This is quite a short chapter, as it's just a transition one really. Not a lot happening; just tidying up a few loose ends. Sorry, but as I said, it's been a tough week work-wise and I haven't had a whole lot of time. I am already working on the next one, and the following ones, though, and should be able to post at least two more later this week. Thanks for your patience.

Chapter 7

Eric's case was the last one on the list, so the king stood to leave, and all the vamps fell to their knees again. Apart from Felipe (and Eric) they had all remained standing throughout the evening. It looked really weird; Felipe stood up, they knelt; Felipe sat down, they stood up. Must be a vampire thing. Matt and I left the courtroom and I headed for the elevator. I needed a minute to myself. Matt had the sense (or possibly the decency) not to speak to me, which I was grateful for; I wasn't in the mood to be nice. Once I was safely back in my room I sat on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. It was weird. I felt as though I'd been fighting so hard to get to this point, and now I'd got here, I suddenly realised this wasn't the end; it was just the beginning. I suppose you could call it the end of part one.

I pulled myself together and considered my next move. I reached for my phone. I decided that the minute I had completed the formalities and signed the contract, I was out of there. I called the airline and booked a seat on the next flight out to Shreveport. As I completed the call, there was a knock on my door and Mr C was there. I could see Matt behind him, so I invited the lawyer in. I didn't want the Were hearing our conversation.

"Congratulations, my dear," the lawyer said in a low voice. "The best result we could have hoped for under the circumstances."

"Yeah, I guess." I wasn't ecstatic.

He raised his eyebrows, looking a little surprised at my reaction. "You are in an infinitely better position than you were at this time yesterday," he reminded me."

"I'm sorry, you're right. I'm just feeling a tad sorry for myself right now." I smiled weakly.

"That's understandable, I'm sure, but try to bear in mind that we now have an effectively clean slate. Mr Northman is safe, and you will have a great many opportunities for gathering information that might help establish his innocence. The most important advantage you have is that you can operate during the day, when there is no possibility of any vampire detecting you. Why, you could search Victor Madden's day-chamber with him in the room, and he would be quite unable to stop you."

"True. And I've got you on my side." I felt a bit better.

"You certainly have, my dear. I will do everything in my power to help you. Meanwhile, the king has concluded his court business for the evening, and wishes to speak with you."

"The king?" I was alarmed. I had never faced the king without Eric. I suddenly wasn't sure if I could do this.

"Yes, he wishes to discuss your contract of employment. Now come along, it doesn't do to keep royalty waiting; particularly vampire royalty."

I grabbed my purse and hurried after my lawyer, who escorted me to the elevator, Matt bringing up the rear. The far left one was already open, and there was a Were guard inside it, with a drawn weapon. Apparently, only a few of the elevators went all the way to Level Five, and they were all guarded. Mr C stood back for me to enter, then followed me in and nodded to the guard, who slid his keycard into the slot and the doors closed.

When we came out on Level Five, I gasped. It was like a whole different world down there. Footsteps were hushed in thick pile carpeting and fabulous paintings glowed on the snow-white walls. I'd bet they were originals. The lighting was subdued and everything just reeked of money, but money with real good taste. Mr Cataliades guided me to the right, through the wide corridors until eventually he stopped outside a pair of double doors that must have been twelve feet high, all in white and gold. There were two Weres on guard, and my guide spoke to one of them.

"Mrs Northman for his majesty. She is expected."

The guard knocked on the door and went inside, closing it again after him. The other one stared at me silently. He was practically drooling, as though he was looking at a hundred and sixteen pounds of fillet steak. Okay, a hundred and twenty five pounds. A girl can dream… A minute later the first guy came back and held the door open for us to pass through. He pulled it shut behind us and then we were in the presence of the king.

Felipe was sitting on a gold brocade couch, and standing behind him were Sandy and dear Victor. I smiled at Sandy and then fixed my attention on the king. Victor I ignored completely. He didn't even register on my radar. On the low table in front of the king were two copies of what was clearly my contract.

"Come in, my dear," he said. "I am so pleased to see you. It has been too long." His tone was that of a pleasant social call, but the eyes were watchful. He wasn't sure how I was going to react after having just seen him sentence my husband to permanent exile.

I gave an awkward sort of half-bob and nodded my head. There was no way I was going to be bowing and scraping and such. "Sir."

"I am delighted that you have agreed to accept my offer of employment. I am sure that you will find the work here a lot more congenial than serving drinks for a shifter in a bar." He was trying to disguise the contempt he felt for Sam, my boss, but it was coming across loud and clear. Vamps despised all shape-shifters, regarding them as complete low-lives, but I wasn't about to sit back and let him badmouth my friends. Start as you mean to go on, Sook. Give these guys an inch and they'd take the whole friggin' nine yards.

"Sam Merlotte is a good friend of mine, sir, and I always enjoyed working for him. I'm going to be real sorry to leave him. As I recall, he was quite a good friend to you too." I looked the king straight in the eye as I said that, reminding him that Sam had helped free him when he had allowed a renegade vampire to chain him with silver – a somewhat embarrassing episode for a vampire of his age and experience. He had the grace to look slightly self-conscious.

"Of course, of course. And now, perhaps you would care to look over the contract and we can attend to any final details." He gestured to the documents on the low table, but I didn't touch them. I stood completely still and waited for my lawyer to pick one copy up. I stood silently, watching the king, as Mr C worked his way through the closely-typed pages. I kept my face completely blank and remained as motionless as I possibly could. Eric had explained to me that vampires pick up really quickly on the tiniest movements and facial expressions which humans display, and they're real good at reading them. I didn't want to give Felipe a single clue as to how I was feeling, and I knew I was good at stonewalling. Eric had once threatened to resort to torture in order to find out if I was telling the truth, because he couldn't read it from my face. It had pissed him off, but it had also impressed him. Well, right now I wanted to impress the hell out of Felipe, and I didn't really care if I pissed him off. If I was going to be working for him, I wanted his respect (or as much respect as a vampire would ever have for a human). I had to be able to survive here; I knew they would pounce on weakness like a cougar on a jackrabbit.

At last Mr Cataliades looked up and said, "that seems to be in order. Mrs Northman, may I draw your attention to paragraphs nine and ten?"

I looked over his shoulder, and read the sections he was pointing out. Although I had taken his advice on a clause about no draining, turning or attempting a blood-bond, I had forgotten to specify protection from the most basic vampire needs – blood and sex. He had not. Paragraphs nine and ten made it quite clear that any attempt to feed from me or sexually harass me would be met with serious penalties. Thank goodness for Mr C. He was really looking out for my interests. I smiled my thanks at him, and then indicated that I was satisfied with the terms of the contract and was ready to sign.

I moved over to a beautiful roll-top desk against one of the walls and sat down at it, but then I felt an immediate change in the atmosphere of the room. All three of the vamps had stiffened slightly.

"What?" I said, looking round.

Sandy answered me. "We do not sit in the presence of the king," she said bluntly.

"What, never?" I asked.

"No." Her tone of voice left no room for argument. She thought.

"Well, maybe we need to include an extra paragraph in my contract," I said, "because if you want me to function at my best, I am going to need to be able to sit down if I want to. And incidentally, I'm also going to need human food. I'm human and I don't have your stamina."

Both Victor and Sandy looked uncomfortable, but Felipe said, "I quite understand, and there will be no problem. "We will make every allowance for you. You must realise, Miss Stackhouse…" I interrupted respectfully, but instantly.

"Mrs Northman, if you don't mind, your majesty."

A slight flash of annoyance, quickly covered. "Of course. You must realise, Mrs Northman, that we have never employed a human in so…strategic a position before. You are, in fact, the only human in my immediate retinue, and I imagine adjustments will have to be made on both sides. Please bear with us. Naturally you have my permission to be seated in my presence, and human food will be provided for you whenever you require it. Victor, Sandy, make sure that the other members of court know this. I should not wish to see Mrs Northman embarrassed or made the subject of adverse comment. And now, perhaps, if you have no further points to discuss, you would care to sign the contract?"

I glanced at my lawyer, and he nodded. If he thought it was okay, I was willing to trust him, so I nodded too. The king relaxed, and glanced at Victor and Sandy who also kind of eased off. I took a deep breath. I knew once I signed this, I was committed. There was no going back. That was kind of scary, but I'd come this far; I couldn't let Eric down at the last minute. Then a mischievous thought struck me.

"Of course, your majesty. I would be happy to sign the contract." I turned to Victor and smiled sweetly. "Mr Madden, do you have a pen I could borrow?"

I swear from the expression on his face I thought he was going to have a coronary. The king and Sandy looked at him in astonishment as he glared at me, but he could not possibly refuse such an innocent and reasonable request without explaining why, and eventually he pulled himself together and handed me a plain gold fountain pen.

I thanked him and considered admiring it and then dropping it, but decided that would just be over-egging the cake. I didn't want to push him too far just yet, so I accepted the pen, signed twice on the dotted lines and then Mr C carried the contracts over to the king for his signature. He signed both copies with his own pen, and then sat back, looking very pleased with himself, as well he might. He had just acquired the best telepath in America (in fact, I was one of only two that I was aware of; the other one was Barry, who worked for the king of Texas, but he had always denied his abilities, and hadn't learned to develop his skills, so was nowhere near as advanced as I was, though I do say so myself).

"And now, your majesty, may we have permission to withdraw? Mrs Northman wishes to set preparations for her permanent residence here in train as soon as possible. She has a seat booked on a flight to Shreveport in just over an hour."

Felipe looked startled. "So soon? Is that really necessary? There is much for you to do here."

I decided it was time to tell it like it is. I didn't want Felipe thinking that I couldn't speak up for myself. Eric had always handled any dealings with the king, and now Mr C was doing the same thing. I had to let him know that I didn't have to hide behind the guys.

I said, "There is much to do in Bon Temps as well, your majesty, and the sooner I go, the sooner I can be back," That was so unarguable that he couldn't really say anything else, so he gave in gracefully

"Very well. We will look forward to your return in one week. Sandy, order a car to take Mrs Northman to the airport. While you are gone, I will have a suite of rooms prepared for you. Do you have any preferences for a colour scheme, any particular needs?"

Now it was my turn to be startled. I hadn't realised I rated a suite. "Oh. Thank you, sir. Well, I'd like a yellow and white bedroom if that's okay," I said.

"Certainly, my dear. Anything you desire. I want you to be happy." He smiled, showing his excellent white teeth. "And now, if you will excuse me…"

We were dismissed. Mr C bowed and I did that strange bob thing again. I was really going to have to learn how to do it properly. Maybe Pam could teach me. But then, she always knelt to Eric or her other superiors. Still, she must have learned how to curtsey when she was a girl. I'd talk to her about it. After we had discussed one or two other things. Then we left the royal presence, and headed back to the elevator.

Once back upstairs, I completed my last bits of packing, and said goodbye to Mr Cataliades. He said he'd be at Bon Temps in two days, but he had to stay to handle the details of Eric's release and then tidy up the last of his Assizes business. I really wished he was coming with me right now. I was not looking forward to my return one little bit. I went down to reception and said hello to Paul, who seemed really pleased to see me. I thanked him for his help the previous night and we chatted while I waited for my car. He was studying computer technology at college, and seemed to be getting good grades, so he was happy.

The car, when it arrived, was a limo like the one I'd arrived in the previous night, but with a different driver. He carried out my bags and opened the door for me to get in, saying "where to, ma'am?" I told him the airport and as I settled back on the soft leather seats I reflected that there were certain aspects of working for Felipe that I could probably get used to.

As we rolled out onto the highway, I looked back, wondering what Eric was doing right now. I wished I could send him a text, but I didn't know if he had got his phone back from Victor, and I there was no way I was going to risk sending loving messages to that creep. I couldn't feel anything through the bond, so I guessed he must still be in the Custody Suite. I hoped they gave him all his stuff back. There hadn't been a lot in that trash-bag, but I guess the rest of the luggage he'd brought for his month's stay would be returned for him to take to Sweden. It didn't seem a lot. I suddenly wondered for the first time what he would do when he stepped off the plane in Stockholm. Where would he go? Would his credit cards still function? Did he even have enough money to find a vampire-friendly hotel for the day? Sookie, you idiot! Why didn't you think of this sooner? I grabbed my phone and put in a call to Mr C. I told him my fears, and he promised that he would have a courier meet Eric to make sure he was ok. I told him to make good and sure that the courier was briefed to see that Eric had access to everything he needed, like all his bank accounts. Then I heaved a sigh of relief. I really dodged a bullet there.

We arrived at the airport with just enough time to spare, and I checked in and took my luggage from the driver. I smiled and thanked him (remember your manners, Sookie – you may need this guy some day!) and went straight to the plane. I fastened my seatbelt and closed my eyes, hoping to sleep through as much of the next nine hours as possible. Heaven knows I could use it. I'd be getting into Shreveport at about 8.30am, which would give me most of the day to talk to Sam and Jason (I really wasn't looking forward to either of those conversations) and take a break before heading to Fangtasia in the evening to see Pam. I was looking forward to that conversation even less, and I was really tempted to tell her over the phone, but that would have been cowardly, and Stackhouse women were not cowards. My Gran had always taught me that bad news should be given in person if at all possible; it was the courteous thing to do.

I intended to leave making any arrangements for my move until the following day. I had a feeling it was going to be even worse than when my Gran died. I'd had to clear out a whole lot of her things, and it had been so hard. All those memories of her. I'd felt like I was throwing out the history of my home, it's past. But this time, it was going to be my past I was clearing out. That was going to be tough, when I was so unsure of what the future held. One thing I was sure of, though. Somehow, my future was going to include Eric.