Sookie had me drive to Tara's Togs, where she helped me pick out some outfits. I tried to tell her that Eric had already bought me more than enough clothes, so she insisted I buy a bathing suit, shoes, and jewelry. I didn't bother telling her I would never wear the little green bikini, because protesting with her seemed to get me nowhere. The she picked out some outfits for "a business trip" she was going on with Eric.

With Eric? She continued to talk about New Orleans, and the Queen. I didn't understand anything, and by the look on her face I guess she realized as much, because she stopped talking about it. We didn't talk much until we got back into my car, and driving back towards Merlotte's so Sookie could get her car.

We chattered for a minute in the parking lot before she hopped out of my car into her own and then drove away. I put it into drive when something clawed at my window, making me jump clear out of my skin. I sighed with relief, and then gave a chuckle when I saw the cutest collie dog I had ever seen in my life.

It got down as I opened my door, and it promptly put it paws in my lap, as I went to scratch him behind his ears. "Where did you come from?" I asked softly, noticing there was no collar. I didn't talk to animals in the weird baby voices people did. The collie almost shrugged, I stood up to look for any signs of an owner, when the dog jumped into my car and into the passenger seat, giving me a happy bark.

"Oh you wanna go with me?" I laughed, still looking around, "But somebody's probably looking for you." The dog barked at me again, as if it was disagreeing with me. What a peculiar dog. "Fine. I guess you can come with me, I'm just going for a drive anyway." I sighed, climbing back in the car, I didn't know if it was wise to bring a dog back to Eric's, but luckily I had a few hours of daylight to figure that out.

I drove around for a while, talking to the dog, which I had named Max. I told him about Eric, how it felt so weird to be around a man besides my husband. How nothing felt normal anymore, or maybe nothing had been normal before. I really didn't know. I told him about Sookie, how she was my first friend. Which I found funny because I had been in most of Sookie's classes growing up, but had never acknowledged me before. I stopped talking, when I realized that the dog was looking at me so intently. Like he understood.

"Jesus Christ, please don't make me able to talk to animals too, I'm already enough of a freak." I whispered, turning up the radio, shooting glances at the dog, that had decided to look out the window. Maybe I was just paranoid. I found myself back on Hummingbird, passing Merlotte's. I ended up on the parish road, I slowed down, winding around the turns, glancing at the deer trail, remembering the night Eric saved me.

We passed Sookie's driveway, and neared my own. My heart pounded, but I switched on the turn signal, and turned into the long windy gravel driveway. Max looked at me, cocking his head to the side, as we reached the house. I parked the car, turned off the ignition, and stared at the worn down siding and roof tiles. The front steps were rotting, and you had to watch your step going up. The grass was overgrown, and weeds flourished in the flowerbeds.

I got out of the car, letting Max follow me, as I went up to the door. Carefully stepping, I got to the door, and pushed it open. It creaked eerily, and I couldn't se a thing. I stumbled for the switch and light filled the room. The table was still broken. The house still a mess.

I pictured Ray in the recliner, drinking his beer, watching his football games, shouting at me to make him his dinner. Walking into the dining room, I remember him breaking his beer bottle over my head one time, over burnt lasagna, he had been really drunk that night. In the kitchen, I shuddered as I remembered getting locked in the pantry for days. I couldn't go into the bedroom, just stopped at the door looking in. Why was I doing this to myself?

Max was sniffing around behind me, exploring every part of the rooms. I walked robotically to the basement stairs, flicking on the light switch. It flickered, and then dimmed, as I slowly crept down the steps, Max still following. I could see the blood on the ground, where the man, Alcide, had found me. I saw where I had crushed my husband to death. Max growled at the spot of blood, and leaned up against my legs. I patted his head, absentmindedly.

"Pathetic, worthless, stupid, bitch." I whispered, tears leaking from my eyes. Max licked at my hand, but I ignored him, staring at the wall in an almost trance like state. Max apparently decided that was enough, because he grabbed my pant leg and started pulling me towards the stairs, then running behind me and nudging the back of my legs, so I hurried up the stairs.

We walked out the house, slamming the door and jogging to my car. Max hopped in the car as soon as I opened the door, when I realized the sky was turning pink. How long had we been in there? Looking at clock I realized I had spent two hours inside. I hurriedly pulled out of the driveway, rolling down the windows as Max scratched at his. The last thing I needed was for Eric to get pissed for ruining the interior of his car. I slowed down as we turned on Hummingbird, without notice, before I picked up too much more speed, Max launched himself from the car window, and I saw him take off running through a field.

There was no way to go after him. I couldn't even see him anymore. At least I knew he wasn't hurt, I thought, as I picked up speed, and headed back to Shreveport. I made it back to Eric's in record timing, just as the sun was dipping behind the trees. I got to the couch, when suddenly Eric was in front of me.

"Good morning." I said with a smile, setting my bag from Tara's Togs on the couch. He smirked slightly, before sniffing the air, and raising an eyebrow, "What?" I asked, did I smell bad?

"You smell like a shifter." He said, "Luckily, you smell so good it doesn't matter."

"Shifter?" I asked, but he chose to ignore me.

"We have something to discuss." He said to me, sitting me down on the couch. I nodded for him to continue, "Someone in my area has leaked information about you to my queen."

"Queen?"

"Yes, the Vampire Queen of Louisiana." He said softly, "She has summoned us."

"What does that mean?" I asked, wide-eyed.

"It means we have to go to New Orleans." I nodded, so that was what Sookie had been talking about. "Riya, this is really important for you to remember." His beautiful blue eyes captured my own, "If anyone asks, you must tell them you are mine." I nodded again. "Good." He smiled, but it quickly vanished, "So now is the time to tell me why you were so upset today, I could feel you in my sleep."

He could what now?