Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Southern Vampire Mysteries. They belong to the great Charlaine Harris, who graciously allows others to play with them. I don't make any money from this, so don't sue me!
Sophie-Anne's POV
My very own telepath! I can hardly contain my excitement! I do hope that my darling Hadley isn't exaggerating her cousin's capabilities. She tends to embellish the truth at times. It'll be quite a letdown if Bill gets to Bon Temps only to find that the girl's gift isn't everything my pet claims. I have so many plans for this girl once she's safely in my clutches. If she's not what Hadley claims her to be, I'll be very irritated.
Telepathy is a rare gift; I've only known one being so blessed in all my centuries on this Earth. That person is my demon lawyer, Desmond Cataliades. Why not use him as my personal telepath, you ask? Well, it's hard to control a demon in the same way I can a human. He also charges by the hour. Even a monarch like myself doesn't want to pay a demon $600 an hour to snoop around in people's heads. Not that he offers that service generally. He occasionally will pass on a useful tidbit he picks up from someone's mind, but he doesn't do mental fishing expeditions for his clients. He says that would be unethical. And besides, Desmond has more than enough legal work to do for me right now, anyway, especially with my engagement and upcoming nuptials to Peter Threadgill. I've run up quite the tab with his firm lately, and my Andre keeps telling me that we need to cut back on spending.
Hadley's cousin, Sookie Stackhouse, sounds like a dream come true to me. Of course, I will pay her for her services, but I'm sure she'll be much cheaper than Desmond. I can also lend her out to other monarchs to generate revenue. It sounds like the poor thing hasn't seen much of the world. I can change that. I hope she'll be happy here, and perhaps I can even make her my pet after I turn Hadley. I wonder if her blood is as delicious as Hadley's. If it is, I might even have to look into acquiring the idiot brother as a palace donor.
I wonder if Sookie's gift comes from Hadley's side of the family. If it does, it's possible that Hadley may manifest some truly extraordinary gifts as a vampire. There has to be some supe blood of some type in Sookie. My guess would be demon, as they're the only supes I know that are known to be telepaths. I'll have Andre use his gift to find out for sure. I sometimes wonder if Hadley is part fairy because she tastes so sweet, but if she has fairy blood, it can't be much. She doesn't have any issues with lemon or iron like fairy hybrids generally do. Andre's never commented about sensing anything out of the ordinary about her, even with his special gift of detecting family history through blood.
I summon a handmaiden to bring me the dress I want to wear tonight. It's by an American designer, Marchesa. They've become popular in the past few years, so I thought I'd give them a try. I usually prefer the big European fashion houses, but I try to be open to new things. This cocktail dress is a lovely shade of peacock blue silk with metallic beads and sequins on the bodice. It drapes off of one shoulder and gives me a lovely silhouette. Of course, everything I wear looks great on me. I wouldn't buy it if it didn't. But I want to look especially elegant for tonight's entertainment.
Tonight I've invited a famous young violinist to play music for the court. I've invited some vampire visitors from other kingdoms tonight, a couple of Were pack leaders from various parts of Louisiana, as well as some human business contacts and New Orleans government officials. I selected a kind of entertainment that I think all of my guests will find agreeable. Cocktails and hor d'ouerves will be available for the human guests and there will be donors for my vampire guests after the performance. It's been a while since I last hosted an event like this, but I am glad for the distraction. It will keep me from demanding updates on my telepath from Bill every half hour. He's supposed to meet her tonight.
Oh, I do hope that he doesn't mess this up. Not that Bill generally messes his missions up, mind you, I just can't help but worry when it's something so important. It's also in Area Five, which puts him in the Northman's territory. How such a commodity could be in the Viking's area and him not find her astounds me. Perhaps he's slipping in his old age. I do hope that Eric won't discover Bill's presence until he has Sookie well in hand. I wouldn't put it past that vampire to try to take my telepath for himself and then make me pay him for her services.
I put on my favorite crystal earrings and my gold Louboutin studded peep toe pumps. The handmaiden fixes my reddish brown hair into an elaborate bun and does my makeup. I do love special occasions like this where I can show off my glamorous lifestyle. Unfortunately, I have a meeting with Andre about some kingdom business before the fun begins. I take my little gold clutch to hold my cell phone and walk out the door.
Andre is waiting for me in the conference room just down the hall from my suite of rooms. The sun has just set, so younger vampires like Compton are just now rising. I guess I won't be hearing an update on my telepath until later tonight.
"Your Highness." Andre stands as I enter and bows formally. He's wearing his nicest tuxedo tonight.
"No need for such formality, child." I begin. "What business do we need to discuss this evening?"
"I've been going over the accounts again, my liege, and I fear we have been exceeding our income for a couple of months." He eyes my new dress disdainfully as though it were solely responsible for the deficit.
"Oh Andre, it's always the numbers with you. Do you forget that we have several new ventures in the works to make up for the excess spending?" I smile as I think of the promising future. A telepath, Compton's computer program, the vampire tourism programs, and our many business investments.
"I have not forgotten, my Queen. I'm just concerned, especially with the complaints coming in about the increase in the tithe." Andre replied. It's nothing I haven't heard from him before. The tithe here is still much lower than many of the other kingdoms demand of their citizens even after I raised it half a percent six months ago.
Really, I am fortunate that Andre had a head for financial matters. A few years ago, after catching our accountant embezzling money, Andre took the initiative and got an accounting degree so that he could manage the books himself. My eldest child truly is my greatest asset. He helps me with all of the kingdom matters that are just too boring for me to deal with.
I know that some of my subjects criticize me for leaving so much administrative work to Andre. I do more work than most give me credit for, though. My gift lies in entertaining and public relations. I spent countless hours planning the fete tonight, trying to make sure that all of my guests will have a pleasant time. Events like this are important for maintaining good relations with humans, which is especially important with the Vampire Rights bill on the table right now.
"Also, I have a report on Threadgill's retinue from our spy in the Arkansas court." Andre continues. He passes me a lengthy document. Perhaps this would answer some questions that I have about my suitor. A vampire monarch can never fully trust anyone, not even another monarch. Courtship between monarchs is usually a business arrangement, not a romance.
I am only considering this marriage because I think Threadgill has some useful vampires in his retinue. Some of the monarchs in surrounding areas are getting a bit restless and I'm getting a little concerned about the possibility of a takeover attempt. For a while, I was worried that Peter himself might try. Having Eric Northman, my oldest and most combat-ready subject, controlling the area near the border makes me feel better in that department. I'm fairly certain that Eric and his entourage could handle the Arkansas group, especially with the recent addition of that ill-tempered Greek vampire, Thalia. Arkansas is not a wealthy state, so I can see how marrying me will benefit Peter Threadgill. I still don't trust him to not try to take Louisiana for himself though. It's sad to think that my marriage will be so full of distrust, but that's the way of things with vampire royalty.
"Compton arrived in Bon Temps around 4 AM this morning. He's going to look for the Stackhouse girl at the shifter's bar this evening." Andre told me as an afterthought. Of course, he's saved the best news for last.
"Do let me know if you hear any more from him tonight." I say with a smile. "Is that all the business for tonight? The party is due to start in ten minutes." I say with a winning smile. I know Andre hates it when I rush our business chats, but I hope he won't be too put out. I've found a special donor for him tonight, which should perk him up.
"Everything else can wait until tomorrow evening." Andre replied with a sour frown. He never did grow out of his childish sulking phase. After eight hundred years as a vampire, you'd think he would grow up.
Oh well, he'll get over it. He always does. "Come along Andre, let us go and greet our guests." I say, sweeping from the room. I've had quite enough business talk for one night.
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