Chapter 4

I paced back and forth in my office. I stared at my cell phone almost willing it to ring. They were supposed to call me when they arrived. My irritation at Bill was getting to be something I was growing weary of, very quickly. Not only was he disobeying a direct order from me, he was in my way.

"Why don't you call Sookie?" Pam's voice cut through my musing.

I peered over at her. "That would be a great idea Pam, but I do not have the privilege of her number." Pam rolled her eyes at me, and walked over to my desk, slipping her hand underneath my desk calendar to remove a piece of paper with a number on it.

Eric,

In case you can't reach Bill for some reason, here is my cell number:

555-3742.

Sookie

I looked over at Pam. "When did she leave this?"

Pam shrugged and tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. "She left it the other night when you were discussing details of her trip. She gave it to me to give to you. I folded my hands together behind my back.

"Why would you not tell me?" I said quietly.

"Because she is more trouble than she is worth." Pam shouted me, frustrated with me.

I narrowed my eyes on Pam. "We need her," I said angrily.

"No, you need her, I have no use for her."

"PAM! That is quite enough."

Pam closed her mouth and looked away. "I was only looking out for you Eric," she mumbled.

My face softened a bit. "Thank you, but I can look after myself." I turned away and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket, and dialed the number on the paper.

"Hello?" Sookie's voice sounded wary.

"Sookie, its Eric, what happened? Bill was supposed to call me when you arrived." I tried to keep my agitation out of my voice.

"We were attacked at the airport, also I was almost kidnapped." I nearly dropped the phone.

I clenched my right hand into a fist. Someone had forcefully put their hands on her. I would kill them myself. "By whom?" I growled. She seemed not to notice.

"I don't know, Bill is trying to find out now."

I closed my eyes in frustration. "Sookie, I want you to listen to me very carefully. Go to the hotel and stay put. Do not go anywhere unaccompanied. Do I make myself clear." She said nothing. I pleaded with her silently. Please woman, for once in your life listen to what I say, if nothing else.

Her voice cut through me like a blade. "Perfectly." I felt my lips turn up in a smile at her crisp tone.

"Good and Sookie?"

"What is it now Eric?" her voice was weary and tired sounding.

"Be careful." She hung up on me without another word. I snapped my phone shut and crossed my arms over my chest. Pam looked over at me from her seat on the couch.

"I thought you were going to Dallas?"

"I am." I stood and walked over to my closet and yanked off the shirt I was wearing. I pulled on a black race back wife beater and threw my leather jacket over that. I glanced at Pam. "Don't wait up for me honey." I said smirking at her.

She rolled her eyes at me. "Don't worry I won't" she said in a dead pan voice. I chuckled to myself as I walked out into the night air. Out of habit I smelled the air, a habit I had when I was human. Maybe If I acted more human, Sookie would be less intimidated. The last thing I wanted was for her to be intimidated by me. I wanted her to like me, but I would never tell her that. I launched myself into the air and headed for Dallas, and her.

I landed short of the hotel. I smoothed my blond hair out of my face and grimaced as I remembered the length. Pam had to cut it short as I had gotten blood in it while attacking someone. It was fair, the stupid human provoked me. Pam had been very pissed when she found out. As of yet, Sookie hadn't commented on it and I imagined she wouldn't within earshot of Bill.

I entered the hotel checked in and made my way to my room. In the hallway I stopped when I heard her voice. I smiled wickedly. It was that husky tone her voice got when I ran my hands down her body. I closed my eyes as the memory of her writhing beneath me. I could be a prick and interrupt them. I turned to open the door to my room, but I looked back over my shoulder to their door. On second thought, I grinned like a madman as I knocked on their door.

"Don't answer it!" Sookie said in a breathless voice. I let my body shudder listening to the sound of it.

"It's Eric" I said loud enough for both of them to hear. "Meet me at the bar." I heard Bill get up, though my words had been intended for Sookie, but as I expected, it was Bill that showed up. The waitress came and set a true blood down in front of him. I made a face at it.

"I hope you enjoy drinking your blood substitute, its costing me forty-five dollars." I didn't have to look at him to know that he wore a smug expression on his face.

"I have no intention of drinking it, I just wanted you to pay for it." He surely loved his petty torments.

"You are so mature" I said dryly not bothering to even look at him.

Bill looked over at me. "I don't understand this allegiance to Godric."

I flinched slightly. "Godric is twice as old as I am and very powerful. He could have been King of Texas had he wanted."

Bill looked thoughtful for a second. "I was able to get some information out of the man who attempted to kidnap Sookie."

I sat up straighter. "Do you think I could have been privy to this information earlier?"

Bill looked uncomfortable. "The man worked for the Fellowship of the Sun." I nodded in agreement. "You knew about this?!" Bill said his voice rising.

I turned towards him my own voice rising as well. "I had an idea but I wasn't sure. Now I am." Bill settled back in his chair and sighed loudly and very unnecessarily. He looked back at me. "If such a Vampire as Godric can be taken, then none of us is safe."

He narrowed his eyes on me. "What can I give you to release Sookie from her agreement?"

I fought the urge to smirk at him. "Nothing." I drew the word out to make my point.

The next evening Sookie, Bill and I found ourselves in Godric's home. His subordinates Isabel and Stan were arguing with one another. I glanced over at Sookie. She looked very beautiful. My eyes traveled down her body, the dress she was wearing hugged her curves like the one she had worn when I first met her. My eyes lit back on her face, it was turned towards Isabel and Stan. Irritation flooded her lovely features. My mouth twisted in a vicious scowl, I too was tired of listening to them bicked.

"Listen to the both of you! While Godric is being held captive you bicker with one another!" The both turned to look at me. Stan smiled in my direction.

"Why Don't you do us a favor Eric and go on back down to Louisiana and take your puppets with you." Before I could say a word, Sookie defended herself.

"I'm no one's puppet."

"And I am going no where." I replied, my tone dangerously quiet.

"What we need is a plan." Isabel said, stating the obvious, but stated none the less.

"I have a plan" Stan mumbled crossing his arms over his chest defiantly. Isabel scoffed at him.

"Storming the church and killing everyone is NOT a plan, it's a movie."

I decided I had heard quite enough. I picked up the nearest thing I could throw and hurled it at the wall. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sookie flinch. I turned to Isabel and Stan. "Idiots" I said through clenched teeth. "The both of you are completely incompetent." I heard Sookie take in an angry breath

"All this fighting and arguing is making me want to fall asleep." I held myself very still as I looked at her. In the years I had been alive, surprise was like a drug to me, what Sookie said next, definitely surprised me. "I'll infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun." Bill immediately protested.

"Let her speak." I said, not taking my eyes off her. Again, she surprised me, I realized she was putting herself in danger for me, wait, not for me, for Godric.

"I will enter the church under the impression of wanting to join. I will find Godric." I continued to stare at her impressed with her very much. Stan scoffed.

"I will have no part in this, you're on your own." he grabbed his hat and left the house with a slam of the door.

"It's settled then, Sookie will go to the church" she offered me a small smile, I would take it if I could get nothing else. I nodded to her still grim faced.

"A word" Bill said tightly. I moved away from Sookie as I followed Bill over to the mantel. "You are putting her in danger for your own selfish reasons. You're playing with her life." My eyes snapped to his. Her life meant more to me than his petty jealousy.

"Its no game to me." I said, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice.

"I still don't understand this allegiance to Godric." Bill said stubbornly. I imagined I got a faraway look in my eyes.

"Godric is my maker."