Chapter 10

Dark Mercies

The well-muscled, vampire bouncer barred her entry. He wore a simple black tee shirt and pants and his hair was cut into a spiky style. With a bored attitude, his eyes raked over her.

"This is a private club, Chica," he said.

Pam resisted the urge to drop her fangs. Instead, she pulled out an embossed red envelope and passed it to the bouncer. One eyebrow lifted, but he stepped aside. As Pam passed, he leaned closer.

"Enjoy yourself, Chica. But, be careful, Dark Mercies isn't called that for nothing."

Coming inside the club, Pam began to wonder if she just should have stayed back at Ginger's house. But, another night with Ginger might tip her over the edge. She had to give Ginger points for being loyal because that was the only thing that kept Pam from ripping her throat out in frustration. Pam made her way down the crowded hallway and at last found the main bar. Everything was sleek and modern. Black granite and chrome. The walls were a dark gray and the floor and ceilings were both black. Black leather and plush red velvet sofas offered intimate seating areas. Pam walked over to the curving bar and took a seat on a chrome barstool with a plush black leather seat. She had worn a red, shimmery dress that showed off a lot of leg and now she regretted that decision to stand out. She didn't used to be like this. Insecure. Indecisive. But, that was before Eric had abandoned her. For her entire undead life, he had been by her side. She didn't know how to be a vampire without Eric. She wanted to go back and plead with him to forgive her. To beg if that would help her cause. But, the possibility that he would not accept her apology kept her from doing those things. She couldn't bear to have Eric tell her to leave again. She felt as if she might shatter into a thousand pieces at hearing those words.

"What can I get you?"

Pam looked up and saw the bartender. He wore a casual black suit and his long dark hair flowed past his shoulders. He flashed her a, no doubt, practiced bad boy smirk. Too bad, she wasn't into men or vampires.

"I-I don't drink Tru Blood," muttered Pam.

"Ah, Cherie, we don't stock that swill here," he purred. "It's always one hundred percent real."

"Then, a glass of whatever you recommend."

"For you, Cherie, nothing but the best," he silkily said.

He turned behind him and picked up an insulated stainless steel carafe. He poured a glass of blood into a martini glass and sat it on the counter in front of Pam. It certainly looked real, thought Pam. She lifted the glass and sniffed it. It had a delicate floral bouquet. Pam tentatively took a sip. The minute that the blood hit her tongue it was like a little taste of heaven. She closed her eyes in bliss and struggled to keep her fangs from dropping.

"Good, no?" asked the bartender with a sly smile.

"Good is nowhere close to the word that would describe it," replied Pam.

"Like a liquid orgasm, then?"

"What is it?" asked Pam, in curiosity.

"A special blend," he replied. "My lips are sealed as to the exact recipe."

Pam took another long drink and resisted the urge to lick her glass. "Can I have another?"

"But, of course," he said. "It's all on the house for a special guest such as yourself."

Pam turned around and eyed the room for a moment. Intimate groups of vampires adorned the sofas. Some were obviously making out with each other. What she didn't see were the human fangbangers or tourists.

"There aren't any humans here," she muttered to the bartender.

"Oh, Cherie, they are here," he purred. "You just have to order them off the menu."

Pam raised an eyebrow, but the bartender moved on to another customer. She turned back to the room and the lights slightly dimmed. She saw a vampire dancer come out on stage. She wore a soft leather outfit of hot pants and a halter top. Shiny black platform boots on her feet and elbow length black mesh gloves completed her look. The vampire's physical age was young. Pam had difficulty estimating human ages, but even to her eyes this vampire appeared to be only a teenager. She had a perfectly symmetrical oval face and large brown doe eyes. Brilliant platinum colored hair fell just past the vampire's chin. It might be a wig and part of her costume, thought Pam. The song was a little too heavy metal for the usual stripper fare, but the vampire moved effortlessly to it. Glancing around the bar, the vampire's eyes fell on Pam and she bared her fangs in a teasing motion. Then, the vampire swirled around the pole and moved so fast that she was just a blur of motion. Roars of approval greeted her display of her vampire abilities. Then, the vampire began to flash around the bar. Showing up on someone's lap or kissing his cheek. Her movements were so rapid that Pam drastically altered her perception of the vampire's age. She had to be old to move that fast. She popped in front of Pam and took a quick sip out of Pam's glass. Before Pam could react, she moved her blood-smeared lips against Pam's in a brief kiss. Then, she was back on stage whipping around her pole in hyper speed. She ended by sliding down her pole upside down and blowing kisses to her fans. Several sets of hands reached out to assist her off the stage and a black velvet robe was slipped over her shoulders. She would be just her type if she were human, thought Pam with a sigh. But, even having her as a vampire was highly appealing. Pam watched as she shrugged off her admirers and slinked across the floor over to where she sat. Her brown eyes seemed to glow like amber in the dim lights.

"I see that you accepted my invitation," she said.

"You sent it?"

"Don't act so surprised," the vampire said. "I thought that you liked girls."

Pam hadn't felt very attractive or desirable lately and, unable to help herself, she preened at the thought of someone seeking her out. The vampire reached out and took her glass again and drained the blood. Her pink tongue came out and ran along the edge of the glass.

"Let's go somewhere more private," she said.

"You don't waste any time," replied Pam.

"Even an immortal's time is valuable."

Pam got up and followed the vampire down a hallway. Several rooms were located along the hallway and the vampire opened one and drew her inside. Pam saw a huge bed covered in a crimson silk duvet. It had chains in restraints on the headboard and footboard. Pam quirked her eyebrows at that.

"Some of our guests like to get a little kinky," said Cat, sizing up the matter of Eric's progeny. She had wanted to see first-hand what kind of human he had chosen to turn. Pam seemed to be nothing like her, thought Cat, at least physically. But, Cat didn't kid herself about what Eric's intentions to her had been all those years ago. After all, she knew how vampires think.

"I don't know your name," said Pam.

"It's a secret," replied Cat with a smile. "And for what I have planned, names aren't required."

"Maybe, this wasn't such a good idea," said Pam, moving towards the door.

In a flash, Cat pounced on her and swung her into the wall and pinned her there. Too late, Pam realized how much more stronger this vampire was than her. Pam struggled and Cat leaned in and licked from her neck up to her cheek.

"I can taste your fear," whispered Cat into her ear. "It's absolutely yummy."

"Let me go, you little freak," hissed Pam.

"I can't help what I am," said Cat. "And, my teachers were the very best at getting their freak on, I can assure you."

Cat leaned in and kissed Pam's ear, whispering, "I know what you like."

In a blur of movement, Cat whipped Pam off the wall and shoved her to her knees. She held her there with a hand cruelly coiled in Pam's tresses. At that moment, the door opened and two female humans came inside. They wore sheet black lace teddies and stiletto heels. Pam's eyes widened and Cat smiled down at her.

"On the house, dearest Pam," said Cat. She caressed Pam's cheek with a finger. "Don't you want to stay and play?"

"Y-yes," whispered Pam.

"Now, that's a good girl," purred Cat.

As the two girls moved to Cat's side and gave a girlish giggle, Cat let go of Pam's hair and moved towards the door.

"Wait, you're not staying?" asked Pam.

"I'm flattered," replied Cat. "But, this is just for you, Pam."

"How do you know me?"

"Word gets around," replied Cat. "I heard that your maker was a complete asshole to you."

"Why should you care about that?"

"Let's just say that I understand how it feels to be abandoned by one's father," replied Cat. "If you're interested in moving on, get your maker to officially release you. Or, you can swallow your pride and go crawling back to him on your hands and knees."

The girls had already lifted Pam up and were removing her dress amidst smiles and giggles. Cat gave Pam a searching glance before stepping outside.

"It's up to you," said Cat. "But, being on your own does have it's own rewards."

The Truce

Cat held the test subject fairy down on his knees. It was midnight and Bon Temps cemetery was dark and deserted. Except for it's permanent residents, thought Cat. They were near the little pond and it's dark surface reflected the twinkling stars above. It was too quiet, as if even the night creatures were afraid to venture into this spot after dark.

"Open the portal and send a signal," ordered Cat, gripping the fairy's neck.

The fairy obliged and raised his hand. Cat could feel the flickering of static electricity and a breeze picked up. Light weakly sprang from the fairy's hand and he trembled with the effort of trying to open the portal. He would just have to work harder, thought Cat, because she was not going to be out here with two full-strength fairies. After a minute of two, Cat could feel a surge of power in the air. She knew that it didn't come from the fairy at her feet. Her grip on her prisoner tightened as another fairy appeared in a blaze of light. She had long, curly dark hair and was dressed in an elaborate dress of lace and tulle. When she saw Cat, she gave a shriek of surprise and fear. Knowing the fairy would blink back to wherever she came from, Cat spoke quickly.

"Wait, I mean you no harm," she said. "I'm here to offer your kind a deal."

Warily, the fairy held her ground. But, then she held out her glowing hand towards Cat with a tiny smile.

"I'm not that stupid," said Cat. "Do you think that I'm the only vampire present?"

The fairy's light doused in a second and she sniffed aloud. A look of fear came again into her eyes. "What do you want?"

"Number one, I want to negotiate with someone who has the power to make a deal with me," said Cat. "I believe that's Queen Mab."

The wariness came back into the fairy's eyes. "How do you know so much about her?"

Cat smiled and patted her prisoner's shoulder. "Don't hold it against him. He was terrorized before he came into my possession."

"You just expect me to bring Mab here among a pack of vampires?"

"That's right, Tinkerbell," said Cat.

Cat nodded and Lucrezia stepped out of hiding. "I'll leave my own child unprotected and out in the open to prove my sincerity."

The fairy pursed her lips for a moment in thought. She then nodded and blinked out of sight. The fairy at her feet muttered, "Mab won't come. You're wasting your time."

"So little faith," said Cat, brushing her hand over his hair.

"You have drained away all my faith," he said.

"That was those other cruel vampires," said Cat, petting him. "Have any of my vampires attacked you? We can resist that fairy crack in your veins. You should be praying that we exterminate all the other vampires for you."

Suddenly, two fairies blazed into the cemetery. One was a regal fairy wearing a brocade silk dress and with a golden crown in her russet hair that must be Queen Mab, thought Cat. She imperiously looked down her nose at Cat and at the fairy at her feet. If she was afraid, she hid it well. The other fairy had returned with Mab and stood beside her as she flashed her eyes looking for those invisible vampires that Cat had hidden among the shadows.

"You summoned me here, vampire," said Mab, almost spitting out the last word.

Cat gave a slight bow and said, "Greetings, Queen Mab."

"I'm here, as you asked," replied Mab. "Let's get straight to the chase."

"Very well," said Cat. "I'm offering a complete truce between our kinds. Vampires will stop hunting you."

"And, what do you want in exchange?" asked Mab.

"I want more of your kind to test," said Cat. "Such as prisoners or those fairies that you would voluntarily relinquish."

Mab's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?"

"You have that appealing supernatural sunscreen in you veins, fairy," said Cat. "Right now, vampires would kill you for that. But, if my scientists could manage to synthesize it in the lab, then a major threat to your kind is removed."

"Vampires also drain us for the taste," said Mab.

"There's always that possibility that artificial fairy blood would retain something of it's natural flavor," said Cat. "I'm offering you the possibility of freedom from the threat of vampires. Can you really say no to that?"

Mab was silent for several long minutes and then she said, "Agreed."

"Tomorrow night, I would like some more test subjects," said Cat. She motioned to the fairy at her feet. "You can see this one is still alive, although, it was lucky for him that I took over all the research. I'm returning him to you."

She let go of the fairy and he moved much quicker than Cat had thought that he was capable of. The dark-haired fairy put an arm around him and held him up.

"One more thing," said Cat. "There is a hybrid called Sookie Stackhouse. You wouldn't be too upset if something unfortunate happens to her, would you?"

"By all means, do as you wish," replied Mab. "She is a traitor to her kind."

Jessica

Jessica held the human against the brick wall and sucked on his neck. He jerked under her fangs and groaned, desperately trying to press his hard-on into her stomach.

"You're so fucking sexy," he moaned.

"Shut up and hold still," Jessica hissed.

She was in the alley behind Fangtasia. She had wanted to go into the bathroom, but some humans were in there, so they had to come out here instead. She needed blood from more than one human. And there was no way that she could live on Tru Blood. Fuck, even Bill didn't live on that crap.

"Does Eric Northman know that you're out here biting his customers?" asked a voice near her.

Jessica lifted her head and looked around. She saw a girl dressed in black pants and a leather jacket. The girl didn't even look as old as she was.

"Mind your own business," growled Jessica, flashing her fangs.

The girl smiled and dropped her own fangs. Holy cow, thought Jessica, those were not petite little fangs, either. The vampire's fangs were longer than hers and looked capable of doing some serious damage. The rested on the girl's lower lip that was curled into a little smirk.

"I'm not afraid of Eric," said Jessica. Well, she was afraid of him and didn't want to dally too long in this alley. It probably wouldn't be a good idea for Eric to find out that she was feeding on his customers. Jessica knew that he did it from her little time that she spent here when she was first turned. Back when Bill didn't want to be bothered with having a child. But, Eric was the boss and he did that activity after closing time and well out of public view.

"You should be afraid of him," said the girlish vampire before her, interrupting her thoughts. "You can't depend on his mercy. I know that all too well."

"Well, if you would just buzz off, then I could finish up," said Jessica, pointedly.

"Does King Bill know that his little girl is breaking his mandates?" she asked.

"Bill is too busy lately to even wonder where I am," replied Jessica.

"Hey, I'm still bleeding here," protested the human.

"Let him go," said the vampire. "You've been out here too long. It isn't safe anymore."

"I'm still hungry," said Jessica.

"Then hunt, you are capable of doing that, aren't you?" replied the vampire. "The night is still young."

The vampire stepped close and tore the boy out of Jessica's grip. He gave a cry of fright and the vampire flashed her fangs at him. She flung him against the wall and knocked his breath out with a whoosh.

The, now, suddenly fierce vampire growled at him. "This is what we are you silly little human. Natural born killers who will eat and fuck to death. Look into my eyes and see me for what I really am. I don't have an ounce of pity for pathetic humans like yourself."

She shoved him to the back door and he fell over his feet and looked up at her with wide, frightened eyes. "Now, get going before I change my mind and rip your head off for just being stupid."

With a cry, the human got his feet under him and lunged for the back door. Jessica groaned as he disappeared back into the relative safety of Fangtasia.

"Now, he'll probably never let me bite him again," she whined.

"Let you bite him? Let? Are you really this much of a pathetic excuse for a vampire?" Cat asked. "Try growing a pair….of fangs."

"You don't have to be such a bitch," hissed Jessica.

Cat watched as Jessica moved to the back door. She was here sizing up Bill's progeny and what she saw slightly angered her. True, Russell might never win the father of the year award, but he had patiently shown her how to survive in a world that didn't suffer the weak to live. She moved in a flash and grabbed Jessica and pinned her arm behind her back. In another second, Cat expertly knocked one of Jessica's feet out from under her. Jessica fell to her knees and cried out as her arm was painfully twisted behind her.

"Ow, you'll break my arm."

"I could rip your arm out of it's socket as easy as tearing the wings off a fly," said Cat.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you might be a little psychotic?" asked Jessica, with a pained voice.

"A few maybe," chuckled Cat. She leaned down and kissed Jessica's neck. Jessica stiffened under her touch and Cat kissed her ear and whispered, "Don't you like that?"

"Of course, not," replied Jessica. "You just surprised me, that's all."

Cat smirked. "I'll do it nice and slow, this time, so there wont' be any surprise."

Still holding Jessica in place, Cat leaned down and kissed and licked at Jessica's neck. She scraped her fangs lightly across Jessica's neck, causing Jessica to gasp in surprise and shiver in pleasure.

"How about that time?"

"No, I didn't like it," replied Jessica, trying desperately to hide her arousal.

Cat passed a free hand down over Jessica's breasts and found the tips pebbled. Idly, she stroked her breasts as Jessica wiggled and arched into her touch. "Somebody is a liar," murmured Cat.

Cat manhandled Jessica up and over to the wall. She held her by the throat and noticed that Jessica was too tall for her. Still holding Jessica's neck, Cat levitated upwards until she stared directly into Jessica's eyes. Holding her steady, Cat leaned forward brushed her lips near Jessica's. Unable to help herself, Jessica turned into the kiss, but Cat stayed ever so slightly out of reach.

"Have you ever been with a vampire, Jessica?" asked Cat.

"N-no," mumbled Jessica.

"Your maker should fucked you before he turned you," said Cat. "It would have been a mercy."

"How do you know so much of my personal business?" asked Jessica.

"Word gets around," said Cat.

"Shit, this is embarrassing," said Jessica. She studied Cat and said, "You were younger than me when you were turned. Were you a virgin?"

"No," said Cat.

"Did your maker do it?"

"No," replied Cat. "It was another vampire."

"What kind of pervert vampire would have touched a girl like you?" asked Jessica.

"The terms pervert and vampire often go together," replied Cat with a sad little expression.

Cat let Jessica down and straightened her jacket. She had seen enough tonight and began to walk away. But, Jessica called after her.

"Is that it? You're just leaving?" she asked. "I want to learn how to be a bad-ass vampire like you are."

"I do believe that your maker and King wouldn't approve of such a thing," replied Cat.

"Right, where is he when I need him?" said Jessica. "He never even taught me how to feed on a human. Now, he could care less what happens to me. I'm just a punishment that he's been saddled with, forever."

"Then, come along," said Cat. "I have never had a protégé."

Der Dunkle Wein

"It smells in here," complained Cat.

"I didn't ask you to come," replied Russell.

"And let you out of my sight?" demanded Cat. "Dream on."

"You are starting to pick up some of Talbot's old habits," hissed Russell.

"I would think that would bring you tears of joy," retorted Cat.

'I don't miss his incessant nagging," replied Russell. "Nor, do I miss anyone making eyes at that Viking."

"That's totally unfair and you know it," said Cat. "Somebody has to keep an eye on you. Did you forget how you got into this entire mess in the first place?"

"I am not insane," hissed Russell.

"Oh, what would you call it, then?"

"A nervous breakdown," admitted Russell. "Time heals all wounds, even that one."

Cat crossed her arms across her chest and looked away. "I'm sorry," she muttered.

Russell moved to her and took her shoulders in his arms. He turned her chin so that he could look into her eyes and noticed that blood tears threatened to spill out. Cat looked up into his eyes and bit her lip to keep it from trembling. They both had brown eyes, he mused. She was so like him in so many ways, this deadly child of his. From the first moment that he had seen her, she had captivated him like no other human ever had, even his beloved Talbot. He should have done so many things differently back when she was just a fledgling. But, fate had given him another chance with Caterina and he was smart enough to keep her close, now.

"I just want you to be the vampire that you used to be," she said. "I'm afraid that when I'm not watching, you will do something crazy. Something that I can't fix."

Russell bent down and kissed her forehead. "I won't let you down, Princess."

"I want to believe you," whispered Cat. "But, it isn't easy."

"The past is the past, Caterina," he said. "I would change it if I could."

"About Eric Northman," began Cat.

"Shhh, forget it," said Russell, caressing her shoulders. "I know that you're not foolish enough to be taken in by those looks of his."

Russell's fingers suddenly gripped her shoulders tightly. "I don't want you going near him, understand?"

"But, I have to in order to accomplish our mission," said Cat.

"Have someone else get close to him, but not you," said Russell. "That Viking is responsible for the death of one of my children. I won't let him have the other one."

Russell ran his hands down her upper arms for a moment and then gave her wink. "Showtime," he said.

Russell then took the stage. He was dressed in dark jeans and black leather, just like she was, in order to blend in here. Werewolves loved their leather and biker image. The stage was one that was probably used for live bands and Russell raised his hands for silence. The bar slowly quieted down and Cat looked out upon the sea of denim and leather. The wolf smell of so many werewolves in this enclosed space was almost too much for her and she stopped breathing.

"As you can see, I'm back," said Russell with a broad smile.

A roar of approval and yells rose again and it took several moments for quiet to return.

"Tonight, we join together in the ancient ritual that forms an alliance between wolf and vampire," he said. "Under me, you shall rule over all other packs and they will roll over and give you their vulnerable belly."

Another roar of approval was shouted out and Russell raised his hands for silence again. "However, this time, you will swear fealty to my child as well. She serves at my side and no one is closer to my heart."

Cat tensed as she watched servers come forward with trays lined with shot glasses. Russell dropped his fangs and bit into his wrist and filled the glasses with the blood flowing from his wrist. Tray after tray was filled and the glasses passed out among the werewolves. It was now so quiet that a pin drop could be heard and Russell addressed the bar.

"Wir beginnen das uralte Ritual. Bindet euch zu mir und trinke des dunklen Wein. Die Welt soll schauern am Ende unserer Reißzähne."

He looked out over the bar and said, "Swear your fealty to me and mine."

The rush of cries of acceptance rang out in the bar for several minutes it seems. Then, Russell made a signal with his hand and around the bar, all the werewolves gulped down his blood. Russell took out a handkerchief and wiped off the blood from his lips and gave Cat a fangy smile. Russell's blood had to be one of the most potent vampire bloods around, especially after that little takeover of the Authority. Little did those werewolves know it, but they had just invited Russell into their heads. And Russell wasn't a vampire that you let ever your guard down with. Of course, it just reinforced her opinion that they were only stupid animals. But, they were only getting a little sip of that dangerous, intoxicating blood. She had gotten so much more than that. Russell was flowing inside her veins, even now. From the moment that he had drained her and given her his blood, she had been his. She would always be his. Forever more.

A/N: I believe that Cat is at work by increasing the distance between both Bill and Eric and their progeny. She is such a mixture of seduction and menace. I would say that only she knows what's going on in that head of hers, but she and Russell have grown reluctantly closer as maker and child. I do think that Cat might have been ready to confide in Russell in that moment about Eric, but he shrugged it off.

Now, I think she's smart by making the fairies on her side. She gets everything she wants including a free pass on Sookie. I would think that with Sookie back in Bill's life and with him still being King that he would be too busy to give Jessica much of his time. His lapse in attention makes her ripe for the interventions of Cat.