A/N: I want to say a massive thank you to all of you for your amazing reviews and words of encouragement this week. My readers absolutely rock! I'm sorry I didn't have time to manage individual replies but to show you all how much I love you all, I've been typing until my fingers bleed in any bit of spare time I have had so I could get this mahousive chapter up and put you out of your cliffhanger misery (sort of...) Enjoy!

Charlaine Harris owns the rights to these characters. Jeaniene Frost also deserves a mention.

Eric pressed the button for the ground floor lobby as I used the elevator mirror to wipe my eyes and fix my mascara. He'd let me have a moment to break down in the hotel room, to get it out, after hanging up from my conversation with Bill but now I had to focus. There was too much at stake and I had to keep my emotions out of it. My inability to do that was why we hadn't got Bill the first time around. I wasn't going to miss a second opportunity or risk Amelia's life.

Eric grabbed my hand as we exited the elevator, his grip was cool and firm and made me feel safe, protected. I honestly didn't know what I'd do without him at this point. I looked up at him and he planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Let's do this," I said, tone firm with resolve.

He gave me a nod of encouragement and we made our way into the main lobby. Eric growled under his breath; I knew he'd caught Compton's scent.

Bill was sitting on a couch on the far side of the lobby watching us as we approached. Amelia was sat down next to him, hands in her lap. She stared straight ahead, Bill's arm casually draped over her shoulder. To the untrained eye, they looked like a couple. The thought made me nauseous.

Eric's eyes flickered around us as we made our way over to them. Bill gestured that we take a seat on the couch opposite. I sat down, unable to take my eyes off my friend.

"Sookie, Eric, I'm glad you came." Bill's tone was smarmy, confident. Eric had warned me that he might try to rile me but I'd promised to keep calm. We didn't want to give him any excuse to hurt Amelia.

"Amelia?" I asked, voice low, reaching my hand out to her. "Are you okay sweetie?"

She didn't answer me, just kept staring blankly. I opened my mind to her but her thoughts were fuzzy, hazy. I looked to Bill, horrified.

"She's glamoured," he explained, flicking his fingers in front of Amelia's eyes with an amused smirk. She didn't even flinch. "Keeps her more docile. She's a real firecracker that one. Don't worry your pretty head about it Sookie. Do as I say and she'll come out of this unharmed, with no memory at all of what transpired."

I bit my lip, trying to control my rage. My eyes fell on Amelia's hands bunched in her lap. It looked like she was holding something but I couldn't make it out under the ruffled fabric of the peasant top she was wearing.

"What's going on with her hands?" Eric asked Bill. He'd noticed it too. Something wasn't right.

"That's my insurance policy," Bill explained, looking at me with a cruel smile. "I'm well aware that Eric could overpower me in a second if he put his mind to it. Maybe he wouldn't risk it in a crowded hotel lobby, maybe he would... So Amelia is holding a dagger pointed towards her stomach. I've glamoured her so that one word from me..."

I gasped. "You fucking bastard," I spat out, bitter, terrified for my friend.

"Sookie," Eric murmured, voice low, calm. A warning. He looked around us carefully, feigning nonchalance. Nobody had spotted my outburst.

"Listen to him Sookie," Bill advised, tone condescending. I tried to calm myself, picturing all the ways I would kill him when I got Amelia back. "As I was saying, one word from me and she'll plunge the blade straight into her stomach. It's not a pleasant way to die..."

My tone was calm, glacial. "If you so much as touch one hair on her head..." I threatened, my voice a harsh whisper.

"You know it really is your fault that your friend is involved in this in the first place," Bill interrupted with a chuckle, picking an imaginary bit of lint off his button-down shirt. "Imagine my elation when I found out that your alias was not only a real person but your friend to boot..."

Realisation hit me; this was all my doing. I was so utterly out of control that night at Club Dead, I just wasn't thinking straight. My thirst for vengeance had nearly killed me and now my best friend's life was in danger. I kept my eyes on Bill but I could feel Eric shoot me a look before he recovered himself. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, biting my lip hard, forcing myself not to cry. Eric's disappointment made it all even harder to bear.

Bill picked up on the tension. "Oh you didn't know Eric? Well, well. Maybe next time you'll choose a partner for her abilities rather than her physical attributes... Though with those breasts and that hot little mouth, who can blame you I suppose? I know I certainly enjoyed myself... Actually maybe a little alone time with Sookie would help sweeten my resolve to hand over her friend. I wouldn't mind picking up where we left off..."

I felt Eric stiffen beside me. Anger was radiating off him in waves. Ignoring Bill I placed a hand on his leg, rubbing it soothingly, the message clear: Bill was just fucking with us because he could. We had to keep this together.

"Enough," Eric replied. His voice was hushed but his tone still commanded attention. "Enough with the games Compton. What is it you want?"

Bill's smile broadened. He was smug, self-congratulating. I despised him. "I want to make a deal."

I looked at Eric. He seemed as dumbfounded as I was. "Why would we make a deal with you?" I hissed.

"Because you have no choice," Bill said with a sigh, gesturing to Amelia. "And because Pam is alive and I will tell you where she is."

0-0-0-0-0

I looked at Eric, unable to hide my astonishment. Eric's face remained inscrutable. He gestured with his hand, indicating that Bill should continue.

"This is how it's going to work..." Bill explained to Eric with a smile. "I will tell you where Pam is and you can go rescue her, have your happy maker/child reunion and so forth, and in return I want your word that there will be no retaliation against me, that you won't extract any form of vengeance for my part in her disappearance."

I narrowed my eyes at Bill. "So basically this is all about your cowardice?" I accused.

"Oh I'm well aware of my limitations Sookie," Bill said, looking at me with a sardonic smile. "I'm not the oldest or the strongest vampire by a long shot. I certainly wouldn't want to arm wrestle your Viking here. But I am resourceful, I'm methodical and I know how to work situations to my advantage."

"Is that what you were doing when you murdered my parents?" I bit. Eric grabbed my hand, his grip firm, but I wouldn't let this go. The thought of coming to some kind of accord with this monster made me sick to my stomach.

Bill sighed and nodded. "Ahh yes, the Stackhouses. I remember them well." His tone was reticent, unconcerned, as if he were talking about people he used to know from his golf club rather than people he murdered years ago. My whole body tensed at his mention of their name. It wasn't like I didn't know, hadn't known for years, that he had killed them but to have it confirmed like this was too much. I felt a hot tear careen down my cheek as his words sank in.

"I didn't mean to kill them both," Bill continued, unburdening himself with a shake of his head. "My orders were just to kill your mother but your father put up too much of a fight. It was him or me." He shrugged. "I chose me."

I felt like I was about to throw up. What? Why was he telling me this? Trying to justify?

"Orders?" I managed to stammer after a pause.

"The Queen of Louisiana. I was, I still am, her servant. On her orders I returned to my ancestral home in Bon Temps and sought out your parents. My instructions were to kill your mother, to do it in a way that left no room for doubt that she had been murdered by a vampire. Your father was to remain unharmed. I spent two months starving in a coffin wrapped in silver chains for disobeying those orders..."

Tears were flowing freely now, my angry sobs laced with loathing. Eric gathered me into his chest where I shuddered against him. Bill looked on, face impassive.

"Why only her mother?" Eric asked for me. "After all, she was totally human. Her father was the Fae."

"I don't know," Bill admitted. "I just did what I was instructed to do."

"Why would I believe you? Why are you telling me this?" I sneered. "I hope you're not looking for absolution?" He may be asking Eric to forego vengeance but I certainly wasn't going to.

Bill ignored my tone, talking to me as if I were a child and didn't quite understand. "Sophie-Anne LeClerq is one of the most powerful vampire monarchs in the world. She is also insane, relentlessly cruel and creative in her punishments. I did what I had to do..." I just looked at him; it was as if he wasn't prepared to accept any blame for his actions whatsoever.

"Enough of the justifications," I interrupted, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. "I don't want to hear them. Not from you... Just tell us what you know about Pam."

Bill paused, fixing me with a steady gaze. A strange expression came over his face; I couldn't find it in me to care what it was. "Pam was ambushed by Sigebert and Wybert as she left the house of one of her regular donors."

"Sophie-Anne's personal bodyguards," Eric injected. Bill nodded in agreement, so I assumed it was an explanation for my benefit.

"Yes but it was Andre who defanged her. She had tried to escape shortly after being captured, Wybert lost an arm. Andre wished to teach her a lesson..." I gripped Eric's hand in support, his entire body was rigid, emotions coiled tightly inside.

"I felt those initial emotions, her pain, but if she's not dead, as you seem to think, why can't I feel her now?" Eric asked, interrupting.

"The last time I saw her, she was in an extremely bad way. She's being held in a silver-lined coffin, minimal blood to keep her weak and..." Bill paused, grimacing slightly. This couldn't be good. "And as I understand it, they have force-fed her liquid silver, poisoning her blood."

Eric flinched next to me and I put my other hand over his, rubbing my palm over his skin. "Burning her, inside and out," he muttered under his breath.

"I'm so sorry Eric," I said, soothingly. I couldn't believe anyone could be this brutal, so cruel. "At least that explains why the bond is gone."

Eric frowned for a second, thinking things through. "No," he said, looking unswervingly at Bill. "Even that... There must be more."

Bill nodded. He was pensive a second as he considered his next words. "The site where Sophie-Anne is holding her is built on the location of a Fae portal. Pam is being held just out of reach, on the other side of that portal. Even Sophie-Anne is unable to cross it. They say you need to be Fae or invited by a fairy to go through. Somewhat like a private home, I suppose..."

How was any of this even possible? "If none of them can enter the portal, how are they able to hold Pam there?" I asked, incredulous.

Bill shook his head. "That I don't know. All I know is that she is there."

I looked to Eric. "If this is true, I should be able to get through," I posited with a shrug. I was by no means sure but I was the best we had.

Eric agreed with a grim smile. "Let's hope so."

"Why Pam?" I asked, turning my attention back to Bill. Eric and I had never really discussed this. It seemed like so much trouble for one vampire.

Bill looked to Eric. "My guess is that it's not so much about Pam as about her maker. The Queen was furious at your refusal to join her ranks... And then your alliance with Stan Davis..."

Eric nodded, seemingly unsurprised. "But why keep Pam alive and take such steps to make me believe she was dead?" He asked, agitated now. I agreed, it didn't quite add up.

Bill shrugged. "Who knows? I'm just not privy to that sort of information. All I know is that the Queen is crazy. There could be no reasoning at all frankly. You know that as well as anyone."

"So that's it?" I asked, irritated. "Eric promises not to take any revenge on you and you tell us where Pam is, give us Amelia back?" My tone was distrustful; there had to be more to it. I glanced at Amelia, she was completely still, face and expression blank. I felt so helpless; I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her.

"Not quite," Bill said, smug smile back on his face. "You'll get your friend back when you've fulfilled all the terms of our agreement, not a second before. And I haven't yet presented all my terms..."

"So what else do you want?" Eric snapped, no longer trying to hid his impatience.

Bill sighed. "Sophie-Anne's methods are getting more and more severe. She lost a lot of support after her attack on Stan, Peter Threadgill and the others but there are many who follow her and many more who fear her. As a mistress her demands are becoming more extreme by the day, especially since Andre was killed..."

"But you're not stupid enough to arm wrestle a more powerful vampire..." Eric suggested cynically. I looked between them both, suddenly catching up.

Bill pursed his lips and continued. "I will tell you where Pam is being kept and, in due course, give you back your friend, unharmed. In return I want Eric's word he will seek no retaliation against me... and I want him to kill the Queen of Louisiana."

"She's a dead woman either way," I interrupted. Now I knew that she set things in place for my parents' deaths, I'd find a way to do it even if Eric didn't.

"I want his word. If she finds out I assisted you..."

"I will kill Sophie-Anne," Eric said, with a firm nod. "You have my word. Now, tell me where my child is being kept."

0-0-0-0-0

I watched Bill lead Amelia towards the hotel exit with tears in my eyes. We had agreed that we would call Bill on Amelia's cell phone to arrange for her return. I hadn't wanted to let him leave with her but there had been no other choice.

Eric pulled me into him, holding me tight as I sobbed into his chest. He kissed the top of my head, comforting me, and just let me cry. I'm sure people were looking at us. I didn't care.

"We'll get through this," he whispered. "I promise. We'll get them both back and then we'll kill that bastard."

I pulled back from his chest in surprise, eyes questioning and full of shock. "I gave him my word that I wouldn't extract revenge over Pam. And I won't." Eric said matter-of-factly. "At no point did you promise that you wouldn't kill him. Nor did I agree that I wouldn't assist you in revenge for his killing your parents or for taking Amelia..." He grinned at me. "I've been doing this a lot longer than he has Sookie and I promise you we're going to end Bill Compton one way or another."

I managed to giggle as I wiped my tears away, suddenly feeling a little better. "Does it make me crazy that the thought of finally killing him makes me so happy?" I asked with a smile.

"No," Eric replied, eyes full of affection, as he rubbed my cheek with his thumb. "It just makes you perfect."

I looked down from his gaze, cheeks beginning to burn. He had a patch on his shirt where I had cried on him, wet from tears with a smudge of mascara. God knows what I looked like.

"I've ruined your shirt," I said, running my hand over his chest. "You should change it before we head out and I need to sort out my face."

Eric ran his fingers through my hair affectionately. "Your face is beautiful, as always, and I'm not sure Sophie-Anne will care about what I'm wearing when I decapitate her..." he joked. His cobalt eyes met mine. "Are you ready for this?" he asked, suddenly serious.

"This is what you trained me for, right?" I replied nervously, trying to reassure him.

He nodded.

I looked up at him, mustering my most confident smile. "Then let's go."

0-0-0-0-0

The address that Bill had given us was a large secluded property situated on the lake, just outside Dallas. We approached silently on foot, cautious of a trap that could be waiting for us. As we got closer to the large antebellum house, I reached out with my mind to see who or what was inside. There were four humans; their thoughts were confused, hazy, and I knew they were all glamoured. I counted five voids.

I gestured to Eric that there were five vampires inside and he nodded in understanding. On his signal, we sneaked closer to the house sidling along the the outer wall until we came to a side door. I kept watch, both with my eyes and my mind, as he forced the lock, deftly, in silence. With a final glance around us, we entered the house.

Once inside, I made my way along a long dark corridor, leading us in the direction of the voids. My night vision had improved immeasurably after all the blood I had taken from Eric but it was still disorientating finding my way in the dark. I moved cumbersomely as my heartbeat thundered in my chest, my fear increasing with every step.

I sensed Eric tense beside me as he came upon the scent of those in the house. I pointed to a door at the end of the hall. Eric nodded; they were all on the other side. I unsheathed two of my silver knives and looked to Eric. With a final glance at me, he ran for the door, bursting through, sword held aloft as I followed in his wake.

In the split second as I entered the huge room, I surveyed the scene before me. The first thing I noticed was a tiny flame-haired vampire in the middle of the room. She was poised over the body of naked human woman splayed out on a huge ornate chaise longue. The human was alive, but only barely so, her body covered in fresh vampire bites. The vampire was beautiful; elegantly groomed with alabaster skin and huge green eyes. She didn't look to be more than fifteen or sixteen in human terms, but like her child Andre she exuded a power that told me she was far, far older. My breath caught in my throat as I realised that this pretty little thing was the vampire queen who had orchestrated the death of my parents.

The Queen of Louisiana looked up at us, eyes primal, like a wild cat, coiled and ready to pounce. Her mouth was smeared with blood, her feeding interrupted. She appraised us with an eerie calm, not making a move except to lift her hand. A signal.

It was then that I noticed the two vampires stationed behind her. They were huge, as tall as Eric but twice as wide. Their identical cherubic faces were as young as the Queen's but their expressions were savage and deadly, their cold, expressionless eyes boring into us both. I noticed as they moved into position to protect the Queen that one of them was missing an arm at the elbow. I knew then that these giants were Sigebert and Wybert. These were the men who had taken Pam.

In the far corner the remaining three humans were sprawled out over a collection of opulent cushions. They were all scantily clad and hardly moved when we entered the room; they looked vacant, drugged up. Two vampires, one dark-haired female and a male who looked to be of middle-eastern descent, sprung up from the area advancing towards us, hissing at us with bared fangs.

With a steady hand, I let loose the first of my knives and hit the woman in the middle of her chest. She slumped to the floor with an agonising shriek, grasping for the knife, as I used my free hand to pull a stake loose from the waistband of my pants. At the same time Eric launched himself upon the male, decapitating him with his broadsword with one elegant stroke. The vampire's body began to collapse in on itself, decomposing into a pile of gore, as I drove my stake into the woman's heart, causing her to do the same.

The humans in the corner began to stir slightly at the brutality of the scene and their inherent panic started to push through the glamour. I shouted at them to get out as Eric and I turned to face the Queen's bodyguards.

Unlike his weaponless brother, Sigebert was brandishing a huge axe. Eric and I switched positions instinctively and Eric rushed at Sigebert, the metallic clamour of their weapons clashing resonating through the room as Wybert advanced towards me with lightning speed.

Before I managed to move I felt the vampire's one good hand close around my neck, his huge powerful fingers squeezing the air from my lungs. I rasped with pain, my vision immediately blurring from the lack of oxygen, as I felt my feet lift off the ground. With all my strength I rammed the second of my silver knives into his stomach. Wybert cried out as the burn of the silver ripped through his flesh and I gasped for breath as he released his grip.

The huge vampire grappled for the silver blade, the acrid smell of searing flesh filling the air, as he fell to his knees. Wheezing, my lungs on fire, I pulled my final knife from its restraint and jammed it into his shoulder. Wybert let loose another feral scream. He lashed out violently at me with his good arm, knocking my feet out from under me, causing me to crash awkwardly to the ground beside him. Still a little dazed, I had no time to brace myself as my head cracked against the cold tiled floor, the flash of pain that ripped through my entire body on impact, the only thing keeping me lucid.

Somewhere across the room I heard Eric yell my name at the same time as I felt Wybert's huge mass clamber on top of me, my blades still protruding from his torso. I struggled against him as he grabbed me by the hair, smacking my head forcefully against the ground for a second time. My vision began to darken, the pain overwhelming.

I knew I had only seconds left to act and tried desperately to fight through the fog of my mind to remember the manoeuvre I had practised so many times with Eric. In one fluid motion, I reached for the stake secured at my hip, bringing it up and ramming it forcefully towards Wybert's chest with all my remaining strength. Wybert's instinct was to block with his arm but his injured limb was an impediment. I managed to knock him to the side, penetrating his heart with my weapon. With a bitter cry Wybert slumped on top of me, the sheer weight of his body pinning me to the ground before he began to disintegrate, blood and gore seeping into my clothing as his carcass began to disperse over me and the floor around me. I screamed in horror, scrambling to wipe away his bloody remains, slipping against the tiled floor as I tried to get to my feet.

I looked around frantically for Eric. He was still fighting Sigebert but the Queen was clawing at him, sinking her fangs into his shoulder. I crouched down, retrieving one of my blades from what used to be Wybert and ran towards Eric. I launched myself at Sophie-Anne, trying to pull her off him. I wedged the knife in her back, sinking it into the soft flesh between her shoulder blades. She howled with pain as she relinquished her grip on him, whirling round to face me.

Her face was twisted with pain and anger as she stalked towards me and my stomach clenched with horror as I realised that I had no more weapons on me. I screamed for Eric, not wanting to take my eyes off Sophie-Anne for a second. I heard Sigebert grunt with pain as Eric cleaved his sword into his chest, kicking his slumped form across the room. In a flash Eric was on Sophie-Anne, twisting the blade in her back with one gloved hand, the other poised to break her neck.

"Where is Pam?" Eric growled, ignoring the Queen's agonised shrieks as he yanked the blade again.

"You'll never get her back," Sophie-Anne spat defiantly.

Eric pulled the blade out of her back, thrusting it into her neck. Blood began to spew out of the Queen's mouth and throat as she convulsed in pain.

"Where is she Sophie-Anne? You can still heal if I stop this now..."

The Queen's eye flitted towards a darkened archway leading to a small antechamber at the back of the room. I ran towards it as Eric dragged Sophie-Anne across the floor. I felt the mystical potency as I approached, the area crackled with energy and the smell of magic was in the air. It was dark on the other side of the arch but could make out the shape of large container. It was big enough to hold a person inside.

"Pam," I whispered under my breath. Bill had been telling the truth.

With a deep breath to steady my shaking body, I made my way to the archway and extended my hand tentatively into the expanse. There was a slight pressure and then it felt like I was dipping my hand into lukewarm water. I couldn't see the portal but I could feel its power reverberating through my body with the contact.

"Can you cross?" Eric asked anxiously.

"I think so," I whispered. I looked back to Eric, there was so much I wanted to say. "Eric, I..."

He smiled. "I know. You can do this."

I nodded and with a final calming breath I walked through the archway.

0-0-0-0-0

It wasn't as dark as it looked on the other side.

I looked around. I seemed to be outside suddenly and the moon was casting an eerie glow over the surrounding wooded area. I ran over to the box, not wanting to spend a moment longer here than I had to. It was constructed from thick slabs of timber but I could feel the faint presence of a void inside. With an undignified grunt, I tried first to push the lid off with my hands. When that failed I attempted to force it off by pushing backwards against it with my hips and ass. It only budged a little. Even with Eric's blood, I wasn't strong enough.

I ran back to the archway. Eric was stood on the other side, watching me expectantly, his hand still gripping Sophie-Anne by the neck.

"I can't shift it," I shouted at him, not knowing if the sound of my voice would travel across.

Eric pushed Sophie-Anne to the floor and, his face set with steely resolve, made to cross the portal. He immediately slammed up against a hidden barrier, unable to pass through. "Fuck," he cursed. "You need to try inviting me through," he pressed.

I hesitated for a second. If I invited him across into a Fae realm, it would be the ultimate trust in him, and, as far as they would see it, the ultimate betrayal to my fairy family. Eric would have access to a place hitherto secure from all vampires, their safe haven.

Eric looked at me from across the archway. I knew he could feel my confusion. His cobalt eyes were full of emotion, pleading to me. I sighed; we'd come too far for me to doubt him now. I had to trust him.

"Come across Eric," I said with resolve. "I invite you."

Eric tried again, pushing through the imaginary barrier with his hands, and then following with the rest of his body. With a smile he joined me on the other side, eyes roaming over our surroundings with a look of wonder on his face.

I grabbed his hand. "Eric, come on," I urged and led him over to the makeshift coffin.

"I can feel her," Eric said, quietly, almost to himself. He approached the box and pushed against the lid of the box with a roar. It flew off, landing on the mulchy ground behind with a dull thud.

"Pam," Eric whispered, as I gasped, taking in the sight before us.

I could tell that under normal circumstances Pam was extremely beautiful. She had a lovely face and long blonde hair that was splayed all around her. But she looked so incredibly pale in the moonlight, even for a vampire; her skin was almost translucent where it wasn't covered in burns. She was stripped down to her underwear and the inside of the box was lined with silver, effectively meaning that her skin burnt everywhere it made contact with the box. She was writhing in pain, groaning incoherently.

"Oh my God," I cried, trying to ignore the stench of burnt flesh as it filled my nostrils. "We have to get her out of there."

Eric was on her in an instant, his exposed skin burning against the silver as he cradled Pam in his arms and pulled her out of the coffin. Pam groaned again, in pain at being moved but also in recognition. Eric sunk to the floor with Pam in arms, holding her close to him, whispering to her that she was safe. I looked on, tears of relief flowing down my cheeks.

After a moment Eric bit into his wrist, pressing it up against Pam's lips. She was weak but managed to latch on to his arm, taking down the blood. Eric stroked her hair as she fed, whispereing to her all the while, as I looked on, my heart aching for them both.

After a moment, Pam opened her eyes. "Eric," she whispered, a bloody tear trailing down her ghostly skin.

"Yes," he said, kissing her forehead. "I am here."

There was a rustle of leaves in the trees behind us. "Eric," I whispered urgently, glancing around me uneasily. "We need to get out of here."

He nodded and stood up, Pam still in his arms, and with one last look around, we walked back through the portal together.

Sophie-Anne was still slumped on the floor, writhing in pain, her blood pooling slowly around her. Eric crouched down and laid Pam gently on the floor beside the Queen.

"Your majesty," he jeered, cruelty lacing his voice, "my child requires more blood and I was hoping you would be so kind..."

He pulled the Queen's body towards Pam. She struggled against him, spitting obscenities at him, but she was weakened by silver and blood loss, no match for Eric now. He grabbed her by the hair, removing the knife at her neck, pushing the open wound towards Pam's lips as he propped her up to feed.

"Drink," he prompted, as Pam's partly-healed fangs ran down. She sunk her mouth into the wound, drawing deeply, her burns beginning to heal up as I watched her take each pull in.

When she was done, she was strong enough to push the Queen's body away with disgust. Sophie-Anne was still conscious but weak, her eyes filled with fear. Eric took his shirt off and draped it over Pam's shoulders and then handed me the stake that was in his back pocket.

"She's all yours," he said grimly, gesturing towards the Queen.

I curled my fingers around the stake, taking it from Eric's grip and went to crouch down over Sophie-Anne. "This is for my parents," I told her, looking into her eyes, wanting her to see who it was who was going to kill her.

"You're the Stackhouse girl," she wheezed.

I didn't answer. She knew of me? Why?

"Niall must be so proud," she whispered, with a cruel grin. Even in defeat, she exuded a crazy power. I had no qualms about sending her to her final death.

"What do you know of Niall?" I snapped.

She let out an abrasive laugh. I had taken the bait.

"Tell me," I demanded shaking her roughly.

She laughed again, blood pooling at her lips. "Tell him I'll see him in hell.." she rasped, closing her eyes.

"I will," I vowed. My mind flashed to my parents as I drew my arm back and plunged Eric's stake into her heart.

I took a second for myself as I watched Sophie-Anne's body decay before my eyes. I had hoped I would feel relief but I just felt numb, hardened to it. I looked over to Eric and Pam.

Pam raised a curious eyebrow at me, mimicking her maker. "Sorry, but who the fuck are you again?"

"I'm Sookie Stackhouse," I replied with a grin as Eric let out a relieved laugh.

Pam nodded as if that answered everything. "Well thank you Sookie Stackhouse," she whispered, before leaning back into Eric for support.

"You're welcome Pam," I replied with a smile. Her and I were going to get on just fine.

My eyes shot to Eric. He nodded, agreeing with my silent entreaty that we should leave.

He picked Pam up into his arms and made towards the door. But something made him pause and he looked around him.

"What is it?" I asked, confused.

"Sigebert," he said, with a frown. "He's gone."

I noticed then a trail of blood leading towards the door. He must have fled when we crossed over to retrieve Pam. I reached out with my mind, trying to locate any voids nearby. Nothing.

"He's not close," I confirmed, relieved. Fuck. We so did not need a vengeful vampire on the loose.

Eric nodded, with a sigh, looking down at Pam with tenderness in his eyes.

"Let's get home. We'll worry about him tomorrow."

0-0-0-0-0

We entered the hotel lobby. Pam was propped up against Eric's side but able to walk, albeit a little shakily, after taking more of his blood in the car. Her skin looked a pallid grey colour under the fluorescent hotel lights. At least Eric had had the wherewithal to bring a change of clothes for us all in the car, hiding the worst of Pam's burns and the blood that covered us all.

I let out a sigh as we made our way towards the elevators. I was exhausted and now that the adrenaline from our encounter with Sophie-Anne was wearing off, my terror for Amelia had returned with a vengeance.

"We'll take Pam back to the suite and then we'll arrange to meet Compton," Eric assured me, leaning down to kiss me. His lips glanced over my forehead and I leaned into him, nuzzling my cheek into his chest, pulling him closer. I reached up to him on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his softly.

Suddenly I felt his whole body stiffen and he pulled away from the kiss. I noticed him flare his nostrils at the same time as his fangs came down. He looked around in a frenzy. It was then that I noticed Pam, crouched low on the ground, as if ready to attack. She looked unhinged.

"Eric, Pam," I hissed, panicking. "What's going on? This is a public place. Put your fucking fangs away both of you."

He looked at me, eyes utterly wild. I'd never seen him like this; it wasn't him at all. "What's going on?" I repeated, full of concern. I grabbed his face roughly in my hands, trying to get him to focus. "Eric!"

"Fairy," he growled in response and I looked around frantically, scanning the faces of all the people in the lobby.

My stomach lurched when I saw her.

She was by the reception desk, her beautiful face fixed on me. Her expression was one of abstract horror. I stared at her for a moment, my own face mirroring hers. I tried to speak but my throat caught. I tried again as she started to move away.

"Claudine!" I shouted across the room, following her as she began to run towards the back of the lobby. "Claudine!" I repeated.

I saw her escape into the ladies bathroom and followed her in, calling her name again. She was waiting for me as I entered, poised to attack. The bathroom was empty apart from us.

The look she gave me as I entered stopped me in my tracks. It was one of pure disgust.

"Claudine," I pleaded, as my eyes filled with tears. "I can explain..."

"How could you?" she accused, disappointment coating every acid syllable. "How could you?"

And then with a brief glow of light, she was gone.

A/N: I did say "sort of" in relation to the cliffie! But I think it's safe to say that the shit has officially hit the fan...

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