10.
~Sookie~
Eric and I were barely half-way down the stairs when we were descended upon by other vampires. There were some humans intermingled in the gathering that seemed to be flowing from the parlor to the foyer to the dining room and what I thought might be a game room or tv room and outside into the gardens and patio. Bobby was leaning up against an archway with a drink talking to a vampire girl.
He thought my dress was an interesting choice for dinner in a vampire's lair; that I'd likely end up being dinner. My saving grace there was that I wasn't sitting at the same table as him. The dress was long and white. It had a lace bodice and was sleeveless, the delicate lace just covered my shoulders and the soft cotton draped down around my legs. I put my hair up and some tendrils had escaped. I was going to fix them, but Eric seemed fascinated by them, so I let them stay. I had little strappy sandals on my feet. With my tan, I looked like I was headed to a Southern garden party.
Eric thought I looked like vampire bait.
But he couldn't hide his reaction so I gathered I looked pretty good. When I came out of the bathroom, he looked like someone smashed him over the head with a very heavy object. When I asked him what was wrong, he shook his head and just said he had a lot to think about. That didn't sit well with me because I knew he had a lot to think about because of me. I was the one complicating his life.
"Eric!" greeted an exotic looking brunette vampire walking up to us with a human man. "What a surprise! We didn't know you were coming."
"Godric asked me to." Eric replied. "Sookie, this is Isabelle, Godric's second-in-command and her human companion, Hugo."
"It's nice to meet you." I smiled. Isabelle nodded at me, but I shook Hugo's hand. I was surprised at what I heard from him. He thought it pleasant to have another human around to talk to about what it was like to "date" a vampire, but mostly, his thoughts were of Isabelle and how much he loved her. He almost sounded obsessed with her. It was kind of creeping me out, so I pulled my hand away as gently as I could.
"Sookie is yours, Eric?" Isabelle asked.
"Yes." Eric ran his hand up my back and rested it on my shoulder. I had dressed because of the heat. All the doors were thrown open and the fans were on. There was a nice breeze running through the house. It wasn't quite warm enough by Southern standards to turn on the air conditioning yet (and vampires didn't need it anyway) and Eric's cold hand was a welcome addition to cooling me down a bit. Plus, my house didn't have any air conditioning in it, so I was used to it.
"Godric must be beside himself." Isabelle smiled. "He didn't think you'd ever find anyone; and if I know you, Eric, she is probably not just anyone."
"You would be right." Eric answered vaguely.
Hugo was wondering where my bite marks were; he thought maybe the inside of my thighs. I could see his peaking out from the collar of his shirt, but here I was showing off most of my upper body and there was nary a bite on me. He thought maybe I wasn't actually Eric's. Eric healed each and every bite he gave me, which I appreciated because I didn't want to look like Ginger, or some of the humans there, who looked like they had chicken pox. What happened behind my closed bedroom door was my business and if I wanted to let a vampire bite me that was nobody's concern but my own.
In scanning the humans in the room, it seemed most of them were under the same impression as Hugo was. If I didn't have any bites, then I was arm candy. When Eric was here, he was not typically seen with a woman. One girl, who belonged to a sheriff named Stan, frequently indulged in daydreams where Eric would see her at the king's house and decide he wanted her. He would fight Stan, win, and take her away. It wasn't that she didn't like Stan, but she found Eric exciting and the fact that he showed little to no interest in people around him and things going on in court challenging. Somebody had to gain his attention sooner or later and she dreamed it would be her. She was of the opinion that if I didn't show any marks, I wasn't truly Eric's.
Eric's arm curled around my waist and I smiled at him before returning to read the room. Short of throwing him down on the floor and going at it, I wasn't going to change any minds and at that moment and I didn't care. I was no stranger to people thinking nasty things about me.
And speaking of which, I was so absorbed in reading the minds of the humans that I didn't hear when Eric had called Bobby over to stand with us until I felt the brain slime close to me.
"Bobby will accompany them…" Eric was saying. What? Accompany who?
"I'm sorry. What did you say, Eric?" I asked shaking out the other thoughts and focusing on Eric. Bobby thought I was an airhead. I didn't just hear Eric say Bobby would accompany me on a tour of Dallas given by Hugo? Was I really that stupid?
Eric, on the other hand, knew what I was preoccupied with. "Lover, Hugo offered to give you a tour of Dallas during the day. I thought you might feel more comfortable if Bobby accompanied you as well, since you know him."
Well, considering he knew I was no Bobby fan, I assumed that translated to him wanting Bobby, his weapons and these mysterious Ninja skills of his close by if I was wandering around in the daylight. "That's a wonderful idea." I beamed. Bobby disagreed. Hugo was thinking that Isabelle tasked him with something important and he did not need a wingman for it.
As distasteful as a day with me was to Bobby, he was happy that Eric trusted my care with him. He thought it meant Eric had faith in his fighting skills. He wasn't sure what the big deal about me was, but clearly there was something and Eric wanted me protected. Maybe Pam would see how valued Eric found him and finally give him the time of day.
Just then, a vampire who looked about 17 breezed down the stairs and pushed aside the others to stand right in front of Eric and myself. He had light brown hair, a thin frame and green eyes. He looked like he just stepped off the front cover of GQ.
"Sookie!" He gushed. I had a feeling given the indulgent way the others responded to this man that it wasn't Godric. It must be Liam. "How wonderful that you are awake now! I'm sure Eric hasn't given you a tour of the house. He never thinks of these things. I work so hard on it and he never bothers to show it off, or even come home for that matter."
"Sookie, this is Liam." Eric needlessly introduced.
"It's nice to meet you." I smiled nodding my head. "You have a beautiful home. I especially loved the reflecting pool outside. Was that your idea?"
"You are so sweet!" Liam's entire face lit up. "How ever did you get tangled up with grumpy Eric? We'll start the tour there." I looked wide eyed over at Eric. He kissed me on the forehead and nodded encouragingly. Liam linked his arm with mine and led me away, telling me all about how tacky the trophy room used to be.
~Eric~
Sookie was clearly not happy about me letting Liam drag her off for a tour, but there's really no stopping him and he's the only one I trusted with her. Everyone there has an agenda and Liam merely wanted to know everything there was to possibly know about her, which made two of us. He genuinely wanted to show her his creation and prod her for information about herself. As long as she was on Liam's arm, no one would approach her.
I knew Bobby was ecstatic at my assignment to be Sookie's bodyguard for a tour of Dallas. He didn't understand what was so special about her, and I didn't really care, but I taught him to fight myself and so I knew he was capable of defending her. Every time I talked with him, I could see that he was itching to ask me about Sookie, but Pam and I didn't confide in Bobby. A lot of vampires did utilize their daypeople as confidants but the only people I trusted were Pam and Godric, and by extension Liam. And now, of course, Sookie.
Liam's enthusiasm was contagious though as I watched him bring Sookie out to the gardens and reflecting pool. He swept his hand about, gesturing to the landscaping and she was undeniably impressed and asking questions. I watched her for a while as the water shimmered off of her dress with the moonlight and outside lighting. She was screaming vampire bait in that dress, but she looked beautiful and since I enjoy her beauty, I shut up and sucked it up.
Satisfied that she was growing comfortable enough that I didn't need to hover on the other side of the glass, I left the parlor and headed to Godric's office. I could feel him in there and the vampire guards at the door did not stop me from walking in.
When I entered and closed the door behind me, I saw that Godric was standing behind his desk on a conference call.
"So you claim her then, Niall?" He asked, motioning me forward.
"Of course I claim her, vampire. She is my great-granddaughter," snapped the Prince of the Fairies on the other end of the line.
"You have never met her though." Godric said.
"No, Fintan won't allow it. He has spent their entire life shielding them from the supernatural world. My great-grandson Jason has not shown the same abilities as Sookie has and so Fintan has been very protective of her. He has watched over them since they were babies, but Sookie especially. The vampire's presence in her life has caused great concerned."
"Eric is protecting her."
"Yes, Fintan has heard their conversations at Sookie's house. He nearly burned the bar in Shreveport down when she went inside and didn't emerge for more than 24 hours."
"Sookie would like to meet a fairy." Godric continued. "She does not believe she is part fae."
Niall was quiet on the other end for a moment. "You have told her she is part-fairy?" He asked evenly.
"Yes, I did." I replied, joining the conversation. "She has many magical qualities and did not understand what was going on and she discovers more nearly every day. It is dangerous to her and others if she does not learn how to harness these powers. And I will not lie to her. She is scared of the things she is learning and terrified of the things her body is doing. If you and your son will not tell her, then I will."
"It is up to Fintan whether or not she will meet one of us. I have always wanted to be part of their lives, but Fintan would not allow it."
Well, I was sorry to inform Fintan that there was a new sheriff in town. I would do what I needed to to protect her, but I wasn't going to keep her in a bubble either.
"Who else is in the area that she might run into?" I pressed.
"I am obviously not going to tell you that, vampire." Niall replied.
"There is a heavy fairy scent around where she works and her home. Is that Fintan?"
"It should be." Niall responded. "He has the ability to mask his scent but does not always do it. He is a little reckless like that. I will contact him. He has followed her to Texas."
The trip into Dallas was going to be put on hold until this matter was settled. If Fintan could mask his scent, than he could meet her with me there. I didn't think she'd be comfortable being approached unexpectedly. Though with Bobby and Hugo there, I imagined Fintan would keep his distance.
"I do not believe she should stay there. It is not safe for her." Niall said.
"She is safe." I assured him. "I am sworn to protect her."
"She is surrounded by vampires and part-fairy; there is no one there safe for her."
"I am." I insisted. "The young ones are not familiar enough to smell her. I barely recognize the scent. Only Godric knew right off."
"The word of a vampire? You have drained fairies before, sheriff. Forgive me for not finding comfort in your words. Why would I believe you?"
"Because I love her."
That shut Prince Valiant right up.
Unfortunately, now Godric was grinning at me.
"That remains to be seen, vampire." Niall said softly. "Godric, if one hair on my great-granddaughter's head is harmed, I will attack with full force and show mercy to no one."
The line went silent and when I looked over at Godric, he was smiling at me.
"What are you grinning at?" I snapped sitting down in a big leather chair. "What could you possibly find amusing?"
"I am happy for you."
"Yes, I know. It is wafting over me. I'm practically drowning in it." I tossed back. "Niall is unhappy."
"Do you see me running away with my tail between my legs? I don't care." Godric shrugged. He sat down behind the desk. "He doesn't have the forces to take me. If you are sworn to protect her; I am sworn to protect her. I don't particularly relish the thought of another fairy war, but I'm not about to let her be taken from you either."
That was comforting. I knew Godric wished I would live here by my own choice, but I did not want to be in his shadow. I rose to my position on my own and I liked the area I was in, especially more so now that I met my yummy little telepathic fairy.
"There is something else I wish to discuss with you." Godric began. I could feel his hesitation and my curiosity was piqued. "Sophie Anne has expressed her wishes to form an alliance."
"Sophie Anne LeClerq wants to marry you." I said stunned and he nodded. "Now how did I not see that coming?" I popped out of the chair and began to pace the room.
"Texas is very wealthy and Sophie Anne is running Louisiana into the ground. The mainstreaming movement has not done her any favors. It would be a strong alliance. I could certainly use you for more in Texas. It would not be without benefit to you."
"And then she'll attempt a coup."
"She would not be successful, especially without you." Godric waved his hand in dismissal.
"And what does she think an alliance will accomplish?" I challenged. "Does she think you'll just order me to hand Sookie over to her?"
"It's pretty arrogant to think that the Queen of Louisiana wants to form an alliance with the King of Texas because of your mortal." He said. "Will I never teach you dominance over your feelings?"
"Sookie is powerful, Godric." I whispered. I stopped my pacing and ran a hand down my face. "We have only just begun to discover what she can do. Who knows what Sookie's cousin has told Sophie Anne? She could have made up all sorts of things to save her own skin or curry the queen's favor."
"Calm down." He ordered. I did, only because of his influence, but I continued to pace the room.
"Let's have Sophie Anne come. If we can get her to bring the cousin, you can interrogate her yourself."
"You think she will bring Hadley?" I asked curiously.
"She will want Hadley to talk to Sookie, kin-to-kin." He said. "If I were in her shoes, it is what I would try. I would hope the cousin would have some influence with Sookie. Hadley could paint Sophie Anne in a nice light. Not to mention, Sookie will be able to read the cousin. I wouldn't think Sophie Anne wants to hurt Sookie, Eric; it's not her style."
"No, she wants to enslave her. Sophie Anne is a mistress of extortion. She will threaten Sookie with her family and friends to get what she wants. The queen is as old as you and you knew right off Sookie was fairy; and once Sophie Anne figures that out, the game changes."
"The negotiations for something like this are extensive and detailed. I've seen them go on for decades."
"You're considering this?" I couldn't believe it. Godric has never shown any interest in an alliance with another kingdom; he's never decided to take over a struggling kingdom. "Liam will have a meltdown."
"Liam understands these things." He countered. "Unlike you it seems."
"I understand the way these things are done." I snapped.
"So long as they are not done with your maker."
"Exactly." I said heatedly. "They are steeped in betrayal. I would not want to see you as a target of that."
"Eric, I have not gotten as far as I have and lived as long as I have by being stupid. I would think this would be appealing to you. Surely, your loyalties would not be so divided anymore if Louisiana and Texas aligned."
"When asked to make the choice, Godric, there isn't one." I said quietly.
"It is good to hear that. Now I am sure by now Liam has talked Sookie's ear off and I would like to officially meet the girl I am going to such great lengths to protect."
"She is worth it, sire."
"Of that, I have no doubt, my child."