank you. I'll call you back in a few minutes."
She flipped her phone closed and leaned back on the bed. She felt like she should be panting. She sucked in some air but it felt so strange she pushed it out right away. The sound it made as it traveled in and out of her was deafening. She remembered how Bill used to pretend to breath when they were together to make her more comfortable. How dreadful that must have been for him.
Not now Sookie. You don't have time to get maudlin over your past right now. Focus. What all do you need and who could do it?
She could feel the minutes ticking away as she sat there on the edge of the bed. She got up and opened the drapes. This was her favorite thing about the penthouse. Their bedroom had the best view in Shreveport. And it was lovely in the evening.
Something in her mind clicked. "Of course!" she said aloud and grabbed her purse off her bedside table and dug two business cards from it. She went back to the bed and made a call.
"David, this is Sookie Northman. Are you where you can talk freely? – Good, I need a favor from you, I need it right away and I need no questions. – No, there are no dead bodies involved. Only one body and he is very much alive. And before you ask, no, he isn't involved in anyone else's body being dead. –
Two men will come to you, a vampire and a human. The human will not know why he's there, because the vampire does not know why. Even though he will no doubt think he is a prisoner and being held against his will, you must trust me when I tell you, we are protecting him. He is in no danger from us.
One vampire will bring him and stay with him until another vampire comes to pick him up. When the second vampire arrives to retrieve him, the first will leave. That is all. – Yes, tonight, within the hour. – I will consider it a great personal service and you will be well rewarded for it. – That is generous of you, but I will insist you be paid for your help. We can discuss what you want at a later time. – Thank you, David. I can't begin to express what this means to me. Now tell me your address. – No, I don't want to use the clinic if at all possible. – Oh, wait. Do you have the supplies on hand to draw a blood sample at home? – Outstanding. Take a sample from him before he is picked up. The vampire will hold him if he resists. – Your address. -- Thank you again. I have to go right now. We will talk again soon."
Sookie stared at the remaining card in her hand. The first two calls were easy compared to this. Here she would be asking the most and she would have the least to offer in exchange. She punched the numbers into her phone.
"You answer your own phone, how charming." Sookie laughed at his response. "Paradise is just fine, thank you. My trouble has a very different cause."
Sookie went through a summary of what was happening and the plans she already had in motion.
"Jason has women lined up three deep in all directions and he's never been violent. If I could meet with him I could see if he was telling the truth, but – Yes, that's what I thought. I didn't want to risk it. I need to know as little as possible since I can't lie to Eric and there's no telling what he might have to ask me in front of others. – Is that what you call it? It's so common it has a name. That's almost funny. – That's it? You'll do it? Don't you have more questions? – 2020 Orchard Lane – I'm in your debt. – Please take good care of him."
There was a click in her ear and she was left holding her phone. She had just made arrangements to send her brother into exile for who knew how long. It took that a minute to sink in before she called Bill again.
"Already? That's great, but don't tell me any more. Have him tell you anything he can about a 16 year old werewolf girl named Candia Gray. She's pregnant and she claims he's the father. – It's not just that Bill, she says he raped her. – Yes, I know it's ridiculous, but that's what she's saying and in the morning Alcide will go to Calvin Norris and I have no idea what will happen, but I need to know Jason is safe. – Take him to 2020 Orchard Lane, here in Shreveport. There will be a man there named David. Tell Jason not to speak to the man. The man will take a blood sample from him and then I need you both to wait there, silently. A vampire will come there to take Jason from you, I'm not sure how long it will be. It could be a few hours. I don't know who it will be, but they will not be from here and it will very likely be someone you don't know either. Turn Jason over and then all of you leave. – I can't thank you enough, Bill. You've rescued me again. – You're wrong. It matters very much. Just not in the way you want it too."
Her head was spinning. As she sat there trying to keep from getting dizzy, she was almost ashamed to confess to herself she was feeling exhilarated as much as, no, maybe even more than frightened. She had never liked playing cat and mouse, but somehow it seemed very exciting at the moment. She got up and left the bedroom, carrying her cell phone with her, just in case.
The moment she stepped out of the bedroom it hit her. The stream was swollen and rushing. She looked at the clock over the end of the bar. Less than half an hour before Eric would be back. How long had it been? Almost three hours. Not quite, but almost. Of course if she'd been out here and not by herself in a reinforced, airtight room she would have felt it sooner.
"Ausra, come with me," she ordered and headed toward the door.
"Mistress, Oliver has called –"
"Not now, Mina," Sookie said and hurried through the door with Ausra close behind her.
She crossed the hall to the donor suite and went right in, startling the four women watching a movie.
"You," Sookie said, pointing to a young woman sitting alone on a love seat.
The woman started to get up, but Sookie was seated next to her in an instant. "Just watch the movie," Sookie said quietly as she lifted the woman's wrist.
As she bit, all she could think about was how much she would rather be at the woman's neck. The call was almost overpowering. Sookie closed her eyes and sucked. Once, the urge to move to the neck overcame her and she withdrew her fangs.
She fought hard and managed to force herself to bite the wrist again. Just a minute more, she chanted in her mind. A little more and it will recede. Then I can relax.
Soon the edge began to soften. She could still hear it, but not so desperate. The woman's pulse had not slowed, but Sookie knew she wasn't near finished. She retracted her fangs and released the woman's arm. "Thank you. Trade places with her please." Sookie pointed to the woman at the nearest end of the couch.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the woman said.
"Do not speak to the Queen," Ausra ordered.
The two women traded places and Sookie closed her eyes again as she fed from the second and they continued watching the movie like nothing unusual was happening.
This one tasted wonderful. Her blood was almost hypnotic. Even when she felt full and the rushing water had long since receded into a tranquil pond, Sookie didn't stop. She didn't notice the time passing until suddenly she felt the slowing. She retracted her fangs and gave the small wounds a quick lick so the woman would lose no more blood. She didn't want to waste any from this one.
As Sookie sat upright, her hand went to her stomach and she smiled. She stood and looked down at the woman. "What's your name?"
"Karen Henderson."
Sookie smiled at her and headed to the door. When Ausra opened the door, Sookie almost ran straight into Eric.
"And what are you running away from so quickly?" he asked through that devastating grin.
"Not from, to."
"And dare I flatter myself by thinking you have found what you sought?" How his eyes danced when he was toying with her and digging for compliments.
"I long for nothing else, my lord."
"Nothing else?" He raised an eyebrow and stared at her in disbelief.
"Nothing you don't carry with you."
He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. "And now I carry all I long for as well. Are you finished here? Shall we go home?"
"I'm finished," she said softly as she curled around him and laid her head on his shoulder.
Eric walked straight through the living area barely even acknowledging anyone else. When they got into the bedroom he put Sookie down beside the bed and pulled off his shirt. "So is there anything you'd like to tell me about?"
"Oh yes! Have you fed from that girl, Karen Henderson across the hall? She tastes like heaven. Do you think we could keep her?"
Eric burst out laughing as he tossed aside his shoes and socks. "Amidst everything happening tonight, the most important thing you have to share with me is a tasty delicacy you happened across?"
"I don't see how you can expect me to concentrate on anything important with you stripping in front of me. And I haven't shared her with you, I've only told you about her. Oh, I would love to share her. But I fed until her pulse slowed, so she probably won't be ready again for a while. How long does it usually take before they can donate again?"
"About two weeks," he answered and when he saw the disappointment on Sookie's face, he added, "But if you find her so succulent, we can have her transfused, then it will be only two days or so until the transfusion is fully absorbed and integrated into her enough for it to no longer effect her taste." He unzipped and removed her dress.
"Yes! Let's do that. That would be very nice," She smiled at him as if he'd just handed her the keys to Harry Winston's vault.
"As you wish, my love. Now tell me where you've hidden Jason."
Sookie looked confused for a moment, as if maybe the sudden change of topic had thrown her off balance. "I don't know," she replied.
Not the answer he expected. This was a serious matter and in his experience the unexpected was rarely a welcome or useful factor in resolving serious matters. Perhaps Sookie's gift was the ability to lie to her maker? Eric had never considered that possibility and though it might be helpful in this particular situation, he didn't like it. Sookie stared at him as if she was grasping for something, but she wasn't sure exactly what.
"That's not really right," she said, much to Eric's relief. "I mean, I could tell you where he probably is right now, but I'm not sure he's still there and if he is, he won't be for much longer." She slipped her sandals off.
"I see. And when he leaves this place where he may or may not be right now, where will he go?"
"Eric, why are you asking me these questions? I thought you didn't want to know?"
"Answer the question, Sookie. Where will he go?"
"I don't know."
"What?"
"I don't know where he's going." Her eyes were beginning to swell. She was going to cry. "I had him taken and someone else is going to take him someplace and I don't know who will have him or where they will take him. Oh, Eric! I've sent him away and I can't even check on him. What if there's an accident? I wouldn't even know." The floodgates opened and her face was quickly streaked with blood as she sobbed.
Eric scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom. He sat on the edge of the tub and cradled her in one arm as he turned on the water to run a warm bath.
"Shhh," he hummed to her. "You did brilliantly, Dearest. I couldn't be more proud of you."
She looked up at him and sniffed. "You have pl, umm, plausible something."
"Plausible deniability," he prompted.
"Yeah, that. Because you can tell them you don't know where he is and I don't either. And if they don't believe me, you can ask me in front of them and I won't know and they'll believe me because they'll know I can't lie to you."
"Precisely, my love. You have done everything in your considerable power to see to your brother's safety. He could not ask for more loyalty than you have shown him. I have complete confidence you have placed him in hands capable of keeping him safe from accidents."
"Do you really think so?"
"I do. May I join you in the bath? Or would you prefer to bathe alone?
"I can't reach my back and we don't have a brush."
"A tragic oversight. Then I shall be compelled to accompany you in the interest of maintaining your personal hygiene."
Sookie giggled and wiped at her cheek. All she did was smear the blood around and when she saw her hand she was so surprised she almost jumped out of his lap. "Oh my god. I hadn't even thought about that."
"It is of little matter. Here, this is a lovely bra. Let's see how it looks in the corner. Hmm, it looks lonely, stand up."
She laughed out loud and stood and stepped out of her panties when they reached the floor. "You're all about the stripping tonight."
"How else am I to access this back of yours which is in such need of cleaning? Focus, my love, focus." The panties joined the bra in the corner. "Much better."
She leaned in to whisper in his ear as she slowly dragged her knee between his legs. "I see you're ready to focus," she giggled.
"Indeed, I am more than prepared for the task at hand." He took her face in his hands and kissed her.
When he moved to her neck, she murmured, "I thought the task at hand was my personal hygiene?"
"Multitasking, my love."
"Mmmm, and you're very good at it too."
"It's all in the wrist," he said with a grin as he stood.
Sookie unfastened his pants gave them a little push so they fell to the floor. "That doesn't look like your wrist."
"Perhaps I was mistaken." He grabbed her up and plopped into the tub, bringing her down with him and causing water to splash everywhere.
Sookie screamed then laughed as she settled into a comfy position on top of him. How he loved to play. Sometimes it seemed so absurd to think he was over a thousand years old, he was so like a little boy.
"I hope we have flood insurance," she giggled.
"The water was in the way," he said and pulled her down for a kiss.
She melted into him and met his hunger with an appetite every bit its equal. No unhappy thought or worry would dare encroach upon the safety of his embrace. Nothing existed beyond the space they occupied.
Never leaving her mouth, he lifted her with one hand and guided her onto him with the other.
His lips parted from hers just in time for her long moan. She would never get enough of the sensation of him entering her, of his flesh demanding hers give way to him, not in a thousand years, not in ten thousand.
The way he filled her was like nothing else as she rose and fell against him. Their moans and cries mingled with the sound of the water remaining in the tub splashing against the sides and lapping at their skin.
Suddenly Eric grabbed her back to keep her in place and leaned forward. He reached behind her and turned the water back on. He gave a loud groan as he threw his head back and thrust hard into her. He was spectacular. In that moment, he reminded her of a palomino stallion rearing his head in a fearsome display of his power.
The sight stirred something base and carnal in her. She took his face in both hands and kissed him violently. She felt his passions enflame both his kiss and their bond.
He kicked the tap to turn the water off and slapped the switch for the jets. The air, heavily laden with steam hung thick around them, as their bodies writhed in the seething torrents of water, which seemed to be boiling with their desire.
~~~~~~xxx~~~~~~xxx~~~~~~xxx~~~~~~
The morning sky was still streaked with brilliant shades of orange and pink when Alcide pulled his truck to a stop in front of Calvin Norris' house in Hot Shot. As Alcide cut the engine, Rafe reached for his door handle.
"No," Alcide said calmly. "We won't get out here. The panthers are very leery of visitors. Norris will come out. We'll wait."
They didn't have to wait long. Someone, it appeared to be a young girl, was peering out, from behind a curtain as Calvin walked out to his unexpected company. "Mornin', Alcide," Calvin said. "And your friend."
"I'll get right to the point, Calvin. We're looking for Jason Stackhouse. Do you know where we can find him? Has he moved out here or is he still living in town?"
Calvin's eyes shifted between Alcide and his passenger. "Maybe you'll want to back off that point a might and introduce me to your friend here."
"Of course," Alcide replied. "This is Rafe Gray. We're trying to get to the bottom of a problem between his daughter and Jason."
"Like the problem people thought there was between Jason and my daughter?"
"Rafe's daughter is pregnant. She says Jason is the father."
"Nothing will come of that. I've never heard of breeding cats and dogs ending in a live birth. But I expect you already knew that. So since you're not delivering shower invitations, why don't you go on and tell me what brings you and Rafe Gray to my house at dawn?"
"He raped her," Rafe blurted, as he stared at Calvin.
"Jason Stackhouse?" Calvin asked. "The Jason Stackhouse who has women from five counties around Bon Temps lined up to have a go in his bed? Why would he rape anybody? Hell, when would he be alone long enough to rape anybody?"
"She described him, Calvin," Alcide answered solemnly. "And she knew his name."
"Every woman in the area knows his name and can describe him, most of them intimately."
"She's sixteen and she lives in Shreveport. Do you hear about many Shreveport teenagers coming to Bon Temps on a regular basis? Regular enough to get to know the locals by their reputations?
She was angry with her parents. She got in the car and just drove down the highway. She says the car ran low of gas and she stopped."
Calvin took a moment to consider the information he'd been given. "She says Jason Stackhouse took advantage of her at a gas station? The boy may not be the brightest bulb in the fixture, but even if he did decide to become a rapist, I can't see him doin' it at a gas station."
"She says she met him at the station. She didn't say where the actual attack took place."
"So you came all the way out here with nothing but the accusation of a sixteen year old pregnant girl?"
Rafe was reaching for the door again. "Are you saying my Candia is a liar?"
Alcide put an arm across Rafe's chest. "Don't Rafe."
Calvin looked at Rafe and spoke with no discernable emotion at all. "That's good advice our friend Alcide's giving you. I didn't say anything against your daughter. I've got daughters of my own. And if one of my girls came to me and told me what your girl told you, I'd believe her and I'd want somebody to answer for what they did.
But Alcide, if I came to you and accused a member of your pack, with no more than what you've told me, how likely is it you'd turn him over to me?"
Alcide held Calvin's gaze, but he couldn't answer.
After waiting a few seconds, Calvin continued. "I didn't think so. Now I'm sure part of the reason you wouldn't turn him over would be the prejudice of believing wolves are better than panthers. But that wouldn't be the whole reason. A good bit would be that you wouldn't be willing to turn over one of yours without some hard evidence."
"Will you arrange for us to talk to him?"
"I don't see what good that would do, unless you expect that he'd confess. Have you talked to Sookie? She'd know if he was lying. She might not tell you, but she'd know."
"That vampire bitch?" Rafe growled.
Calvin fixed his stare on Rafe. "Alcide, I think you better take your friend on away from here. I'm real sorry for his troubles but he's outlasted his welcome in Hot Shot. You come on back without him when you have more information and I'll help you all I can.
If I see Jason, I'll ask him about this girl. I'll look in his eyes, see his reaction."
"Thank you, Calvin."
"We're leaving?" Rafe yelled. "With nothing?"
Alcide rolled up his window and started the truck. "For now. We have nothing to negotiate with."
At Rafe's insistence, they spent nearly two hours driving through Bon Temps and stopping at nearly every business to look around for Jason. They drove up and down residential streets and onto small dirt or gravel roads. Alcide had seen Jason's truck before, so he knew to look for the custom flames.
Alcide decided they would head back to Bon Temps after checking out this unmarked driveway they had just come upon. His plan was changed when they found Jason's truck at the other end.
Alcide looked around. He had never been here before, but he knew it was next to a lake and there was a pier you could see from the house. He cut the engine and they both got out. As they neared the house, the corner of a pier came into view.
Rafe took the three porch steps in one leap and banged on the front door. There was no response. Rafe banged again as Alcide walked around the house looking in windows.
"Doesn't look like anyone's home," Alcide said when he arrived back at the front porch. His eye kept returning to Jason's truck. "Let's check inside."
With no more encouragement than that, Rafe kicked in the front door.
They found Jason's keys on the coffee table. "House key's on here too," Rafe said before stepping into the hall. With every nerve on edge, he walked down the hall looking into each room as he went.
A messy bathroom, which might have last been used last week or an hour ago, a sparsely furnished guest room with a made bed, and at the far end of the hall, what must be Jason's bedroom. It wasn't a total disaster, but Jason's supposed harem apparently didn't include a housekeeper. The bed was unmade and there were some clothes strewn around the room, but Rafe saw nothing to indicate how long ago the owner might have been here.
"Rafe," Alcide called from the kitchen.
When Rafe got back to the living room Alcide was already at the door. "Grab a couple pieces of his clothes, then we need to leave," Alcide said. "His wallet is on the kitchen counter. He's either someplace right around here, close, or he was taken."
Rafe went back to the bedroom to get some of Jason's clothes off the floor. Alcide went into the front yard and flipped open his phone. "Tell Aaron to put a tracking team together and come to Bon Temps right away. He can call me for directions to where we are once they're on the road. – And get me on Eric's docket tonight. – As early as possible, and ask if Sookie can be there too. – I know, but we can ask. – Thank you."
"That bitch did this," Rafe roared as he exited the house.
"I doubt it," Alcide responded evenly. "He's her brother, so she might have sent someone for him, but she wouldn't have needed to have him kidnapped. And Rafe, she still has friend of the pack status. So unless she is proven to have betrayed us, please keep your opinions to yourself. If she knows where he is, we'll find out tonight. If she comes to the meeting, she'll tell the truth. She probably won't hand him over, but we'll get access to question him.
Before we jump to any more conclusions, give me a piece of that and let's make sure he's not laying around here. Aaron and a team should be here within the hour."
Rafe raised his nose in the air. "There's nothing dead, close enough and large enough to be a man."
Rafe tossed Alcide a shirt and they started walking in opposite directions, in widening circles around the house.
Alcide and Rafe had covered an area well into the woods by the time Aaron got there an hour later. As Alcide and Rafe came into the yard,
Sheriff Bud Dearborne's patrol car rolled up the drive.
Bud rolled down his window and took in the six large men standing in the yard. "Jason having a fishing party?"
"Jason isn't here. We're looking for him," Alcide answered.
"All six of you?" Bud asked.
Alcide stepped toward the car. "I'm Alcide Herveaux. My friend Rafe and I came to visit Jason this morning. When we found his truck but not him, we got worried and called for help to look for him."
"But you didn't think to call the Sheriff's office? Last time I checked, looking for missing persons was part of my job description."
Alcide chuckled and said, "You know Jason. We didn't want to get him in any trouble if he was hunkered down somewhere, passing time with some pretty company."
"Uh-huh, well I'm sure you fellas won't mind if I have a look around for myself, will you?"
Alcide reached and opened Sheriff Dearborn's car door. "Of course not."
