PART THREE

Chapter 5

Unfortunately, their trip to the Big Easy was delayed a few days thanks to some minor emergencies at home. Jason needed a babysitter for his kids and had no one else while Pam had to put out some minor fires out at the bar. To say nothing of Sookie having to also tell Arlene she needed some time away from work and bless her heart, Arlene knew better than to inquire why. Pam, however, wanted not to let anyone get wind of the troubles they faced and had glamoured Arlene, making her think Sookie was on a much needed vacation instead. Finally, they managed to get to where they needed to go and it was surprisingly easy for them to get an audience. Especially upon their learning of the coercion tactics, the blackmail that had gone into getting the governors to sign the contract, to force actions to be set into motion.

"He is older than all of us combined and his daughter…she is as well. And they are skilled warriors. Fast and furious with their weapons, none of us have seen anyone fight like they have….save for your Eric. And he is the one that can end this all but we are all in precarious positions. Those two, they have others working with them here on the inside. Moles who are too willing to help them make their goals happen. We have to play nice." the second in command of the Authority, a ginger haired male vamp said with a annoyed sigh. "They know our every move and could be watching us here in the building, though I can safely say at least here in this room, we all have taken turns sweeping for spy equipment and have kept all others out."

A female governor with long blonde hair and looking as if she were in her early twenties but was at least three times that age nodded. "We are not happy that things are the way they are. I fear that if he had his way, Jameson would bring back many if not all of the old ways of the Authority and we have spent the past few tears repairing the damage that was done to our image and our relationship with the humans we want only to work with and coexist with. Peacefully. It would ignite another war if he were to win this match."

Having no patience with any of these people, Pam was pacing back and forth. "We need to kill those two, that much is for certain…..but I had thought the Authority had been given a good overhaul….so what if these minions of Jameson and Greta….what if they are being controlled by…magic." Pam spat out the word.

"No doubt it is a possibility." Sookie said as she took her turn addressing the group in the room. "I have seen magic being used to control other vamps and it is some dangerous, powerful stuff. And something about Greta…..I sensed that she was wielding something, that she possesses something. And it was the same feeling I got when we went up against a witch some years back."

"So you are certain she has bewitched some of our own….troubling, that is. What would stop her from returning her and putting us under her control too, thus eliminating much needed allies from your assistance." added a third member of the ten governors. "We are, of course, well aware of your….specialness….something that I know you and your family have tried to keep secret as best as possible. But rest assured we will try to assist you as well as we can. But we wonder, if perhaps there is something you can do for us?"

"Figures, we come here looking for help and instead we are asked for it." Pam muttered.

"We want to be able to help you but know of your powers, Sookie." the leader of the governors said. "What, if anything can you do to help protect us from being turned against you by those two?"

Pam looked annoyed, almost like they were wasting their time here but Sookie pulled her aside. "We may need backup in this when we go after him…wouldn't you prefer we not instead get them spelled and turned against us and thus making it harder for us to defeat those two wackos?"

"I get it…I do…it's just….well, I am so sick of this bullcrap. All I want to do is get to wherever he is and bring him home. After I tear that red headed tramp a new one." Pam replied, the anger and concern clear in her voice. "Is there anything you can do to keep them safe, just in case? I guess it makes sense the last thing we need is more obstacles in our way…."

"My powers, they certainly have gotten stronger and more…I don't know. Inclusive over the years but I can try…" Sookie turned to the people standing here in the room. "I can try to shield this room…have you supplies and other things you may need, because once I cast the magic, you can only be guaranteed being safe while in this building…..but maybe….maybe I had get some feelers out, see if I can detect any-" she had gone wide-eyed with a realization as one of the governors launched themselves towards her, a manic look in her eyes as she went for the kill. Eager to kill something, Pam interceded and was forced to kill the governor, knowing it was either her or Sookie and there was no way she was going to let something happen to her. She would have a lot of explaining to do, should that happen.

"It's unfortunate but there was no time…she was a danger to everyone." Sookie said as she got to her feet after stumbling on a chair. She closed her eyes and there was a humming vibration through the room, through the building. "Everyone else here in the building is clean, no traces of any evil but I would strongly say to bring the building into lockdown and I will use what magic I can to secure it from being entered by anyone, especially Jameson and Greta." Ten minutes later, the remaining governors had gathered anything from elsewhere in the building they needed, the protection magic quickly being fired up around them and the building. "Staying here in the most secure part of the building would be best. We will send word if we need you but I always prefer to try to keep more people out of our messes….things have gone wrong in the past when people tried helping me. I have lost a lot of people on account of me and even though we don't know each other well at all, I wouldn't want any of you harmed."

The remaining nine of the governors seemed impressed by the poise that was being shown. They had, of course, come to know about her and had even taken action to assist in keeping her and her family safe, being as prominent as they were. But to have her here before them wanting to help people she didn't know and had faith in….they too, knew they needed to show their value, their dedication to finishing up eliminating the bad taste of the former Authority. "We are grateful for your help and-"

"Let's leave it at this-if I find out that any of you are somehow managing to help Jameson and Greta and mean harm to us, then we will be coming back full force and will make quite a mess in this rather nice building. And anyone else who comes our way? We will go down swinging if it comes to that but rest assured, one way or another I will see to our family being avenged." Sookie said, looking at the gathered vampires before her and Pam. "Now. Information. Where is the Alaskan branch of the Authority?"

Another member of the Authority piped up, looking chagrined. "Its in a isolated, harsh region of the state, where one would be foolish to travel to…." she winced as Pam's fangs popped out and knew the damage she and the hybrid could do if they didn't get what they came for. "A area just north of Barrow, which so happens to be the one of the coldest and most isolated places to live in the country. The Authority building there is hidden underground and yet is easily found, amongst the ice that is like glass that is almost always present. The are is just on the shoreline, you see."

"Here…take the coordinates….and a GPS." offered the first governor that had addressed them. Pam accepted the slip of paper handed to them but rejected the device. Sookie, however, at least thanked the group for their help, using a last bit of magic to give a little extra boost to the shield of magic meant to protect those within the building and this room, especially.

"Thank you for your help and with it, I hope to end the both of them and get rid of their hold over you. Blackmail is sooooo unoriginal, isn't it? Once they are gone, I assure you, you won't have to worry about whatever they are holding over you to keep you from being more helpful. Though, I can safely say, you have been."

All of them looked slightly less on edge, slightly more relieved. "They…they threaten all of our families, they know where they are and with all their minions-"

"Controlled by magic, once the one that cast it, they will be set to rights. But the sooner she and I get to where we gotta be, the sooner we can end this."

"You do realize that they will likely be waiting for you." one of the governors said, voice laden with concern.

"I wouldn't expect anything else. We will be back to check in on you. You've got our numbers and we have yours." Sookie was speaking as Pam made quick work of getting the phone numbers exchanged between her phone and the one of the Authority, one she was given by one of the frazzled governors. "We will not fail in this, they think they have the upper hand but they surely are underestimating two pissed off blondes. Both of which pack some serious firepower." and as she made her hands light with a bright and dangerous looking glow before she whisked herself and her companion from the building, off to parts unknown and quite unfriendly

Chapter 6

It was fortunate that it was almost always dark up here in the wastelands of northern Alaska. Cold though it was, neither of them were really bothered by the extreme weather and at least it was cold and nod snowy, as this area was notorious for squally weather. Sure enough, ice as clear as glass rise up before them on the shores, sparkling under the moonlight, casting shadows and light at the same time over the tundra. Knowing better than to just flash them straight into the lion's den, Sookie instead used her magic to bring them to the outside of the stronghold, the door well hidden within a block of ice that was able to conceal the entry fairly well. Plus, as they discovered, it was not real ice, though it was as polished, as cold and as unforgiving as the real thing could be against those who worked with ice for a living. But it was some kind of plexiglass and like butter, Sookie managed to find the hidden keypad under what seemed to be a crust of frost but really was a lid concealing the secret underneath. Frying it with her light, the watched as the fake ice rose and allowed them to pass closer to the door. Still requiring a code to enter, coupled with a prick of blood, Sookie looked at Pam, knowing that they would need to use magic to bypass this, knowing full well that they were taking a chance of immediate capture or torture.

"I don't know what else to do, I don't know who or what could be in this place and-"

"Waiting here worrying isn't gonna help us none." Pam interjected. "I am more than ready for a good fight and besides, waiting here is only wasting valuable time. I think we have gone through far worse than some obsessed, badly dressed tramp and her daddy."

Managing a laugh, Sookie nodded and in a flash of light, they were brought straight to the other side of the door, knowing full well they were underground. How far, exactly, she did not know. What she did know, immediately, that there had been much blood spilled and judging by the scent in the air, there was much that they didn't see. And most worrisome, they knew they may not want to see.

TO BE CONTINUED