Episode 304: A Clue-by-Four

I'm awaken by a ray of sunshine sipping through the blinds. Alcide is beside me in his bed. The covers are askew, enough to let me admire his tanned, bruised, and earth-covered body. My head pounds, I'm nauseated, and I'm dying for some water. For a second though, I can still pretend like everything is perfect. Maybe, I could be a normal college girl, waking up on a Saturday, next to her boyfriend.

Except I'm not.

And I see it for what it is: a one-night-stand with someone that could have become a really good friend. Damn Eric, for opening this side of me. I hop into the shower. It's there that I remember; we never used any protection last night. I didn't think of it, since I didn't need any with Eric – why does everything come back to him? –, but stupid Alcide didn't think of it either.

"Jill!"

I'll have to deal with that later, I guess, because he's calling me through the door.

"Jill!"

I realize by his tone that something's gone truly wrong. I run out of the bathroom, with a towel around me, to find him outside the front door. I join him and understand the reason for his panic: Sookie's missing.

Her door is open; there's evidence of struggle in her room. I can't believe she's been taken, right under our noses, while we were… Fuck!

"- Jill, where are you going?

- I need the ashes from last night.

- But you don't even know-

- It can't be a coincidence! Her boyfriend's been kidnap, and now her? I have to know what these wolves are up to. I'm not going to let her rot in a basement somewhere.

- She won't. But maybe we should come up with-"

I'm already gone by the end of his sentence. Behind the cover of the trees, I remove the towel and start smearing cinders all over. Soon, I'm completely grey, and stinking of ashes. After that, I go back, put some clothes on, then goes to repeat the process, until not even my clothes can smell of me. Only when I'm happy with the result, do we get on the road.

Alcide drops me as close as he can from the pack.

"- Be careful, alright? I can't follow you too close; keep your phone on, so I'll find you."

- I'll come back soon with a plan."

He reaches for my shoulder before I exit the car.

"Don't touch me, you'll get your smell on me."

He clenches hid fist and his teeth, but lowers his gaze as I add:

"- I'm sorry, this wasn't... – I sigh. – You never should have gotten mixed up into this. You should go home-

- I'll follow you as close as I can.

- Don't-

- Go now."

I nod and slam the door. The truth is, as much as I feel guilty and would want him safe, I'm happy someone has finally got my back. I run to cut through a thicket and find yesterday's bar. Except for the sun, warming my skin, I truly feel like I'm twelve again, tracking my prey. Suddenly, I feel no fear. Only excitement.

It takes me almost all day to find the mansion. After finding a group that stunk of V, and confirmed at least one of them had the mark, I followed this one. Only all he did was go to work at a gas station; what a deception. So, I had to find them again, I followed another one around, back to his home, before he shifted and scampered through the woods. I have a hard time following his speed without making too much noise. Several times, he stops to sniff the air, and I think I'm going to get caught. It's been way too long since I've done this, and never with so much light.

Finally, he leads me to an oversized colonial house, lost in the middle of a huge estate. Wolves are patrolling the garden, like protecting their territory, but in an organized fashion. The perks of something so structured is that I can find patterns. This allows me to cross the lawn between two patrols, and reach a window under which some bushes can hide me. It seems to be a fancy office, empty, with many old books and works of art in display. The sun is rapidly setting, and the night gets dark before I see anything moving in there.

I am so surprised to watch Eric walk in the room, I almost gasp and reveal my position. He also lets in a dirt-covered Pam and a very tied-up and gagged Sookie, quickly followed by a visibly agitated Bill. He closes the door behind them, as I can see other vampires dressed up as guards, in the main hall. I can't make out what they're saying through the thick glass, they seem to be whispering so no one would hear. Although they also seem to be fighting.

It's pretty obvious to me that Pam is the one that took Sookie last night, before going to ground. So, it means I indeed caught a glimpse of her, while I was with Alcide. Which is embarrassing for two reasons: one, she caught me in a very intimate position; two, she kidnapped Sookie, right under my nose, while I was being distracted. I'm so furious with myself. If Pam took Sookie, she did it under Eric's order. And if he is holding her captive and not asking for a favor – to which she would say 'yes', as she always does – it must mean he is selling her, or trading her for Bill's life, maybe?

I'm not sure Eric would do that. Of course, a vampire's life will always hold more value than a human's to him. But Sookie isn't human; her powers have value. If he's giving her up, it must be for a higher price. Of course, Bill won't stand for it. I won't either. And I'm seething at Eric's betrayal. I knew he could be wicked, but I'd always hoped he was better than he let on. To be so wrong brings tears to my eyes. I won't let them fall, though, not for that prick.

Pam discreetly slips him a small box and a pair of leather gloves. I recognize that box. Once, when I was held up in his office and had time to snoop around, I had found silver handcuffs in it, and used them to tie up Ginger. They completely ignore Bill's rage, so he launches himself on Pam, who still holds Sookie's arm. But Eric is always faster. He grabs Bill by the throat. I can see in his eyes that he is dead serious. There's a cold fury in there, that I don't think I had ever seen. Bill puts his fangs away.

They all suddenly disengage from each other, as another vampire enters. I can't sense his age. His face looks young and beautiful; his skin may have been as dark as mine, before death imprinted its pallor on his traits. His gestures are gracious, like Lafayette's are. And he walks in the room like he owns the place. The deference the others show him seems to confirm it. I am at a vampire's manor.

This is a shock. It means the wolves are working for a vampire. Even for a king, it would be unheard of. It would even explain their V addiction, if vampires didn't consider their own blood sacred and sharing it an absolute disgrace. I can't wrap my head around it. I remain stunned as guards come to take Sookie away. Bill takes a tentative step but says nothing. I should follow them, circle the house, to see where they're taking her.

However, when I turn around, I can see three wolves on the other side of the bushes, sniffing the air. I shouldn't have stayed so long at the same location. I ready my weapons as it becomes evident they're looking for the origin of the smell. It won't be long before they flush me out. That's when I, too, start to smell the fumes. Far on the other side of me, a fire has been lit. I'm quick enough to detect a grey wolf running away from the flames. It must be Alcide. I have to say, I'm not mad he took me a little too literally. Since the wolves run to the house to warn someone, he might have just saved my life.

Inside, guards unknowingly show Pam and Bill out of the room, leaving the young-looking man alone with Eric. I probably should use the commotion outside to change location, but I'm too curious. Maybe it's the way they both look at each other hungrily. Or the way Eric lets his finger trace the man's chest above his expensive buttoned down shirt. I tell myself I can't easily leave these bushes to find another well-hidden window. I must commit to this one, or I could get caught. Anyway, there isn't much I can do, with so many vampires in the building, in addition to the weres outside. I need to find a way to talk to one of the vampires I know; otherwise… I hope Sookie will survive the night.

Part of me expected it, but I'm still surprised when Eric kisses the other vampire with passion. They don't wait a second before undressing each other. Alternating their highest speed and the slowest, most languorous motions, they playfully fight for control over the other. I'm spellbound. I can tell from their movements than the other is a little younger than Eric, though not by much. They both stroke each other expertly, and I can't stop watching. If at first I felt a slight anger – mostly because I had felt vaguely guilty over what had happened with Alcide – I now have to admit that this is exciting. Wait, really? What's wrong with me? I should stop watching. The throbbing I feel between my legs is completely inappropriate.

Eric finally gets behind and penetrates him, with a violence only two vampires can allow. The fact that it would rip me to shreds snaps me back to reality. I motion to leave, see if I can find Bill, and hatch a plan to free my friend. But, before I can tear my eyes away from the scene, I notice Eric is, without slowing his movements, reaching for something on the desk behind him. It's a weird piece of art to own, for a vampire: a wooden dagger, very much like mine, but older and encrusted with gems. And I watch in horror, as Eric stakes it in the back of the man he was so lovingly fucking a second ago.

The vampire splashes onto the ground in a puddle of blood and slime, as the tall Viking rises, wipes himself clean with an ancient, probably valuable, cloth, then goes to put his pants and sweater back on. Afterwards, he slowly approaches one of the displays and open the glass, to respectfully – some would say devotedly – grab a golden crown out of its setting. This whole ordeal makes no sense to me. But he's alone in the room now, so I take my chances and skillfully open the window without making a sound.

At least I have the pleasure to see his jaw drop at the sight of me. He even takes a step back, as my completely grey appearance and different smell catch him by surprise.

"What the fuck, Eric?"

I whisper, but he still glimpses to the door. Since he hasn't found his voice back, I continue:

"Why did you take Sookie here? Tell me you have a plan where she walks out okay."

Despite my better judgement, I clearly still can't believe he would let her be harmed. I can see in his eyes that he's coming back to his senses, and a new determination appears. He walks up to me and pushes me back with one finger.

"Just shut up, will you! – his whisper feels like a roar in my ears. – I'm trying to think.

- We need to get out now-"

Suddenly, he's in my face, as I bump back against the desk. His fangs are out, and the fire in his eyes tells me I should have shut the hell up.

"Listen, I'm very close to getting something I've wanted since I was still human. Do not get in my way."

My whole body quivers at the bare animosity that emanates from his. I know he feels it, when he puts back his fangs and straighten up. His voice is almost back to normal when he quietly adds:

"You should get as far as you can from here, before it's too late. The king should be back any second, now that I've killed his progeny."

I can't fathom what he's saying. I thought royalty meant everything to his kind. Nothing of what he's doing makes any sense to me. I can only decipher that he's holding some kind of grudge against this king, probably over what I recognize is his father's crown, and he plans on using Sookie to get back at him. The only thing important to me, though, is that he's not going to help. On the contrary, I should consider him hostile from now on. I struggle with this idea, more than I'd like.

I move to sneak back out through the window, when an old enough vampire guard enters the room.

"The fire is in control, sir, I have-"

He doesn't finish his sentence, bewildered. Time stops for a moment. I seem to watch in slow motion Eric's eyes darting between him and me. For a glimpse of an instant, his expression seems almost apologetic, as he comes to a decision. Then, he seizes me by the throat, crushing my windpipe and preventing me from making any sound.

"That's a hunter. She killed Talbot before I could stop her!"

I don't have time to be astounded by his claim. Before I can even reach for my dagger, he sinks his fangs into my neck. I quickly feel my strength leaving my body, as he sucks in harder than ever. I can still spring my chain out and whip it around his back. He hisses in pain as it slides under his sweater, burning his skin. But that doesn't stop him. He's already burning himself against my necklace without taking the time to move his hand.

Rapidly, the last of my energy is dripping out of me. I don't know if it's because the window behind me has opened with the wind, but I'm getting cold. The smell of ashes from the wildfire outside assaults my nose. I feel tears rolling down my cheeks, without having enough vitality left in me to despise them. I can't believe it, but it's happening. My head falls on Eric's shoulder, his fangs still digging in mine, and I shiver in the night. I inhale one last time. I want to feel him. I want to travel far from the now, to when everything still seemed perfect. I feel his free arm wrap around me, to hold me as I die.