Pam was filled with rage and didn't hesitate to show it, slapping Eric so hard that the sound echoed through the basement. Eric smiled and walked past her down the stairs.
"You'll thank me later" he was overly self-assured
"You're right" she spoke through her teeth about to tell him off she felt someone standing right behind her. Too full of rage to really feel who's there she blindly assumed that Chow appeared with some useless question about something. Her blood boiled as she was not about to tell Eric everything she really felt about him in front of Chow and spun around to ask him to leave. To her surprise Chow wasn't the face she saw when turning it was Queen Sophie-Anne and Hope. Hope was smiling which really puzzled Pam of what could have possible occurred in the few seconds they were gone that made her ask in such a way.
"I will see you next week" Sophie-Anne looked at Eric
He nodded slightly and she left. Hope stood beaming in front of Pam who was really for the first time in a long time completely at a loss of words.
"I'm so excited" Hope couldn't contain her enthusiasm
Pam didn't follow
"I will be tomorrow at nine to start my shift" Hope continued "Thank you again Pam for giving me the opportunity"
He hugged Pam and walked away.
Pam turned around to face Eric who had a smug smile on his face.
"How?"
"She glamoured her"
"That's not possible…" Pam stopped short knowing she just gave something away about Hope.
Eric smiled "You don't become a queen without having tricks or two upon your sleeve. Some supernaturals can be glamoured if you know how"
Pam's face fell "So you knew?"
He walked back up and smiled at Pam "Of course, but I made a promise to you and she's the least you deserve for putting up with all the madness"
"Do you know what she is?"
He nodded
"Will you tell me?"
He shook his head
"You're no fun" she pretended to be mad at him which was extremely hard seeing how he went through a lot of trouble asking the queen for a favor when their relationship was so strained. And then it dawned upon her. The queen also knew the secret and if she was so interested in Sookie of course she would interested in Hope.
"Don't worry" it was as if he could read her mind "Hope doesn't offer what Sookie has. Sophie-Anne has no use for her"
"How can you be sure?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't" he placed his hands on Pam's shoulder "You still have much to learn, use Hope to broaden your horizons" He kissed Pam on the forehead and walked out.
It was a great relief for Pam to know that there was no completion for Hope, but at the same time she felt a bit let down. If nobody wanted her maybe Hope wasn't so special after all.
Lafayette strolled out of his bathroom wearing a black silk kimono decorated with red flowers and black du-rag on his head. Looking fierce as ever he seems to be in a great mood as it's been days since he had any more visions and the lessons that Jesus has been conducting with him seem to be paying off. Walking into the living room he jumps back spotting Eric looking through his religious symbols, it takes him a minute to figure out if he is having another vision of Eric or if he was really in his living room.
"Hello sweetheart" Eric continues looking through the stuff picking up one of the voodoo dolls.
Defiantly real Lafayette concludes quickly replacing his apprehension with fear while trying to figure out what Eric might want from him.
"What are you doing here?" his attempt to sound self-assured fails as his voice trembles somewhat.
"Got another assignment for you" Eric doesn't take his eyes off the dolls
"Aren't you done with that shit?"
Instantly Eric appears in front of him grabbing Lafayette by his throat.
"Don't mistake the kindness I showed for weakness. You will do as I say and never question it"
He squeezed his hand tighter lifting Lafayette a few inches off the floor. Grabbing Eric's arm with both his hands Lafayette struggled to catch his breath.
"Am I making myself clear?"
Unable to say anything Lafayette nodded.
Eric immediately loosened his grip dropping Lafayette to the floor.
The fear was back in Lafayette's eyes as he relived the events that occurred in the basement. His fear of Eric has been reborn.
"What do you need me to do?" his voice was shaking
"That's better" Eric smiled and sat on the couch nearby
Lafayette stood up slowly trying not to make any sudden moves.
"Go over to Jessica's new house and report back to me"
"Jessica?" Lafayette didn't catch on right away.
"Her human is an acquaintance of yours"
Lafayette immediately though of Hoyt and the new redheaded hostess at Merlotte's whose name he hasn't bothered to learn "Are you talking about Hoyt's girlfriend?"
Eric nodded
"What am I looking for in their house?"
Eric looked towards the voodoo dolls and other religious statues.
"You'll know"
Eric stood up and walked towards the front door opening it as if he expected to see someone on the other side. Jesus was surprised seeing a stranger opening the door. Eric was expecting him "Take him with you. I expect a full report by tomorrow" he told Lafayette looking straight at Jesus and calmly walked off.
Jesus stood confused at the door watching as Eric drove away. Anger soon filled his face and he rushed into the house.
"Are you dealing again?" he charged at Lafayette but his tone quickly changed when he saw the fear in his face "Are you alright?"
Lafayette stood in the same place unable to move knowing he should be getting ready for work.
Jesus hugged him trying to ease his tension "Who was that?"
Lafayette slowly snapped out of his fear induced coma only to realize how late he was going to be work.
"Shit" he said pulling out of the hug "Sam is going to be on my ass again"
"That can wait, who was that?" Jesus was adamant of being part of Lafayette's life no matter how shady it seemed to him.
Lafayette ignored him and went towards his bedroom, emerging in a few minutes changed into what could pass for work clothing, he looked at now very pissed off Jesus.
"I'll explain later" Lafayette knew that Jesus won't stick around if there were more secrets between them "For now you've got to get me to work"
Jesus reluctantly agreed and they both exited his house.
The drive to Merlotte's was filled with awkward silence. Lafayette was in no mood to relive his experience with Eric nor was he in the mood to explain thing to Jesus. Jesus on the other hand felt the tension build between them wondering if all the progress they have made was useless in comparison to the secret that Lafayette seemed to be hiding.
The large Merlotte's sign was a welcoming sight to Lafayette who jumped out of the car before it even came to a full stop.
"Meet me after my shift" was all he said before disappearing into the back door.
Jesus wasn't pleased, but there was a mix of curiosity and unwillingness to give up on their relationship that made him stick around.
Lafayette emerged from the back door hours later smelling for fries and creole sauce. Jesus was asleep behind the wheel. Time has allowed him to calm down enough in order to explain things to Jesus, but it didn't mean that he was looking forward to it. He was almost tempted to leave him sleeping and venture towards Hoyt's house on his own. But timing wasn't on his side as some car honked in the distance waking Jesus up.
"Are you done?" Jesus still seemed upset
"Yea" Lafayette got in the car and attempted to kiss him, but Jesus backed away. Lafayette was amused by his pride "We have to make a stop before heading home"
"Does this stop have anything to do with that vampire in your house"
Lafayette nodded unwilling to part with more information.
"Will you finally tell me what's going on?" Jesus refused to stay in the dark forever
"Just drive" Lafayette was too tired to argue "Once we get home I'll tell you all about it"
The drive to Hoyt and Jessica's wasn't as tense as the drive to Merlotte's, but it was just as quiet. They parked outside and both exited the car walking towards the dark house. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as Lafayette became more and more apprehensive not knowing what exactly he needs to be looking for.
Knocking on the door for a few minutes until they finally heard a set of footsteps. Lafayette became tenser, it wouldn't be easy to explain to Hoyt why he was there and he knew that Eric would not want him to reveal who sent him.
Jessica answered the door still wearing her Merlotte's uniform. She seemed surprised to see Lafayette there for the main reason that he never talked to her at work and she was sure that he didn't know her name let alone where she lived.
"Is something wrong?" she questioned him.
He was about to respond when he saw exactly what he assumed Eric sent him to report on. A few feet behind Jessica stood something he couldn't quiet comprehend, and by the tight grip of Jesus's hand on his he knew that Jesus saw it too. Following their gaze Jessica turned around and saw an empty hall, she looked back at them puzzled.
"Get out" the creature screamed loud enough to wake the dead which seemed to have no effect on Jessica who was still looking at the both of them confused.
