Before I met Eric, my wardrobe had been very plain, just a few sundresses, jeans and T-shirts. Now, thanks to him, and to Pam, I had a fine selection of fancy gowns. As I sat in front of the mirror, applying a little makeup and watching him tease my hair into a fancy up-do, I felt like a little girl dressing up in mommy's clothes. It wasn't quite me yet, but I was doing my best to get used to it.

"You're the most gorgeous, adorable, sexiest woman here." Eric said as we took the elevator down to the Casino. Really he could do wonders for my ego.

Eric picked up some chips and we approached the roulette table. I was doing my best blond bimbo act. It was really quite fun, and I could tell Eric was enjoying it. I giggled a lot, hung on his arm and gave him admiring looks – he particularly enjoyed that part. Just to make sure the fun wasn't all one way I made sure to call him "baby" and "sweetie" as often as I could– I caught him rolling his eyes once, but otherwise he just had to suck it up.

The croupiers were all human so the plan was for me to listen into their thoughts and find out if they were involved, and if I could get any details of the scam. Eric had also suggested something else he would like me to try out, something I was much less convinced about. However I agreed to give it a go.

As we approached the table Eric acknowledged a young Vamp on the other side of the table. I was getting pretty good at picking up the subtleties of Vampire communication now, and believe me they are very subtle, so I understood that the younger Vamp didn't know Eric, but had just recognised that he was superior to him in the hierarchy. Sometimes Vampire were a lot like lions.

There was a big pile of chips on 28 black. Eric put his on 12 red. I focused hard on the croupier. He was hiding it well but I knew he was nervous. He was a strong broadcaster and I had no difficulty in picking up his thoughts. He was trying not to look at the young Vamp, but that very act was a dead giveaway.

"Damn, he's put far too much on 28 black, it will draw attention to us. Why did they give me that arrogant little shit to work with? I know I'm getting a good cut, but the plan was to go more slowly"

The wheel span around and Eric squeezed my arm. It was time to try out the plan. Trying hard to stay casual, I focused all my mental energy on 12 red. It's no easy feat I can tell you. I thought I caught the croupier giving me a look, but I didn't pick up anything from him. It seemed to me that the ball hung for an age over 28 black – in reality it was only a fraction of a second. Then at the last minute it seemed to swerve and dropped into 12 red.

"Shit, shit, shit. How did that happen? The machine can't be faulty; it was only tested last night. I am dead; they're going to blame me. Yeah Mickey, look daggers at me, why don't you, let's just make the whole thing really obvious"

Eric put on his best phony southern accent. "Well look daahlin' it must be beginners luck, or maybe you're the one whose lucky for me sweetie. Lets us go and get ourselves a drink to celebrate."

He picked up his considerable winnings and steered me firmly away from the table. We found a private booth in the far corner of the bar, but I still kept my voice to a whisper. "Eric, you are not going to keep that money, we cheated."

"You can't cheat a cheater – you saw the machine was rigged."

"I don't understand what I did though. I focused real hard on 12 red like you said."

"To be honest Sookie, I really don't understand it either. It must be something to do with the power you get from your Fairy blood, I just don't know. The sooner you meet with Niall and find out how to control it, the better it will be for us."

"To you, you mean."

"No, to all of us, including you."

"I am not going to use it to cheat and steal."

"I'm not suggesting you do, lover. If it would make you happy I will give all this money to charity."

"Yes that would make me feel an awful lot better."

"You know that I have my own charity."

"You've mentioned it, but I thought it was some kind of front for money-laundering."

"Of course not." He looked quite outraged. "The Northman Foundation is a well run organisation. It has trustees, it's all legal."

"And gives you some good tax breaks?"

"Of course, but it receives twenty five percent of my annual income so that seems only fair."

"What do you give money to?"

"Causes that interest me: some museums and archaeological projects in Sweden; War Veteran charities; Civil rights organisations. I could appoint you to the Board of Trustees if you wish, then you could influence the decisions."

I smiled. I had to confess that I liked it when I found out something unusual like this about Eric, something which made him seem just a little, well, human.

Then it was back to the serious stuff, and what we were going to do about what we had found out. Eric had recognised the young Vampire. He was called Mickey and he was associated with a nest in Chicago. Apparently they had a wide range of criminal interests. From what we had seen, Eric suspected that they were trying to destabilise the casino, perhaps with a view to taking it over. But he didn't think we knew enough yet – it would take a couple more nights to confirm our suspicions.

There was nothing more we could do this evening, so we stopped in the bar for a drink. I found myself just gazing at Eric. I would do that sometimes, just reflecting on how handsome he was, then I would realise I was in a public place and have to snap out of it. I hoped it was just the honeymoon phase; it was a little embarrassing, being so obviously in love with your own husband.

"Hey baby," I whispered, in what I hoped was my most seductive voice.

"Sookie, please, you know how I feel about that word."

I pouted: "Oh, I was just thinking about that emperor sized bed upstairs going all to waste."

We only just made it into the bedroom. I thought Eric was going to rip my clothes off in the lift and give the security guards a show. Once the door was shut he gave me the benefit of his full Viking Sex God repertoire.

I woke next day at my normal time. I called room service for some lunch, and settled down to watch the midday news. Things seemed very quiet out in the real world. I was pleased to see that the Fellowship cell that had planned to bomb the Hotel Carmilla in LA had been apprehended and were facing trial. They had a hotshot lawyer though, and the talking heads felt sure he could get them off.

Picking up the guest directory, I flicked through the Spa brochure. I could definitely benefit from a manicure and pedicure, and the hot stones treatment I'd had last time was so relaxing I thought I would give it a try. We had another heavy night ahead of us, so I figured I deserved a treat.

In the end, I got so relaxed that I spent all afternoon down there, until I realised with alarm that it was nearing first dark and I should be back upstairs. I hurried for the elevator.

As I approached our bedroom a strong arm gripped me around the waist. My first instinct was to smile. It was only when the other hand covered my mouth that I realised my mistake. My legs gave way beneath me and I lost consciousness.

I came to in a small room, a cell to be more accurate. No windows, no features. Just me in a chair, with my arms shackled at the wrists. I was still in my robe from the spa.

I recognised the Vampire Mickey as soon as he came into the room, but not the older Vampire with him. I tried to commit his face to memory. If I got out of here he was going to suffer.

"Not so cocky now are you, without Mr. Northman at your side."

"My husband is very powerful. He has contacts, he will find me."

"Yeah, yeah, well you go on telling yourself that, if it makes you feel better. I won't waste time. We know you have been snooping around, you will tell me what you've found out and who you have shared it with."

I knew perfectly well that only my silence would keep me alive. Once they had what they wanted, there was no way they would risk releasing me. I stared straight ahead, giving no reaction.

"Fine, be stubborn," Mickey continued. "There's no hurry, yet. I think a few days in here on your own might loosen your tongue. You should know that we have several options in mind to make you talk." Mickey gave me a very unpleasant look. I didn't need to be a mind reader to imagine what those options were likely to involve.

As they turned out the light and left I suddenly realised that they were going to just leave me strapped in the chair. I had a horrible feeling that food and water deprivation was also part of their plan. This was bad. I was reasonably strong. Eric and I often shared blood now, which helped. However I knew I would be able to hold out more than a couple of days. My other big problem was that sitting in pitch darkness there was no way to calculate the passage of time.

I'd been taken just after first dark. I'd definitely been in the room a couple of hours before my visitors arrived. I reckoned it was probably around midnight now. Tomorrow they would probably come back very soon after first dark. I had developed an unfortunate insight into the minds of torturers in my time with the Magister, and I knew they couldn't resist gloating over their victims.

Eric would surely be worried about me now. The problem was that I had no idea where I was. If I was still in Vegas he should be still within range of my thoughts. If not, I was in bigger trouble than I had thought.

I tried to reach out to him: "Eric, I've been kidnapped. I think I'm in a basement somewhere but I have no idea where. Can you hear me?" I repeated over and over.

I focused very hard on the shackle on my left wrist. I blocked out everything else and just visualised it popping open. Nothing.

Take a deep breath start again. I began to feel a strange tingle running all through my body. I heard a little click. I had done it. Was it safe to try the other one? I would wait just a little while longer. I needed a way of calculating about three hours by my reckoning. I decided to reflect on the story of my life. If I allowed five minutes per year that would be enough. It was really hard work keeping focused, but eventually I reached my wedding day. I allowed just a little extra time for that.

I could feel myself getting weaker. The right hand shackle took longer, but I forced myself to concentrate real hard and eventually it gave way.

Now the door. It would have bolts and a lock, probably top, bottom and middle. I imagined what they might look like and focused real hard. I have to confess I impressed myself when I heard a scraping noise from the bottom of the door.

I returned to my chair and waited a while. If there was anyone there I wanted to give them time to react. Nothing. I went through the same process with the other bolts. Now for the lock. That was going to be hardest of all. I closed my eyes tight and visualised it unlocking. To my amazement it worked.

I opened the door slowly and tentatively. A tiny amount of light was getting in, and I could just make out a staircase with a door at the top. Just as I was about to leave my prison, I heard the door open. It was too late to go back into the room. I tried the only other place and ducked under the stairs.

To my immense relief I heard a familiar voice echo in my head.

"Sookie, my darling, are you there?"

I jumped out from my hiding place and threw myself into Eric's arms.

"Thank God!" I think we both said it together.

"Quick, we don't have much time, it's only an hour to dawn."

It turned out that my captors had only taken me a few blocks from the hotel. That was their big mistake, as it meant that Eric had not only been able to hear me, but to follow the direction of my thoughts. He'd called security when I wasn't with him at first dark. They'd soon established that I wasn't in the hotel, and had set out to find me.

"Eric, it was that Vampire Mickey from the Casino, and another one I didn't recognise. I'd remember him if I saw him again though."

Eric nodded to the security guards who'd come with him. They jumped into their SUV and headed off. Meanwhile he picked me up, as if I weighed nothing, and carried me back to the car he had borrowed.

"I'm never going to let you out of my sight again." He said, once we were back in our room. He was trying to sound light-hearted but it wasn't working. Hearing the obvious concern in his voice made me feel a little better.

"Do you think Felipe was behind this?" I asked. I would feel better if I understood what was going on.

"It's possible, but I think it unlikely. He seemed genuinely concerned for your welfare, and gave every assistance with the search."

"Victor Madden then?"

"That is possible. However I think it is more likely that the out of state Vamps are the driving force. Felipe went after the Vampire Mickey, but he obviously knew we had found you as he fled town before we could find out who he was really working for."

"The one thing I am sure of lover," he continued after a long silence, "is that you must meet with the Prince Niall Brigant. Your fairy powers saved you today, but you need to be able to harness them more effectively. I shall redouble my efforts to contact him."

Right now I didn't care about Niall, or Felipe, or Victor, or Mickey. I just wanted a long hot bath, and to fall asleep in my husband's arms. It was the only place I could really feel safe.