Chapter 21

We arrived at King Drake Valk's mansion. I could hear and smell the ocean near. Mansion, yes, this definitely was a mansion. There was a long driveway with palm trees on either side pulled up to the house that ended in a circular drive with a magnificent water fountain in the center. The lights shown up and illuminated the stone statue of a stallion rearing. The structure itself was magnificent I felt as though we were at some grand hotel. The house seemed so elaborate. There were six marbled columns across the front that kept a grand overhang over the entrance of the same matching stone. There were potted trees and a couple of sitting areas and centered in it all was the magnificent doorway leading into the foyer. Once inside the marble stone continued into the foyer were we were greeted my Ethan Mason, the King's second in command. "Northman," he said with a slight bow to Eric, "the King is waiting for you come this way. Miss Stackhouse, nice to see you again." He said it as a definite after thought. We walked through a grand room with elegant furniture and decorations anchored by the same marble encasing a grand fireplace. We walked down a corridor and our escort stopped to give a quick knock on a door not waiting for a response he opened it and quickly stepped inside leaving the door open for us to follow. Eric took my hand in his and gently pulled me up along side him to be his equal. The chair turned from behind a desk and sitting before me was another huge vampire. He was broad shouldered with a very defined muscular face his hair was about the same length as Eric's only a medium brown in color. As he stood he was nearly as tall as Eric's six foot five inches. Valk was a maybe 2 inches shorter than Eric and he had a bit more meatier look to him but you could tell that there was definitely plenty of muscle in no way what I was seeing was fat.

"King Valk," Eric bowed.
"Northman, good to see you again." The King gave a nod.
"Please let me present to you Sookie Stackhouse." Eric turned to me.
I did my little bow thing. I am never going to get used to this but I do what I can and try not to burst out laughing at how ridiculous I feel, "Pleased to meet you, King" He came from around the desk and as I stood he took my hand and gave it a light kiss, "The pleasure is mine. Thank you for coming all this was to try and help us in our plight." I didn't get any jealous feeling from Eric as King Valk touched me. I didn't understand that. I had come to expect something in this type of situation.
Eric asked, "Would you like to brief us now?"
Valk motioned to the sitting area across the room. I noticed for the first time the room itself. We were in a library. There were books from floor to ceiling on two of the walls complete with a sliding ladder to reach all the books. I wondered if I would be permitted or if I would have time to thumb through some of the books. Since I barely got through high school with all the interference in my brain I had never even attempted college. I do love to read and have obtained most of my education myself through reading a vast variety of books. There was a large leather couch a rich mahogany color matching the wood on the book shelves and two matching chairs facing it with a long table sitting on a beautiful plush rug between the chairs and couch that faced each other. Eric and I sat on the couch. He resumed holding my hand and Valk and Mason took the chairs opposite of us. "Mason will give you the details," the King said.
"We have now had four vampires in Florida murdered. Each murder has occurred during the day so we know one of our own did not actually do the deed. The first murder was nearly two months ago. The vampire was a commoner. He held no specific rank, he had no power and did not own a business or contribute to our causes. Since he was found staked with a broom handle in his own bed we first assumed he was just careless in choosing his meal for the night." This made me a little uneasy and I shifted in my seat. Eric gently squeezed my hand and other than that there was no acknowledgement of my reaction. "The next murder took place about two weeks later and this murder was of a business owner. He owned an exotic dance club, Vixens. He was found staked on one of the stages in his own club. Again another two weeks passed and another business owner was found staked in his establishment, he owned one of our all night dry cleaners. Another two weeks passed and one of our state council members was found staked in his own coffin. Next occurring another two weeks later The most recent murder happened another two weeks later and this time it was someone the King knew on a more personal level. The business owner owned a local nightclub in which the king owns a percentage, Night Sins. This club is similar to your own Northman." Mason continued, "We know in speaking with associates and nest mates of the of vampires with the exception of the first, which we figure must have been a test subject, that all of the vampires were in their day chambers when dawn approached. Who or whatever is doing this has been able to learn of the resting places and were able to get to them and in two of the instances take them to their businesses and murder them where their remains were sure to be found. We have found no organization that takes claim to these actions. We are frankly at a loss and Miss Stackhouse that is where you come in. We are hoping you will be able to help point us in a direction of who is doing this," he concluded.
"I promise I will do all that I can to help you." I said somewhat expressionless. I really didn't want to be involved in the middle of this, but I had made a promise a long time ago to Eric to help where I could.
"Ethan, leave us now so that I can catch up with the Northman on the happenings in Louisiana."
Mason stood a little reluctantly, "Shall I have Miss Stackhouse shown to her room?"
"No, she will stay with me," Eric cut him a glare and Mason left the room in a huff. I assume he was a bit upset that this lowly human was able to stay with the King while he was dismissed. What happened next totally shocked me. Eric and Drake both stood and looked each other with all seriousness standing on either side of the table. I was beginning to get a little uneasy at the deep stare they were giving each other. Then with a quick movement they leaned over the table and gave each other a manly hug with slaps on the back. "Brother, how have you been?" Drake almost screamed. Ok, I was definitely missing something here. I have been around vampires for five years now and I have never seen such a display of human type emotion between two vampires. Eric answered him in the language I only heard in the heat of passion or the heat of anger and Drake responded. This went on for a few minutes and I just sat there with what must have been the dumbest look on my face. Drake had called Eric brother, obviously they could easily be from the same heritage with only one with blonde the other with brown hair. They are built similarly and share other obvious similarities and Eric did say they had a long history and that Drake was a little older then him. Were they actually brothers? My thoughts were interrupted. "Lover," Eric laid his huge hand on my shoulder and I stood, "Sookie this is Drake. Drake, Sookie." Drake came around the table and I turned to smile at him and before I knew it he reached his trunk like arms around my me under my arms and squeezed me lifting me off the ground in a bear hug with a big kiss on the cheek. "Sookie, I am so happy to finally meet you. Eric has told me much about you."
"He has? Um, Drake, may I call you Drake? I am sorry to say he hasn't shared you with me at all." I said as I felt like the life was being squeezed out of me and he sat me back down.
"You may call me Drake when we are in private. But for the safety of all of us, please address me as King, sire, or any of those other noble terms when in public views of others. I know Eric hasn't told you about me. There are few that still walk the earth that know of our relationship."
"Relationship?"
"Lover, I told you Drake and I have a history. We battled together and we traveled the world together. No, in our human life Drake and I were not of the same blood line it was only in death that we shared this connection. Drake disappeared after a battle on a small island and a few years later we found our ship docking off the shores of this island again. We were not there for battle this time, just docking to get supplies. While wondering the land I ran into what I thought to be a beautiful native girl. She smiled and next thing I knew she and I were in each others arms," I must have given off a vibe of jealousy or something uneasy because Eric reached out and ran his hand from my shoulder lightly down to my hand and held it. We all sat. Eric and I back on the couch and Drake actually sat on the table. "The next thing I remembered at the time was waking in a dark cave with a hunger like I had never experienced before. After spending many days alone with Alana learning to feed and learning about my new nature she introduced me to the rest of the her children. Back then it was very common for vampires to nest together for safety. Drake and I had suffered the same fate two great warriors seduced and turned by a beautiful young woman. We have been able to keep our allegiance secret all of these years. We wish to keep it that way. Normally children of the same maker do not associate with each other. Drake and I were able to continue our human relationship after our death. You know how I trust Pam, and yes, she does know of Drake, I trust Drake even more. He is my friend, my brother."
I was just a little speechless for a second with both of the giant vampires staring at me. Then I had a slap of reality, "What happened to Alana? Is she still… around?" "Lover, that is a matter to discuss at another time," he took both of my hands and looked deep into my eyes as if reading my mind, "you have nothing to worry about where she is concerned." He knew I was worried if he would be called to his Maker and would leave me like Bill had done.
"Let me see the ring," an almost giddy voice coming from the King of Florida. I held out my hand, "You know?"
"Of course, did we just not tell you we are brothers? I helped to set Eric up with the perfect jeweler to make his design." He took my hand from Eric's and stared at the ring. "Wow brother, it's beautiful… you big woos." He said with a smile and a slap on the shoulder hard enough it would have knocked anyone else across the room. "Before Mason comes back to check up on us and find us in this intimate setting I better let you two get to your room. Sookie, I am glad to finally meet you and thank you for taking care of Eric when the witches cursed him," he leaned and gave me a little peck on the cheek. He walked across the room back to the desk and pushed a button on the phone. "See my guests to their room." In just a moment a servant wearing a grey suite appeared motioning us to come with him. We walked back down the corridor and back across the room we had when we entered and up a grand staircase to an the second level of the mansion. We walked down the hallway to the last door on the right.
"This will be your room while you are with us. If you need anything please do not hesitate to ask." He opened the door and we all walked into the huge room. "He motioned with his hand, "your private bath is through those doors and your luggage has been unpacked and placed in the closets and chests," another motion of his hand. "My name is Duncan, I am the night staff administrator. Miss Stackhouse, when you awaken in the morning you will seek my daytime associate, Brianna, she will assist you with anything you need. The King has left instructions for you to have use of a car and you are welcome to use the pool and we have a private beach on the ocean at the back of the property." He gave us a little bow and backed out of the room.