Chapter 4

Eric decided to at least begin things as amicably as he could. What happened next was up to the king. He had stood transfixed on the silhouette of his progeny, even after the vampire he now knew was her husband had come to her side. He had wanted nothing more than to go up and tell Bill Compton to take his hands off of her. The porcelain skin had to be touched gently and caressed lovingly for results; and all of it belonged to him. He didn't want Bill anywhere near his girl.

His jealousy had mounted as Bill had run his hand down her back and kissed her – and shut the curtain, presumably then led her to bed.

That was when Eric knew he had to go in. The chances were the two of them had already consummated their sham marriage – but for the last time if he had anything to do with it.

Now he stood in the king's office, waiting for the bastard to assumedly finish getting dressed once more. When the footsteps did come, they were slow and steady. Bill was in no rush to get to him.

"Ahh, stranger. I was wondering when Area 5 would get their sheriff back," Bill beamed, entering the office.

"Just after I get my progeny back."

"Ten years time then – I had been start looking for a stand in."

"Ten years?"

"That's how long the marriage contract says my and Pam are tied together for. We might extend though – the past three weeks have been most enjoyable for my new queen and I..." Bill tested Eric.

The king was surprised how good it felt to have one up on the sheriff at last. When he thought about the previous years, all the times Sookie had been used as bait by Eric. All the threats about how if he wanted her he could have her... in the end, Eric had been proved right. But the arrogant Viking had never thought about the cost he would have to pay for Sookie and he was willing to bet if he knew what it was, then he would never have taken her.

Bill knew he had left himself vulnerable. After all, Jessica was so young still and unsure of herself. But she was a progeny of a king and still a baby vamp. She could not marry yet. But that didn't mean Eric couldn't hurt her in needs must – Bill knew he would do it. He had to hope for kindness where he had shown none.

Bill supposed in some ways, his relationship with Lorena had damaged him. He did not know what it was to love your maker. In truth, he found Pam slightly unnatural and obsessive when it came to her beloved Eric. And yet, he had come between them. Pam had been the greatest part of Eric's heart, just as Sookie had been the greater part of his. They had done nothing more than swap, though not consensually.

"Extend your illegal marriage? By all means, do it, your majesty," Eric replied.

The more that Eric had thought about it, the more it had made sense. Bill loathed Pam. Or at least, they certainly weren't the best of friends. He was far to hung up on his Sookie to think of Pam in that way. This was nothing more than a gesture. A sham, he tried to convince himself.

After all, Eric reasoned, he was Pam's maker and he had certainly not released her. Even after a progeny had been released, they still had to ask their maker for permission to marry. He had not given his blessing or his consent to this marriage. Nor would he – ever.

"Ahh, Northman, you do not let me down do you? I wondered how long it would take to get round to the legality of my union. It turns out with a few good lawyers and a couple more loop holes, anything is possible. You see, when a maker no longer knows their progeny, the progeny is immediately free," he declared and for once, Eric showed his emotions.

His face feel. "You lying piece of shit."

"That is no way to talk to your king. I'm sorry to tell you this but as soon as Marnie put the spell on you, you lost your ownership of Pamela." Bill declared with mirth in his voice.

Eric's confusion heightened. "I can feel her."

"How many times of late? Can you still call her?" Bill asked.

"Not right now, but that's just because she's blocking me."

"Is it?"

"Yes – yes, it is. Do not think to take Pam away from me Bill – it will not work." Her best quality had always been her loyalty, he reminded himself. And she loved him far too much to leave him. Except...

"I already have," The king shrugged. "Now, to official business. Are you ready to return to your area?" Bill changed the subject as if the two of them had just discussed what they had had for lunch that day. "If you're not then I can find someone who is."

"No, I'm ready," said Eric feeling utterly castrated. He had already lost his progeny to Bill. After all he had had to do to defend Area 5; he was not going to lose that as well. He needed a base from which to get Pam back from.

Bill begun talking; Eric knew that because he saw his lips moving. But he heard nothing. Policies changes, taxes, true death warrants, minor misdemeanours and escapes. Nothing interested him. Where was she?

For the first time in weeks, he pushed through the bond he had with Pam. For all the confidence he had replied to Bill with, he doubted himself. He had to know he could still reach her.

XXX

Upstairs, Pam awoke with a jolt, yet peacefully. For one moment, she forgot the past eight weeks – the past six months really. She was in her bed at home. It must be time to get up to go to the club if Eric was calling her already.

Stretching, she rubbed her eye, before sitting up in her bed to find she was not in her bed – well, she was. But she was in her bed at the old Compton House.

Because she was the Queen of Louisiana now. She was Bill's queen. And she had not spoken to her maker for two months.

Has she felt him? She wasn't sure any more... she had been asleep at the time, and she had dreamt more than once that he would come back to her. In those dreams, she had found peace. But never had one of them disturbed her so much.

She considered trying to reach him through there bond. Just to know she was not at long last going mad. But there it was again! A tug... he was calling her!

"Eric," she said breathlessly as a smile turned her lips up. He had come to her. Without thinking of the implications of his or her own actions over the past few months, she vamped it down the stairs to the door which would lead her into her husband's office, where she was beyond doubt, her maker also was.

Her hand lingered on her door handle, uncertainty. If she opened it, then she had to be prepared for the fact even though he had called her, Eric was probably not going to be overjoyed to see her. If he was with Bill, he knew beyond a doubt.

But at that moment, a chance to see him over powered her nerves about seeing him. She had thought he'd been gone for good.

Yet...he'd left her! Without so much of a goodbye... and with that thought, she hated him once more. How dare he do that to her? His companion of over one hundred years... her conflicted heart tortured her.

But she needed to see his face still, despite the hatred she felt.

Opening the door, she kept her eyes on the carpet momentarily, before raising them. Bill was sitting behind his desk, Eric standing in front, apparently having refused to sit.

"Eric, please met the new Queen of Louisiana," she heard Bill say from a very long way away.

"Your majesty," Eric nodded to her mockingly. She just had no idea what she was meant to say to that. She had no idea.

She who always knew what to do and how to say – for he had taught her well. Yet suddenly, she was stumped. Part of her wanted to scratch his eyes out. The other part wanted to throw herself on his mercy for forgiveness. And the other part of her just was too tired to come up with a plan.

"You're queen is very lovely tonight," Eric grinned. Pam had come down so quickly she had not thought to change out of her flimsy pink night dress. She hadn't even put a gown over it. She certainly was not looking as cool and collected as she hoped too.

"Why don't you go-"

"Your majesty, an urgent call for you." The aid clearly had no idea what she had been walking in on, the door having been opened without so much as a knock.

"Go take it Bill," said Pam, rediscovering her voice. "I'll take care of things here."

The king looked slightly nervous over leaving the maker and progeny alone, but knew Pam was a big girl - she was more than able to take care of herself, and it had been her suggestion.

"I won't be long," he nodded as he went out the door to the right of his desk, leaving Eric and Pam alone.

"How dare you?" Eric asked as soon as Bill was out of the room. "HOW DARE YOU?"

"You surprise me, Eric," she said with her usual coolness returned. He knew he was giving her just what she wanted – a reaction. But his rage was uncontrollable. "My name is not Sookie, thank god. Why should you care what I do, you haven't for the past two months."

"You're place is not to question my actions."

"No, it's to sit at home like a good little girl and to wait till you can be bothered with me. Well, guess what Eric? I am through with it! I am so done!" she said exasperated. "I had no idea if you were even coming back."

"Don't be so stupid, it does not do you justice. You knew I was coming back."

"For the club perhaps – but not for me."

"Yes for you, you idiot girl!" he said and he looked into her eyes and saw the pain his words were causing her. He was glad. But only for a moment before she turned away. When he thought of what they had been through over the past century – and what she had been through over the past six months. He felt no pleasure in her pain; not really. Only a momentary victory. "Pam, as your maker, I command you to look at me," he said when she turned away – he was relieved to see she had to do it against her will. She was not released – nor would she ever be.

Raising his hand, he gently stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers tenderly.

"You never even said goodbye," She muttered under her breath. She had had to say the words, but she had not wanted him to hear them – her pride had wanted to deny him the satisfaction. Her heart had betrayed her. Tears tried to escape her eyes – but she would not allow him to see her cry for him. That was a step too far.

"I was angry – what you did..."

"I would do all over again," she said stepping back and out of his reach, her anger hitting him once more like a wave on a beach during a storm. "Don't you dare come in expecting an apology, you won't get it."

"You disobeyed me!"

"I had too – for fucks sake, Eric, just so I know; where has Sookie put your balls exactly? Did she cut them off? Are they her earrings now?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Smack. One moment Pam had been up right on her feet, the next she was on the floor with a stinging cheek.

"I am your maker Pam; you will NOT speak to me in that manner. Nor will you speak against Sookie." He hissed in her ear, bending down.

"I meant no –" I didn't want to disrespect you; but you have pushed me too it. "And I will speak against her. I hate her, Eric, I hate her! I hate what she's done to you. I wish we'd never come to Louisiana."

"But we did."

"Yes – and now we can never be as we were. I can never..." she shook her head as she sat up. "I idolised you. You were my hero. You changed my life for the better... and now I wish that you'd walked on by that night... for I cannot bare the way I see you now."

"The feeling is mutual in this second in time."

The four small words he used pieced her heart; they were said with such feeling, for he knew she didn't regret being changed. Yet, she couldn't say for sure now that he didn't wish he had hadn't picked her. "I changed you, Pam, because you had spirit. Look at what you've turn my best creation into. Marriage to Bill Compton, a small man with small ideals – a man of the type you used to loath." He taunted her as his fingers returned to her cheek before straying to her ear. Blood spots were on it.

"The bleeds already," the concern in his voice was just about audible, even to her. He couldn't hide it completely. She turned to face him. He shook his head. "Enjoy your marriage, for it will not last. You. Are. Mine, Pamela. You belong to me. My most prized-"

"Possession." She was just something he owned, like Fangtasia, like the house, or the cars. He didn't care for her. She could see it now.

Had it all been in her head? The past century...

Chuckling, he bent down and kissed her, a cold unwelcome kiss.

"I took Sookie to Rome." He whispered as Bill came back into the room.

Her head twisted, her body tightened and her eyes looked at him in disbelief. So that was how much she meant to him after all. Sacrilege! Sacrilege of all they had been through! Sacrilege of those early years together!

Of the happiest time of her life...

That month...

"Sweetheart, what are you doing down there?" asked Bill, returning to the room as Eric rose. Pam thought it was pretty obvious.

As soon as he saw his queen on the floor, Bill went to her side. "I think it is time for you to be going Sheriff Northman," the king ordered as he took his queens hand. Neither Pam nor Bill missed Eric's twitch when he saw the two of them touch. "Remember what I said about the meeting and please be here on time for it sheriff. These are perilous times we live in."

Meeting? What fucking meeting? Peril?

Why the hell hadn't he listened to Bill earlier?

Even then though, his progeny was the only thing he could see. But he was not going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that.

"Very well, your majesties." Eric said as his lips curled. Pam now stood at the king's side, with Bill's hand about her, drawing her close to him. Her own expression was unreadable suddenly. "I shall tell Sookie you asked after her Bill," Eric attempted one last cheap shot.

"Please do. Tell Miss Stackhouse I hope she is well and I only wish the best for her, but as I am sure both of you will appreciate, my main concern now is my wife."

Please review!