AN: The previous chapter and this were supposed to be one chapter but I couldn't find a way to cut it and I was atoning for my sins because I missed my midnight update today...so I made it a double feature to address a lot of the mystery behind Eric. Enjoy!

Eric

Chapter XII

Sookie had been briefed on what a wedding to a vampire would entail as I specified. By her shocked expression I could tell she had been expecting it to be more. I smothered a sigh. Typical human, of course she was expecting bells and whistles because she was merging her life to another.

The reality of a union where vampires were concerned was very simple. Witnesses gathered an official oversaw the signing of the marriage documents and that was it. The only thing that made mine remotely special was that the Pythoness presided over it and the witnesses were unhappy that I was getting my way. I signed on the last page of the document taking her for my wife and that she did the same making me her husband. I kissed her cheek lightly and that was that. I'd put a great big hassle behind me.

There was a brief intermission where the witnesses socialized. I took the opportunity to introduce Sookie to Sophie-Anne. I made a point to nod my head deeply for show. Following the cue Sookie did the same.

"Your Majesty," I greeted. "Meet my bride, Sookie this is Queen Sophie-Anne."

"Nice to meet you," she said politely. But the hold she had on my arm tightened ever so much. Obviously my wife was no fan of the fang. I didn't hold it against her. It has been ages since I'd found myself in the presence of this many vampires. Over the years my kind avoided me and I returned the favor as much as I was able to. I took a good look because I wouldn't be doing it again anytime soon.

"It is a pleasure to see the woman that can take the Viking off the market," she commented with a coy smile.

"Her Majesty is most kind to say so," I replied smoothly. "Please excuse us."

I took a step back and when she dismissed me I retired back to my room with Sookie in tow. Sex was on the mind of my wife but from her apprehensive expression she wasn't looking forward to it. Truth be told neither was I. I had something that would spare us both the headache.

"Sign this," I said, handing her the document from my breast pocket. "It states that the union has been consummated."

She signed the document after a quick glance without question. Getting this out of the way gave me time to lay down the ground rules ahead of time. From her reluctant position I needed something to sweeten the deal. In addition to monthly allowance, betrothal and wedding presents, I bought her several new cars. I'd also hired an assistant that hired a full entourage on her behalf. They would see to her every need from grooming to food and everything in between.

The price of my generosity was my time. I didn't want to be bothered with her. So long as we fulfilled our role in public I need not see her. I explained all of it and gave her new phone that was complete with a list of her contacts and handlers. Sookie listened and nodded politely but said nothing.

"It is not my intent to keep you prisoner or anything of the sort." I concluded. "As I stated previously, all that matters is that the terms our union are upheld. The house I purchased will be your home. You are free to come and go. My only point of contention is that you do so with the guards you have been assigned."

Another nod. Her mute routine wasn't something I expected. I'd given her jewelry that would shame a queen. I'd found a way around the fact that she didn't want sex. I'd been generous and she was either oblivious or ungrateful.

"Do you have any questions or concerns?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"For future references, questions and concerns should be routed through Bobby Burnham and he will assist you," I said. "You may retire now if you wish."

She nodded.

Having gotten our business out of the way I prepared to leave her. It crossed my mind to ask an open ended question just to make her speak but I didn't thrill from exerting control. If she didn't want to use this opportunity to speak, she wasn't going to get many others in the near future. Plus, the less she said the faster I could get back to more important things.

There was a Bazaar in the grand ballroom of the hotel and I attended because Pam was there. She didn't know how to behave in the presence of other vampires. That was my fault and I was sure I would spend forever paying for it. Most makers treated their vampire offspring like a second in commands, someone they could trust because they could exact complete control. It was very much a master and servant role.

All of it was a vastly different with Pam. I saw her as all that was good in me. From the very beginning I'd indulged her even when I shouldn't have. Long ago Illeta had told me I would regret it. Moments like these I had no idea how right my sister had been. I saw the confrontation long before Pam decided to open the door wide open to it.

"Excuse me," my child said, trying to bypass Freyda and her entourage.

"It is respectful to bow when addressing a royal," Freyda replied coolly.

"I have a bad back," Pam replied dryly. "Bowing and curtsying your way through the Victorian era can do that you know."

Pam had learned through the grapevine that the queen of Oklahoma had been one of the leading claimants against me. I didn't hold it against her because I got my way. That was all that mattered. Pam wasn't going to let that go and bow to her and asking her to do so was nothing but a power trip. She might be queen but she wasn't Pam's queen. She might be a royal but this wasn't even her state.

The room had grown progressively quiet as their exchange lost its air of faux passiveness. Entering the middle of that would only make things worse. I remained in the bar area of the ballroom and struck up a conversation with a scribe of the Pythoness just to keep out of sight.

"Mind your tone young one," Freyda inserted in a dangerously mellow tone.

"Piss off," Pam replied. "Unless you're going to make me mind my tone that is."

I sighed internally. That child of mine really did have the manners of a troll. I didn't like what she was doing but it didn't matter what she did, no one threatened or harmed her, no one. Without needing to be told my bodyguards left my side and flanked my child in an effort to mitigate the confrontation. Britlingens were an excellent deterrent.

At that blatant disrespect Freyda flashed fang and hissed. Her eyes were emerald slits on her porcelain face. I knew that if Pam was anyone else she would be receiving a very viable threat from her majesty. I watched the confrontation with an air of mild interest but not concern. Push wouldn't ever come to shove. Freyda knew she would be ash before she raised a hand to Pam.

"Are you still going to insist I bend over for you?" Pam asked folding her arms.

From the corner of my eyes I saw Sophie-Anne and André share a smile. They had their own issues with Freyda. Having Pam blast her in the open was a bonus. She might not know it but my child was choosing sides. My sister ghosted in from the back of the room.

"Pamela," Illeta gently chided. "Forever is a long time. It is why we night children always show decorum. You will apologize to the queen and you will do so now, anything less will be an insult to your bloodline."

"Seriously Leta?" Pam asked. "She's…"

"Apologize Pamela, now." My sister insisted.

"I'm sorry," she bit out as if the words minted silver on her tongue. "Excuse me please," she even added a nod for propriety sake but that was so reluctant I thought her neck would snap in two. She did it because even she knew I would forgive her anything else except disrespecting Illeta.

Appearances were everything and the show of respect was enough to appease Freyda. Illeta kissed Pam's head and pushed her my way. Then to further smooth things over she took Freyda by the hand and they continued circling the room. It didn't avoid my notice that Illeta spent more than a few pennies indulging the tastes of Freyda. Some might call it bribery but vampires were big on restitution. No matter the offense there was always a sum of money large enough to appease it. Though there was no real grievance this was my sister's way of making sure Freyda wouldn't cry disrespect later.

Pam remained alongside me but I didn't speak to her until we got back to my room. She was in trouble and she knew it.

"Please get it out of the way." My child after ten minutes of me just glaring at her.

"I absolutely do not need you to antagonize anyone, a royal especially," I snapped.

"Did you miss the part where she told me to grovel?" my child replied. "On top of that she's spreading stories to anyone that would stop long enough to listen."

"As is her prerogative," I retorted. "How many times have I told you? I don't need you to wage my wars or fight my battles. And where are you guards?" They would have been enough to mitigate her confrontation. No matter how angry she was Freyda wouldn't have flashed fang with daemon guards around.

She shrugged. "I left them at a hotel close to the airport. I figured you'd be enough to keep me out of trouble." She shot me smirk. "Turns out I was right."

I wasn't amused. "Pam," I barked. "This isn't Canada."

"Fine, I'm gone," she said, and then she headed for the door. "I'm sorry," she said with her hand on the knob. "I love you," I said nothing because I was trying to play the heavy. It wouldn't last long but I would save face as long as I could.

"You're going to make me sad," she said.

I went over and kissed her lips softly. Freyda wasn't worth upsetting her over. "I never want you to be sad. I love you always but I also love it when you behave yourself," I said.

"I have diplomatic immunity with Canada that I want to test," she said with a grin. "I'm thinking shop lifting or public indecency."

I fought a smile. "I mean it Pam, behave."

Her laughter was my only response as she bounded out of the room. I called Batanya the second the door closed.

"Pull Hellion and Damascus from my wife and send them after her, please." I'd really preferred to leave without further incident.

"No can do. Your wife is out."

"Doing what?" I asked. It wasn't that I cared where she was or what she did. It was the fact that she had told me one thing and was clearly doing another.

"Riding the subway," she commented. "Clovache and I will cover the princess of darkness."

With my guards gone I was remanded to my room for the night. I didn't mind. With all the different business venues and time zones in the world there was always a call to return and emails to reply to. Since I didn't have to spend time consummating my marriage I was ahead of schedule.

It was several hours later and everyone returned at once. Sookie along with Hellion and Damascus entered the main sitting area through her door. She looked a little bedraggled. Pam was being escorted in with Batanya tight at her side but Clovache the explosives expert was nowhere to be found. That typically meant one thing. There was a bomb here somewhere.

I wanted to depict a closer look into Eric and Pam's relationship because it's such a stark contradiction to the way he sees everyone (Sookie included) it kind of shows how extraordinary his growing to care for her really is. You guys agree, disagree? Let me know. I'm always curious to know if I illicit the targeted emotions from readers.