"I should have known his excuses for not getting his blood into the telepath was just that, excuses," Eric said sliding several papers in front of Victor.
Victor read through the emails at speed before looking up at Eric in shock. "Son of a bitch was going to sell her." He whispers.
"Yes, he is not particularly loyal to Threadgill as he was auctioning her off to the highest bidder. Threadgill just happens to be the highest bidder, although he doesn't know it. I believe he thinks Compton's simple set a price. Why Threadgill?" Eric asked knowing Victor had the answer.
"He and Felipe had an arrangement that fell apart… I believe Threadgill thinks Felipe backstabbed him even though he didn't meet his end of the bargain." Victor says with a shrug.
"And he found Compton as his inside man to help him get back whatever he believes he lost," Eric added.
"I'm guessing Compton found an opportunity when he was sent to procure the telepath to make some money for himself and get Threadgill what he wanted or at least a start." Victor surmised. "Where is he?"
"In the basement enjoying our hospitality," Eric answered with a chuckle.
...
"Victor, this is a misunderstanding. I was gathering information for the king. I had no intention of betraying you or the king." Bill started the second he saw Victor.
"Then explain this." Victor showed him the printouts from his computer that showed his sale of Sookie to Threadgill and the website he set up for said sale.
"This is a lie. I do not know what that is… you set me up." He turned his attention to Eric. "Victor, this is a set up orchestrated by the sheriff."
"And why will he do that?"
"Because he wants Sookie for himself. I saw the way he was looking at her when we came here…"
"Is that why you changed the plan in place?"
"Yes, yes… I knew if I allowed him to talk to her he would have taken her for himself and blamed me, which is what he's doing now." Victor looked at Eric, and both vampires cracked up laughing.
"Oh, Compton… if only you knew." Victor shook his head in amusement. "Your argument might have had some merit… some, if the sheriff wasn't the one who brought the telepath to our attention. He's known about her for months... therefore, if he wanted her, she would be his." Bill looked from Eric to Victor and back to Eric.
"This is a set up, it might not be the sheriff, but its someone." Bill protested.
"Enough of this nonsense. Bill Compton, you will tell us everything, and then you will meet your true death."
"I am telling you, I know nothing about the sale of Sookie. Someone is framing me for treason."
"Your conversations with Threadgill alone constitutes treason. So whether you are guilty of auctioning off the telepath or not, you will still meet the true death." Victor barked having had enough of Bill's whining.
"He approached me, and I saw it as an opportunity to gain information for the king. Treason never crossed my mind."
"Maybe it should have." Eric snarled.
"Felipe is anxious about getting the telepath…" Victor started.
"I have a plan in place... I will be using Compton's treachery to get her onside. I have one of two ways to go depending on how she takes the news."
"What about the threat against the women seen with vampires in her town?"
"I've got two Weres and two vampires watching her every move. The telepath is well protected." Victor nodded mollified.
Bill Compton had been instrumental in helping De Castro's take over of Louisiana. Without the information he provided, it would not have been possible. He was tired of being a procurer, feigning interest in mundane human's and bemoaning his vampirism just to endear himself to fucking bloodbags. Fifty years of that shit would have any sane vampire turning a traitor just to gain their freedom. So when he found himself in Nevada and in Victor's company been treated with some respect, he was quick to help when they asked. Of course, he was made numerous promises none of which had been fulfilled. He had turned on Sophie-Anne only to find the grass wasn't greener on the other side.
He knew Threadgill was furious with De Castro as well, he contacted him a few months ago hoping he could finally be seen as useful. He had no intention of betraying De Castro, he had hoped when he had enough he could turn it over to the king, hoping he would be seen as a hero. In that regard, he was a traitor.
As for Sookie, he was set up, he hadn't held an auction nor had he told or sold her to Threadgill. He couldn't but think that just maybe Victor was the one setting him up. Why would Victor set him up?
He quickly dismissed that notion and cast his mind wide trying to work out what had happened. He had never wanted to take Sookie to Fangtasia, in fact, he had tried to talk her out of it, but Sookie Stackhouse was the most stubborn woman he had ever met. The Viking showed an interest, but now he realizes it was all part of the plan. He had behaved the way he did because he thought it was a better plan. He knew if he kept interrupting the sheriff Sookie would know he was hiding something. She would ask him about it on the way home, and he'd tell her about how vampires viewed humans and the ownership of humans. He would talk about how barbaric and disrespectful he found it, bemoaned the treatment of human along with her all the while getting her to agree to taking his blood. After all, she had been the one insisting on going to Fangtasia. Therefore she had been the one to expose herself to them, and now they had no choice.
Unfortunately for Bill, they had been pulled over by an officer, and the subsequent interaction with him had Sookie looking at him differently when he admitted he would have fed on the officer had Sookie not been present.
He hadn't had a chance to clear things up before he was arrested for treason and he knew he never would.
...
Eric runs his fingers through his hair before he knocked on the door on the farmhouse. "That might be Bill." He heard Miss Stackhouse yell. An elderly woman opened the door and looked up at him in surprise.
"Good evening Mrs. Stackhouse, I am Eric Northman…"
"The sheriff." She said in recognition. "Please, come in." She said stepping aside.
"Thank you." Eric stepped in just as Sookie made her way down the stairs. "Hello again," he greeted with a smug smile.
"Sheriff, Bill Compton seems to have gone missing. It has been three nights, and no one has seen him." Sookie wasted no time.
"Sookie is that any way to greet your guest." Adele admonished.
"Sorry Gran, but Bill could be hurt bad as we speak." Adele shook her head and disappeared up the stairs.
"That is why I am here. I'm afraid Bill Compton was arrested for treason two nights ago." Eric said sadly.
"Treason… what did he do?" Sookie asked in shock.
"May we sit?" Eric asked.
"Yes... yes, where are my manners. Please, this way." Sookie sounded flustered much to Eric's amusement. A human that cared that much about a vampire, that surprised him.
"Miss Stackhouse…"
"Please, call me Sookie." She said with a smile. "Can I get you a drink?"
"No need, I already fed." He said without thought. "Sookie, most vampires have certain abilities out of the norm that comes with being a vampire. I can fly…"
"You can fly." Sookie uttered in disbelief.
"Yes, my childe is exceptional at glamouring and... Bill Compton has the ability to really endear himself to humans. He can come across as harmless despite the fact that he is one of the most ruthless vampire I have ever had the misfortune of meeting His maker was rather sadistic, and Bill relished in it." He could see Sookie was about to protest. "Sookie I assure I'm not lying… you will find that it is not in my nature to lie. I might not tell you everything, but I will never lie to you." After a beat, she nodded.
"Bill Compton was released by his maker some fifty years ago and immediately got himself into trouble and was saved by the then queen of Louisiana."
"I'm sorry… queen of Louisiana?"
"Yes, every state has a monarch, the current monarch of this state is also the monarch of Nevada. She saw Compton's ability to get humans to trust him, and she put him to work collecting unique humans for her court. She was rather notorious for it. The current king, however, is not a collector of humans. In fact, if he gets wind of a human with a unique talent, he offers them a job, which they can feel free to turn down." Sookie shifted in her seat.
"So you know about my disability." Although it sounded like a question, it was a statement.
"Yes, we are aware of your telepathy. Bill was here to offer you a contract, but when I saw you in my club and his... rather nervous demeanor, I knew something was off. I called the king wondering if was now in the business of procuring humans. He didn't take kindly to my accusation." Eric said with a chuckle. "The king it turns out was under the impression that Compton had not yet found you. Compton reported that your family was away on vacation."
"I see," Sookie mumbled. "So why lie instead of giving me the contract?" Eric opened the laptop he was carrying and showed Sookie the page Compton had created to sell her to the highest bidder. "Son of a bitch… the bastard was going to sell me." Sookie bellowed much to Eric's amusement.
"Yes, Compton saw a way to make a tremendous amount of money and took the opportunity. I'm afraid someone has paid for you and will be coming for you tomorrow night. Miss Stackhouse, I'm afraid Compton has put your life and that of your family in danger."
"Shit." Sookie murmured.
"Indeed," Eric whispered.
"Can't you get Bill to give the money back?" She asked feeling as though the room was closing in on her.
"That will make no difference, right now there is nothing stopping any of the bidders on the site from deciding to kidnap you. Your only option is to sign the contract with my king, and he will grant you his protection that will prevent most from attempting to kidnap you."
"But not all." Sookie picked up on that.
"No, we will offer protection, in fact, we have been doing just that since yesterday."
"I hadn't noticed. I haven't exactly been looking for minds around the property." She said feeling tired all of a sudden. "This contract…"
"Is very open to negotiations," Eric said giving her the envelope.
Sookie quickly opened it and scanned the pages. "A hundred thousand a year retainer. All expense paid if the job requires travel." She figured it would since the king was also king of Nevada. She'd have to work at least five years at Merlotte's to make that kind of money.
"I will leave you to read the contract and make any amendments you'd like. Please, be vigilant… and Miss Stackhouse you have to remember it is not beyond vampires to use your friends and family to get you to co-operate. A few days ago you would have had the option to turn this down, but as things stand right now, accepting this contract is in your best interest. Goodnight." He stood buttoning his jacket. He could tell the grandmother was still awake. "Goodnight Mrs. Stackhouse." He called out to her.
"Goodnight sheriff." She responded.
"Here is my number, call me if you have any questions." She took the card with a nod.
"What's gonna happen to Bill?"
"I'm afraid the penalty for treason is the true death." Sookie nodded knowing there was nothing she could say to help Bill, not that she wanted to help the lying ass.
"Goodnight Sheriff."
"It's Eric." He said with his trademark smirk.
"Well then, goodnight Eric." She said blushing a little.
Knowing she was still watching him, Eric took off into the night sky with a smile on his face. He landed on Compton's front door before walking over to the edge of the cemetery. "Howdy Mister Eric," Bubba said from his position in the trees.
"Bubba." Eric greeted.
"Is all quiet, no ones come by… just yourself." Bubba gave him a simple rundown of the night so far.
"Good, if anything change, call Pam, I'll be in New Orleans tonight." With that, he was off.
"So do you think she will sign," Victor asked with a chuckle. Both he and Felipe had been very pleased with Eric's ingenuity regarding the procurement of Sookie's services. Eric on his part had recorded the conversation he had with Sookie that night for the king.
"She will… especially when she finds herself being followed during the day, I believe she will be quick to sign the contract."
"My only concern is how she will react to the idea of been tied to a vampire," Felipe said tapping his nails on the desk.
"It's all outlined in the contract," Eric answered somewhat dismissively.
"Good, very good." Felipe murmured. "She seems to have taken a liking to you, so it will best if you tied her to you." Felipe knew Eric wouldn't like it and neither would Victor as he had hoped he would be the one tied to the girl. Felipe wasn't stupid, better the vampire that wasn't obsessed with the telepath than the one that was. Felipe knew with Victor, the telepath would soon come to regret her decision and he couldn't have that. He knew Eric would keep the girl at a distance until necessary and that is what he needed.
"This calls for a celebration," Felipe added before either vampire could protest.
"I'm fine your majesty, I had quite the feast before flying over."
"Of course." Felipe chuckled.
"That club of yours is certainly a treasure trove of feeds and fucks," Victor said enviously.
"Why don't you go to Vikings, I will let them know to expect you," Eric said gathering up his things.
"I will, thanks, Eric," Victor said with a smile.
Felipe gave him a smug smile as Eric left the room. "Yes, I know… you were right about him. If I weren't so blinded by jealousy, I would have seen it too." Victor admitted.
"Yes, the Viking is a very loyal and a good friend to have. If you hadn't been so busy for the last few years trying to best him you would have a great ally in him right now." Felipe added.
"It's not too late." Victor murmured as he made his way to the club. Vikings has been quite the moneymaker for the area. He should have seen Eric as an alley then when he opened the club bringing in much revenue for Victor's fast-dwindling coffers. It saved having to supplement his tributes with his own funds.
...
Eric landed on the front lawn of the farmhouse half an hour after receiving a call from Sookie, the front door opened to a smiling Sookie. The closer he got to her the more he felt something was off. Before he could discern what it was, he felt as though he'd been hit with a fireball that sent him flying towards the tree line.
Fuck, that fucking hurt.
AN: I would like to thank CJFAA for her help with writing and plotting out this story.
