Eric listened carefully, hands on his thighs as he leaned over his desk. "Thank you, Pam. I'll check it out personally." He glided into the nightclub and took an empty seat at a table for four that was occupied by a vampire couple.
The man smiled uneasily as the woman kicked him under the table and glared at him. "Mr. Northman. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm...Randy...and this is Letty."
"I know who you are, Randy," Eric replied softly. "I understand you've been bragging about a certain fairy you claim to have captured...or should I say kidnapped. Are you aware that this is against the law? And that I am sheriff of this county? If you think about that for a moment, you will probably realize it was a mistake to be discussing it here in my establishment."
Randy didn't move, but his beady eyes darted toward the door. Eric simply shook his head. "That is not an option. You will take me to her. Now. Is she alive? I sincerely hope so." He never raised his voice, but the young vampire was squirming in his seat. Eric shot a look toward his date. "You may go, Letty. I assume you can find your own way home." It was not a question. She scurried away without a backward glance.
"Y-yes, she's alive, Mr. Northman. It's like the goose that lays the golden eggs, ya know?" His smile was pitiful, and he shrugged. "I mean, if you drain her she's gone…" He decided, belatedly, to stop talking. Eric unfolded his six foot, four inch frame from the damask covered chair. He towered over Randy, who was eight inches shorter, even in his cowboy boots.
"You will take me to her. Now," Eric stated simply. He led the way to his BMW sedan and Randy followed meekly. Eric started the engine and waited, staring straight ahead until Randy finally spoke.
"Oh. Right. I mean, make a right out of the lot. You'll see a deserted gas station about five miles down the road - make a right there. Are you...I mean...what are you going to do to me? Are you going to kill me?
Eric shook his head, not bothering to answer. His hands were clenched on the wheel, and he found the right turn easily. After another half mile he turned into the driveway of a deserted farmhouse and killed the engine. "She's in the basement," Randy whispered.
Eric opened the glove box and removed a short stick with a wicked point on one end. Randy cringed away from him. "I told you I wasn't going to hurt you, Randy," Eric explained patiently. "But you know what you have to do." He looked into the hapless vampire's eyes and carefully handed him the pointed stick, the sharp edge aimed at his chest. "Go ahead now, but first step away from the car."
Randy started to cry, even as he obeyed Eric's command, but he gripped the shaft with both hands. "I wasn't going to hurt her," he begged. "She just - she tasted so good!"
Eric looked at him impassively and nodded toward the stake. "I don't make the laws, Randy. I just uphold them. Now do it." He turned and walked away and never looked back, but he smiled faintly when he heard a sharp grunt followed by a wet splashing sound.
It took a moment for Eric's eyes to adjust to the total darkness inside. He walked into the kitchen, where the cellar door stood open. There was a faint glow coming from its depths, and he walked down the wooden stairs carefully. The enticing aroma of fairy blood grew stronger with each step. A tall, dark haired woman sat hunched in the center of a rusty cage. He could see the telltale fang marks on her pale skin. "Don't be afraid," he warned. "I'm here to set you free."
Eric opened the rusty door, and it creaked on its ancient hinges as it swung out. A ball of fire erupted out of the open doorway and slammed him backwards against the far wall, where he slid down and found himself sitting on the filthy floor.
"What are you doing? I'm the fucking cavalry!" he shouted. But she was gone. "You're welcome," he muttered as he dusted himself off.
Sookie pulled the pillow over her head and snuggled up against Alcide's warm body, but the tapping persisted. After another minute, she moved the pillow aside and opened one eye - then almost jumped out of her skin. "Shit!" she hissed, as the apparition outside her window beckoned her downstairs.
"Sook? You okay?" Alcide mumbled. Sookie kissed his furry cheek and smiled. "I'm fine. Be right back." She slipped out of the warm bed and grabbed her flannel robe, belting it tightly as she slid her feet into fuzzy slippers. She crept down the stairs and opened the front door a crack.
"What are you doing here?" she asked angrily. "Its almost three in the morning!"
"My apologies for disturbing you, Sookie. I just thought you would want to know that I heard from Eric that your cousin has been found. She's going to be fine."
Sookie stepped out on the porch and closed the door softly behind her. She was not yet ready to invite just any stray vampire into the house. "Claudine? Is she hurt?"
"Eric says the vampire that caught her had fed on her, but he was hoping to...umm...save more for later. The vampire has been dealt with, and Claudine seems to be recovering rapidly from her ordeal. In fact, it seems she knocked Eric on his backside for his trouble." His face softened into a half smile.
Sookie smiled too. "I'm sure Eric will get over it," she assured Bill. "But how did he know who she was? I don't think they've ever met."
Bill shook his head. "I don't think he knew she was your cousin, but he knows you are part fairy so he put two and two together. The dumb kidnapper was bragging about it in Fangtasia." Sookie stifled a yawn, and Bill added hastily, "I'll let you get some sleep. I just thought you'd want to know."
"Thank you so much. I'll sleep much better now." She watched him disappear through the trees.