A/N First off I want to thank everybody for their reviews and comments. They really motivate me to keep on writing. As the story takes place in an alternate universe where Sookie doesn't exist some of the events that occurred in season two and three will still take place just in a different kind of way. Let me know what you think.

Eric paused before knocking on the door. Still hesitant to the impending deal with Russell, so much about it seemed wrong to him. His allegiance lied with Queen Sophie-Anne, striking any side deals with the king of Mississippi would no doubt raise suspicion. Word travelled fast amongst the higher ranks and it would be foolish to assume that she wouldn't find out. Perhaps it would be wise to notify her before he met with Russell, but then again she would protest to any dealing without her involvement and in this case confidentiality was key.

He ran his hand through his disheveled hair; flying always did have its drawbacks. Knocking on the door he was still filled with doubt as the door flew open and Talbot in all his glory stood in front of him smiling wide. He was wearing silk black boxer with a matching black silk robe which was completely open. In any other situation one would be shocked to be greeted by a half-naked vampire, but having heard much of Talbots flare for drama Eric couldn't help but smile. Sometimes gossip is completely based on fact.

Talbot definitely liked what he saw. He scanned Eric from head to toe, his eyes burned by the anticipation of playing with a new toy.

"Please, do come in"

Eric nodded slightly and stepped inside the mansion. Walking in, Eric reflected on the opulence of the mansion's design. The flare for drama transitioned into good taste as Talbot's personal touches were reflected in every piece of furnishings and decorations.

Talbot stood in the same spot checking out Eric from behind, the view didn't disappoint.

Eric turned around to face Talbot "You have wonderful taste"

It pleased Talbot to hear such a compliment. Even in these days most vampires still acted in a brute fashion. To see a vampire of such age, looks and manners excited Talbot, he could see a lot of potential for future exploits.

"You are too kind Mr. Northman" he walked up to him "Where are my manners" he extended his hand towards Eric "Talbot"

Talbot lingered longer than necessary in their handshake. Eric didn't mind, he would only benefit him to have someone so close to Russell be enamored by him. Unwillingly Talbot let go and showed Eric to the sitting room.

"I'm afraid Russell is being detained by something or someone" Talbot chuckled "I'm getting tired of keeping track"

Eric smiled understandingly as they sat down behind a beautiful antique wood carved table. Never taking his eyes off Eric, Talbot clapped his hands and a waiter appeared instantly holding a silver tray with two glass blown goblets filled with blood. The waiter placed one goblet in front of Eric and the other in front of Talbot, disappearing as quickly as he came in.

Talbot lifted his goblet and smelled it taking in the aroma "AB negative infused with a bouquet of strawberry and orange peel"

Eric raised his goblet "A toast to new alliances"

Talbot smiled seductively and raised his glass.

"And to profitable new mergers" Russell appeared out of nowhere startling Eric and disappointing Talbot.

"Indeed" Eric turned towards Russell and raised the goblet to him.

Russell was also holding a goblet, they all took a sip from their goblets and Russell joined them at the table.

"It pleases me that you were able to make it on such short notice Mr. Northman" Russell placed his goblet on the table.

"It seems we have much to discuss you Highness, it would not do either of us any good to postpone this conversation further"

"Indeed it wouldn't Mr. Northman, but I'm afraid I must delay our discussion for a little bit"

Eric suppressed his urge to show his disapproval

Russell turned to Talbot "Would you be dear and occupy our guest till I return"

Talbot's face brightened instantly.

Russell turned back to Eric "Again I apologize but this matter is time sensitive, but I shall be back in less than an hour"

Before Eric had a chance to respond Talbot jumped up excitedly "You must see the rest of the mansion"

"Splendid" Russell stood up "I will be back before you had the chance to see everything"

Eric nodded and Russell left the room leaving beaming Talbot to fawn over Eric.

"This way" Talbot showed him to the French doors leading to another room.

Eric stood up and followed him.

The tour seemed to go on forever as Talbot went into great detail about each object's history and relevance. They made their way into a room that resembled a museum displaying various objects behind glass doors. Eric knew that it only meant more stories and tried to seem as interested as possible not to offend Talbot. He quickly scanned the objects on the display as Talbot told into yet another story about an ancient scroll he was holding in his hand. Eric noticed something familiar immediately as he scanned the middle shelf. A small ornate silver crown stared back at him, he froze.

Talbot's voice melted into the background as Eric stared at this crown. The crown he last saw over a thousand years ago as it was being taken off his father's blood head by a werewolf. And suddenly it all made sense to him. His thousand year search had unexpectedly brought him to a place he never thought to look. His mind race back to his first encounter with Belle, the werewolves and Russell in the same place didn't hold his interest, nor did he pay much attention when Belle told Russell that she didn't know the werewolves belonged to him before she shot them. He was too mesmerized by her to connect the dots. Russell was the vampire he's been searching for all this time, the one who used werewolves to do his bidding. And on that day that is forever etched in Eric's mind, when a pack a werewolves ripped his family to shreds it was Russell who stood in the dark telling him not to act foolishly as he took the blood stained crown from the mouth of the werewolf that brought it to him.

"Isn't it spectacular?" Talbot's voice disturbed his train of thought

"What" Eric stood in a daze

"The crown you are looking at" Talbot opened the glass door taking it out with care and giving to Eric.

Eric stared only at the crown as Talbot's hands extended towards him, suppressing his desire to rip it out of Talbot's hands. Once the crown was in his hand safely Eric knew what must be done, looking up at Talbot he saw him in a whole new light. Talbot will be much more useful then Eric first anticipated.

"How was the tour?" Russell had the knack of showing up at the most inappropriate time.

Eric quickly collected himself and gave the crown back to Talbot. He turned towards Russell and smiled.

"Fascinating"

Eric watched out of the corner of his eye as Talbot placed the crown back on the display closing the glass door.

"Well shall we then get down to business" Russell didn't seem to have any reaction seeing Eric hold the crown.

Eric nodded and Talbot rolled his eyes unwilling to part with Eric so soon.

"Talbot dear, do give us a few minutes"

"Russell, why must I always be the one to leave?" his tone resembled that of a spoiled child who didn't get the toy that he wanted

"Darling" Russell turned on his charm "Of course you can stay and listen to a boring conversation that has little to do with anything remotely interesting or you can start to make arrangements for a get-together I am planning" he looked at Eric "In honor of our new alignment"

"That's very kind of you" Eric hid his true feelings masterfully

Talbot lit up at the prospect of planning a party in honor of Eric "I suppose I could do that" he downplayed his excitement.

"Wonderful, we do not have much time" Russell wasn't subtle.

Talbot caught his point and left the room, but not before making eyes at Eric. Russell was amused by Talbot's new found crush and showed Eric out of the room.

They reached the drawing room and sat behind the same table. Russell seemed impatient about the conversation.

"It seems that we now share the same problem"

"How so?" Eric didn't follow.

"Annabelle"

"I'm afraid I'm still confused by what you have to gain with having her incapacitated"

"You haven't heard then" it seemed to please Russell to be the bearer of bad news "We didn't give her enough credit. It seemed our little Annabelle escaped."

"Impossible, I tied her up myself"

"Don't blame yourself, it was bound to happen sooner or later"

"Are you sure?" he still had a hard time processing that she was able to get out

"The grave has been disturbed. My men are now all dead and she managed to call one of my staff and send a message"

"What message did she send?"

"Game on" Russell laughed wholeheartedly at the thought of her challenging him.

Eric didn't seem to have the same kind of reaction.

"Forgive me your Highness if I may be so bold to ask why you sent her to kill me in the first place and then tip me off about it"

"I had no intention of having her kill you, she needed to learn a lesson" Russell was much more serious "She became a bit too self-assured for her own good, even daring to challenge me. She needed to learn that she wasn't indestructible and that I could end her if I so choose"

"You took a great risk I could have killed her"

"You couldn't" Russell laughed which upset Eric, noticing that he changed his tone "It wasn't for you inability to do so. You tasted her"

"I do not follow"

"Any vampire that drinks the blood of slayer is instantly bonded to that slayer which makes it impossible for you to kill her"

That made perfect sense to Eric. He had ample time to kill her prior to Russell's call asking him to incapacitate her. Even at that time Eric questioned how Russell was so sure that she was still alive, but he didn't dare question him over the phone. It was somewhat of a relief to hear that it was due to a bond that he wasn't able to kill her and not his weakness.

"So you see where our dilemma lies?" Russell continued

"She'll seek revenge"

"She most certainly will. The question is how do we anticipate her next move?"

Eric took a moment pretending to think about the problem, but his focus was more on what Russell's agenda really was. Eric knew that Russell didn't send her to teach her a lesson, it made no sense. The only thing he achieved with that "lesson" was make her angry and fixated on revenge. What purpose would that serve for Russell? There was something much deeper than that. Of course Russell wouldn't volunteer to divulge such information, perhaps Talbot would be more forthcoming.

Thoughts were racing through his mind he could barely keep up, the notion of pretending to align with Russell while also planning to track down Annabelle and somehow get her on his side. Which would be an ordeal itself, he couldn't expect for it to be easy to get her trust back. He knew that Talbot would play an important role as well, but he just couldn't fit him in yet. Holding all the pieces necessary to avenge his family Eric smiled at Russell buying more time to make the pieces fit.

"I suppose she'll take some time before attacking, she knows we'll both be ready"

"She would need time to put a plan together" Russell leaned back in his chair carefully studying Eric's expression "Although I wonder what information that she acquired over the years of working for me might do most harm against us"

Eric needed to tread lightly getting information out of Russell wouldn't be an easy task "Might I inquire what advice you gave her"

"The one that comes to mind" he paused and sat back up "I told once that the only way to truly hurt a vampire is to harm their maker"

Godric Eric instantly thought. He managed to keep his face straight as yet another problem seem to come at him out of nowhere

"It still would take some time for her to do the research and a nationwide police search would hinder her access to a lot of information.

His mind rushed back to the first encounter once again, if she went through the trouble of learning who he was there was no doubt in his mind that her research went further than his title.

"You're right" Russell laughed trying to ease the mood "We have ample time. I hope you will be able to stay here for a few days in order to iron out all the detail of our agreement"

"Yes, the agreement. We barely even spoke of it" Eric's mind was already in Dallas "I'm afraid I'll have to leave for the night and come back in a few days where I can give that matter my full attention"

"Of course" Russell stood up "Allow me to walk you out"

They walked in silence to the front door. Russell was satisfied with how the evening progressed. To get Eric fully under his control he had to pull the right strings and Godric was the perfect first note. Russell knew that Eric would be a great tool in getting Annabelle back under his control. Putting the fear of Godric being harmed into his head would no doubt give him enough motivation to find Annabelle. He just had to figure out how much he could really involve Eric without arising too much suspicion in him.

They said their goodbyes and Russell went back inside the mansion. Before the door closed, Eric was already miles away speeding towards Dallas. Even at his highest speed it seemed to take forever to reach Godric's home, but he was finally there. Ringing the doorbell Eric thought of how to explain the situation to Godric without seeming like a failure. The lock on the door clicked easing Eric's tension. Slowly the door opened revealing Annabelle behind it completely covered in blood.

"What took you so long?" she greeted him with malicious smile.