AN: I cannot heap enough thanks on those of you who review each chapter. Your often detailed reviews help me grow as a writer and for me that is a very great gift. I would like to give a special shout-out to doubleesou who wrote review number 200. Thank you so much!
Joyindenver rocks. She is my ever-patient beta who makes my writing and storytelling so much better. Your enjoyment is largely due to her efforts. Thank you, Joy!
Charlaine Harris is mother to all the kids on the SVM block. I love playing at her house.
Previously…
Sporting a small smile and shaking my head at being properly 'chastised,' I turned my attention to the package. It was a trademark blue box tied with a white satin bow accompanied by a note. There was no question that it was indeed from the King. The note was written on his personal stationary. The white bow slid away with the barest of tugs. I lifted the lid and had to blink a few times. My brow rose. I was shocked.
Without a word, I extended the box and the note to Sookie. She tilted her chin and glanced inside the box. For a breath, she was perfectly still. When the contents registered, her eyes grew huge. With trembling hands she took the box from my hands and held it away from her as if it was some alien thing. Sookie's lovely features instantly lined with alarm and anxiety.
"Why would de Castro be sending me jewelry from Tiffany's?"
Sookie's wide-eyed gaze traveled to the box she held in her right hand. Inside the square presentation box, resting on a white satin lining lay a diamond encrusted lemniscate, an infinity symbol, suspended by a heavyweight, but simply designed link chain. Sookie looked up, confusion wrinkling her brow and anger beginning to dance in her eyes.
"Why don't you read the note?" I prompted.
Sookie looked at the note she held in her left hand as if seeing it for the first time. Setting the box down on the hall table, she ran her finger under the envelope flap, breaking the King's wax seal. Unfolding the heavy vellum paper, she scanned the note quickly before beginning to read it aloud.
My Dear Miss Stackhouse,
Please allow me to say that I am looking forward to seeing you in Tulsa. I know that this has been a difficult few weeks and I appreciate your willingness to attend this event as an important part of my retinue. Also, it is my sincerest wish that we get to know one another a little better over the course of the weekend and begin to mend the rancor that developed between us in Shreveport. I truly hope that old acrimony can be replaced by trust and friendship.
I would be delighted if you will accept this gesture of my intentions in this regard. However, I am aware that you may be reluctant to do so for fear that it will create undesired obligations. If you cannot accept this token as the gift it is intended to be, please consider it a loan for the duration of our time in Tulsa. I will be most pleased if you are wearing it when we arrive there.
Warmest regards,
Felipe de Castro
"Do you have any idea what thisis about?" Sookie asked. "Why does he want me to wear this?"
Her face looked like it could not make up its mind which feeling it wanted to express. Confusion warred with anger, anxiety battled with reassurance. I understood her feelings. Dealing with Vampires, especially Vampire royalty, was seldom, if ever, straightforward. I offered little explanation there was.
"Sookie, in recent years, as Vampires have become more public and more organized some monarchs have chosen to have the members of their official retinue wear identifying badges or emblems. Since there will be representatives from several kingdoms attending, it may be that de Castro wants to create a show of solidarity. If de Castro has me, the attending Sheriffs, Sandy and any others from his kingdom wear the same symbol, we will know that that is his intention."
Sookie seemed to catch my private worries about the meaning of the necklace. "What do you think it means if I am the only one wearing something like this?" she asked, poking at the box with her hand. The cynicism of her tone told me that the question was clearly rhetorical. "The last time I saw a bunch of Vampires wearing the same thing was when Peter Threadgill and the Arkansas Vampires tried to kill Sophie Ann at their wedding reception in New Orleans."
Cynicism laced my own laugh as I replied, "Well, coming out has made all the monarchs more competitive with each other. So I guess these 'badges' help to keep the teams straight in large gatherings."
Sookie picked up the necklace and went back into the living room. She set the still open box on the coffee table and seated herself on the sofa.
I sat down next to her and asked, "Do you mind if I look at the necklace more closely?"
"Knock yourself out." She said as she reached forward to hand me the box.
I picked up the necklace and then dropped it immediately. "Ow!"
"Bill, are you okay?" She asked with alarm.
"Sookie, that necklace is made from silver!"
"What? Why?" She shook her head as if to clear her mind. "Are you okay?" She asked again.
"Yes, I am fine. The necklace is obviously not the white gold I thought it was." I looked at my fingers as the deep burns began to slowly heal.
Sookie picked up the necklace and looked at the clasp, pointing out the 'Sterling .925' stamped below the classic Tiffany & Co. logo. "Why would a Vampire give me silver jewelry?" she asked, sounding every bit as surprised and confused as I felt.
"That is a very good question," I responded. "We both know the effect of silver on Vampires. He may be concerned about your safety while we are in Tulsa or he may want to reassure you of his honorable intentions. Or, it could be both."
"Who knows?" Sookie sighed as she rolled her eyes. "I've given up trying to keep y'all's reasons for things straight. I'll take it with me when I go see Pam tomorrow night. Maybe she'll know something. I don't plan on wearin' it though."
I looked at my watch and saw that it was getting late. "I'd like to accompany you into Shreveport tomorrow night, if I may."
"You don't hafta' to shadow me for a shopping expedition, Bill. You'll be bored out of your skull." Smiling she continued, "Besides, I don't think anyone would want to tangle with Pam when she is in full-on shopping mode."
"No doubt," I said, exhaling a silent laugh, "but I will feel better if I can at least escort you ladies around. Besides, if Pam has something with which to enlighten us before we leave for Tulsa, I'd like to hear it."
Sookie just shook her head with a look of slight exasperation. "Okay, whatever. Just be here by six so we can hit the road. I don't want to be late. You know how cranky Pam can get." Apparently, the lateness of the hour had begun to make Sookie a little cranky as well.
"I am aware," I said as I stood to see myself out.
Sookie walked behind me to the front door. As I reached to open it, she stayed my arm with a light touch and tugged on it to turn me around. The tender look on her face stopped me in my tracks.
"Thank you, Bill," she said softly, continuing to rest her hand on my forearm. "I am really glad we can be friends. I'd hate it if we couldn't."
"You're welcome, Sookie. I would hate it too." My assignment to what I had heard called 'the friend zone' left me grateful and devastated all at the same time.
Sookie's smile was gentle as she tugged me down to kiss my cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow night," I repeated as I let myself out.
The long winter nights allowed me to rise early, so that I could be at Sookie's back door just before six the next evening. She must have been watching for me, because she was locking the back door as I walked up to the porch. She had a small tote bag on her shoulder along with her purse.
"Hi, Bill. Did you rest well?" she asked. Her question was one of the many polite, innocuous questions humans frequently asked of one another, but were a source of humor for most Vampires.
"Like the dead," I said with raised eyebrows and a grin.
"Bill…," she giggled in mock exasperation. "You know what I mean."
"Yes, Sookie," I said with artificial gravity, "I rested well. Can I take your bag?" I asked as we walked to the car.
"No, it's okay. I've got it," she said as I opened her door. "It's just the necklace and some heels and other things I'll need if Pam is going to have me try on some formals. I've also got the list of 'events' that I'll need outfits for. I hope we can get it all done tonight."
I settled in my seat and started the car. As we rode along, Sookie filled me in on the local gossip gleaned from her day shift at Merlotte's. She told me once that 'not much changed in Bon Temps' and from the sound of it she was right. Much of what she told me sounded like familiar gossip from my human days in the little town. Even some of the names were the same.
I did find it a little odd that she did not bring up the wedding, Eric, or the upcoming trip. Previously, just the mention of Eric's name or the wedding was enough to cause her tears. Now, I couldn't put my finger on how she was really feeling about any of it; she seemed to have muted her emotions. Whether it was from self preservation or resignation to the inevitable, I couldn't be sure.
Our ride continued uneventfully until we found ourselves at the employee's entrance to Fangtasia at 6:55; five minutes early. I parked next to Pam's space in the lot which was filled with a new BMW 335i. The two-door, cherry red Coupe announced that Pam's minivan days were over. It didn't have the verve of Eric's Corvette, but its sleek lines were all Pam, and it was certainly a car befitting her position as the interim Sheriff of Area 5.
I knocked on the back door. It was just a few seconds before Pam herself opened it. "Sookie." She said favoring her with a slight smile. "You are on time."
"Hey, Pam. We're early and it's good to see you too." Sookie's greeting was a study in good natured sarcasm.
"Bill." Pam's cool greeting acknowledged my presence. Her face was anything but welcoming as her usual bland expression was replaced by sharp assessment laced with suspicion. "I wasn't expecting you to accompany Sookie. I thought you would be busy doing the King's bidding." The emphasis on the word 'King' made it sound like a dirty word.
"I thought it might be best if Sookie did not drive alone tonight." I said, trying to allay Pam's obvious suspicion. "You shouldn't concern yourself about my obligations to the King. Rest assured that they are being met."
"No doubt." Pam replied, continuing to study me as if she could read something from my expression. Her concerns about my presence were clearly evident in her harsh voice and snappish comments.
"Come in then." she said, motioning us through the door. Walking toward Eric's office, she spoke over her shoulder, "I have a couple of things to do and then we'll leave. Stay here. I'll be back." With that, she left us sitting in the office listening to the sharp click of her high heels as she walked back into the bar.
"I didn't think Vampires got tired, but Pam sure looks it," Sookie observed as soon as Pam was out the door.
"She has had to do much more in Eric's absence, plus I think she is worried for him." I said. Sookie just nodded her head and looked back toward the door leading out of the office. "I think she is worried for you as well, Sookie."
"She doesn't need to worry about me." Sookie opened her mouth to say something else, but then closed it again as Pam came back into the office. Whatever she had been about to say was forgotten.
"Let's go," Pam ordered as she grabbed her purse from the bottom drawer of Eric's desk. "Bill, what are you going to do while Sookie and I shop?"
"I was planning on chauffeuring the two of you around if that is alright." Pam arched her eyebrow at my plan.
"Do you think you need to approve my choices for Sookie, Bill?" she asked sarcastically. "Are you questioning my taste, my ability to protect Sookie, or my loyalty to my King?" Pam fixed me with a hard stare as suspicion sat heavily on her features.
"None of the above," I said both surprised and more than a little put off by her barrage of assumptions. However, I realized that Pam was operating without Eric's guidance. Perhaps the questions she leveled at me were statements of her own insecurities.
"This is my effort to help." I said trying to allay Pam's suspicions. "With your tight schedule, I thought I might be able to facilitate the shopping trip by doing the driving and the bag toting." Clearly Pam's increasing responsibilities and concern for Eric were beginning to take a toll.
"I don't think Sookie and I need your help. If you want to help-," Pam was interrupted by Sookie who was growing increasingly upset by the back and forth between Pam and me.
"Listen, you two: We have enough on our plate without all the sniping back and forth. Bill asked if he could come and I said yes. He is under orders from the King to protect me and is just doing his job, Pam. Come on; let's get this show on the road. I don't have all night even if you do." With that Sookie picked up her purse and tote bag and headed toward the door.
Pam glared at me, and I glared right back. Finally, putting her bag on her shoulder, she turned on her heel and stomped out the back door after Sookie.
Once outside, I went to my car. When I realized neither Pam nor Sookie had followed me, I turned around to see Pam standing at the door of her car and Sookie poised in the space between the two vehicles. Pam was clearly determined to show that she was in charge.
"If I am going to drive, we should take my car," I said.
Pam snorted. "We will take my car and you can ride in the back." Her tone brooked no disagreement. I was beginning to understand the meaning of 'no good deed goes unpunished.'
Tamping down my annoyance, I asked, "What's the point of that, Pam? I can drop you and Sookie off at the door of the shops and then park and wait for you" Hoping that reason would prevail, I added, "If you drive, then time is wasted looking for a parking spot."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, you two." Sookie exclaimed. "Just stop it right now. Bill, let Pam drive. I'll sit in the back." Sookie had obviously reached the end of her patience with our bickering.
Deciding that nothing would be gained by continued argument, I gave in. "Fine. We'll take Pam's car, and I will sit in the back."
Pam flashed a triumphant, fangy smile as she opened the driver's door and got in. I treated her to a fang enhanced growl of my own as I squeezed myself into the backseat. Sookie got into the passenger seat shaking her head and muttering something about 'children.'
"Where are you taking me, Pam," Sookie asked trying to lighten the mood. "What kind of clothes do you think I need?"
"Have you looked at the schedule of events?" Pam asked. "You are going to need something for travel as well as for each of the nights we are there. You will also need some casual clothes for the days as there are no 'human only' events. If you attend all the evening events you probably won't need much for the day time though."
"So that means I need something western for Thursday night, something formal for Friday and Saturday night and some 'fancy travel' for Thursday and Sunday. Right?" Sookie had successfully diverted Pam's attention away from me. She had finally quit glaring at me in the rearview mirror. "I think I have enough of my own clothes for anything I need for daytime."
"We will need to make careful selections for all of the events." Pam stated. "All of us will be representing the Kingdom and none of us wants to disappoint the King. De Castro wants us to put our best foot forward." Her demeanor had perked up with Sookie's barrage of questions and comments concerning her wardrobe needs. "I even got an e-mail from Sandy asking me to monitor on your wardrobe choices. I don't think she likes you, Sookie."
"I don't know what I could've done to her," Sookie said sounding surprised. "I don't think I have exchanged a dozen words with her since the take-over."
"Well, I know she is fiercely loyal to de Castro, so who knows what her problem is? She did, however, ask a great deal about you, Bill." In the rearview mirror,Pam's smirk was insufferable and the look of calculation in her eyes was accusatory. "She seemed mightily interested in what you've been up to since you were there. It sounded like you'd gotten in pretty deep with de Castro and his minions."
"If you have something to say, Pam, you just need to say it. You don't do innuendoes well." My sympathy and understanding of the increased pressures on Pam were wearing very thin.
"Alright then. I don't trust you, Bill. You've gotten chummy with de Castro, Sandy is sniffing around you like a bitch in heat, and you are stuck to Sookie like glue on a postage stamp." Reflected in the rearview mirror, Pam's eyes glittered with animus. "So, which is it, Bill? Are you spying on me and Sookie for de Castro or for Freyda? My bet is on Freyda. With Eric out of the way, you get the Sookie prize."
"Now wait just a minute!" Sookie exclaimed.
I was furious. "Pam you need to pull your head out of your ass." Swallowing the blood that had filled my mouth from the sudden descent of my fangs, I continued, "I work for the King and owe him my fealty just like you do. I have no idea why Sandy is asking so much about me, and Sookie is not a prize to be won or lost. It is well known that Eric and I have had our differences, but he also has my loyalty if for no other reason than Sookie loves him. Where do you come up with this stuff?" Clearly I had underestimated the extent of Pam's stress induced paranoia.
Glancing meaningfully in Sookie's direction, she replied, "Let's just say you have a less than stellar tract record. Neither Eric nor I have ever been completely sure of your loyalties. It would serve your interests if he is out of the way."
"I have no interests other than those of the King. As for Eric's being out of the way, that serves your interests far better than it does mine." My tone was bitter and accusing as I continued leveling charges at her. "You're Sheriff now. You've got the title, a new car, money, and power. It looks like this works more to your advantage than it does mine."
Pam's eyes blazed as she whirled around in her seat with her fangs fully down. "How dare you!" she shouted. "Eric is my maker; I would never sell him out like that!" She reached over the seat, one hand still on the steering wheel, the other grasping for my throat. The car began to swerve dangerously.
"That's enough!" Sookie shouted as she blocked Pam's arm. "Pull this car over right now!" Sookie sounded truly frightened as her shouts pulled us out of our angry haze.
Pam brought the car quickly under control. "What do you mean, Sookie?" Pam asked, clearly shocked at Sookie's tone.
"What part of pull over did you not understand?" she yelled, her tone verging on hysteria. "Pull the damn car to the curb right now!" Sookie had her hand on the door handle like she might open it while the car was still moving.
"Alright, alright. I'm pulling the car over. Don't get your panties in a twist."
Pam slowed the car and pulled into the parking lot of a Wal-Mart and cut the engine. We sat silently waiting for Sookie. There was no sound in the car except for the hammering of her heart and the clicking of the engine as it cooled.
Finally, Sookie swiveled in her seat so that she could fix both of us with a hard look.
"I don't know how Eric puts up with either of you."
Pam bristled. "Sookie, you don't know-"
"Pam!" Sookie bellowed. "I'm talking now. It's. My. Turn."
Pam closed her mouth and turned to face the windshield, a stubborn look on her face. I wanted to grin at Sookie's imperious tone with Pam, but knew it would get me in hot water.
Sookie visibly calmed herself allowing her voice to be gentle as she said, "Pam, I know you love Eric." Fixing me with a hard glare she continued. "I know you hate what has happened to him and that you would never take advantage of the situation. I don't believe for a minute that you care one thing about the title or the power except as it relates to taking care of what Eric has managed to build for himself and Area 5."
Pam looked at me in the rearview mirror, eyebrow cocked as she gloated over Sookie's seeming to take her side against my accusations. It rankled me.
"Sookie, I don't think you understand how Pam has-"
"Bill! The same rules apply to you. It's my turn."
I sat back in my seat waiting for my tongue lashing.
"Bill, I trust you." She turned to look squarely at Pam as she spoke about me. "You have been honest with me and we have worked through our differences. I do not believe that you are trying to sell any of us out." I was gratified not only by her trust, but also her willingness to state it out loud. Pam just harrumphed disgustedly.
"What neither of you seem to understand is that Eric needs you both. Pam, is it true that Eric asked Bill to watch out for me?"
Pam rolled her eyes, but finally conceded, "Yes, but I will never understand why." Her tone dripped with disdain.
Nodding her head sharply at Pam's answer, Sookie turned to me. "Bill, who is the logical choice to look after Eric's affairs in his absence?"
"Pam. She is his child and his Second." I hated the concession, but it was accurate.
Sookie sat silently, looking back and forth between the two of us, letting the logic of her questions and our responses sink in.
"Alright then. Can we stop with the accusations? We have other things we need to be doing besides carping at one another. Agreed?"
Pam closed her eyes and grimaced. "For the time being…I agree. But don't expect me to like him."
Sookie just shook her head at Pam's petulant response. "Not exactly what I hoped for, but close enough. Bill?"
"Fine by me," I said, agreeing reluctantly. I might be over a hundred and seventy years old, but the urge to say 'she started it' was almost overwhelming.
As Sookie sighed wearily, Pam reached forward to start the car.
"Pam, wait just a minute." Sookie leaned forward to dig through her tote bag.
"What is it now?" Pam demanded. "Sookie, you are so much trouble."
"Yeah, yeah. I've heard that before, Pam. From you." Holding up the Tiffany's box, Sookie asked, "What do you know about this?"
"Ooohhh…it's Tiffany's. That's what I know about it." Pam's face lit up like a flare against a dark sky; her avarice was blinding. "What is it? Show me."
I was surprised that neither of them heard the sound of my eyes rolling in the backseat as Sookie opened the box to reveal the necklace inside.
"Oh," Pam said flatly. "I just got a stupid pin with little diamonds. How did you manage to get a whole necklace?" Pam reached to take the necklace from the box.
"Is your pin sterling silver?" Sookie asked as she moved the box out of Pam's reach.
Pam snatched her hand back looking at Sookie with a mixture of surprise and alarm. "That necklace is silver? Did the King send it? Why would he send you a silver necklace?"
"Those are real good questions, Pam, and I have no idea. Is your pin like this necklace?"
"Only in that it is an infinity symbol with diamonds; the diamonds are set in platinum, not silver. I still don't understand why de Castro would send you a silver necklace."
"I was with Sookie when she received the necklace, Pam. De Castro included a note with it. He wants Sookie to be wearing the necklace when she arrives in Tulsa. I think-"
"Bill thinks that de Castro is trying to protect me," Sookie interrupted. "What do you think, Pam?"
Pam held my gaze in the rearview mirror as she considered Sookie's question. She turned to look at Sookie and said, "I hate to say it, but I…agree, with Bill." She shuddered slightly as she said my name.
I could not keep the smirk off my face. If the situation had been less serious, I would have laughed out loud. "Good to know, Pam. Thanks." Sookie whipped her head around to glare at me for my comment. I shrugged my shoulders and looked out the side window, the smirk still firmly on my face. I'd had all I was going to take from Pam. Stress or no stress.
"Okay, you two, knock it off. You both need to get down off your high horse and think about what is happening around you. I need you both. Eric needs you both." As annoying and insulting as I found Pam, I could not ignore the plea in Sookie's voice. "We're about to walk into the middle of a mess in Tulsa." She continued. "We need to be together, not arguing with one another."
Sookie leaned toward Pam and laid her hand gently in Pam's forearm. "Pam if you know anything at all that will help Eric, please tell me. Even if it means that I can't be with Eric again, I need to know how to help him now. Very little of this makes sense and nothing about it is right." Sookie was pleading now. "Pam, please. Look at me. What do you know?"
Pam's pain was written large on her face as she turned to look at Sookie. She was caught between her love and loyalty to her maker and her affection for the human woman who had been such a good friend to her and who loved and was loved by her maker. I'd been in a similar spot; I understood her conflict.
"Eric thinks that Freyda will try something at the wedding." Pam said, speaking slowly as if the words were being physically wrenched from her. "He thinks he is being used as a pawn to grab de Castro's kingdom including its greatest asset. That's you, Sookie."
Sookie withdrew her hand and sat back, removing herself as far from Pam as the small confines of the car would allow. "Were you ever going to tell me?" Sookie asked. Her question was laced with bitter disbelief and disappointment.
"Eric told me to keep you out of it." Pam explained. "He struck some kind of deal with de Castro to protect you." This last carried detectable notes of resentment. Whether toward Freyda, de Castro or Sookie, it was unclear.
"What kind of deal?" Sookie demanded.
"He would never tell me the specifics. He told me it was better that way. I was just supposed to protect you, which I have done." Pam was at once sad and defiant as her words bore proof to what all Vampires know: a maker's wishes supersede all others. "Sookie, Eric was afraid that you would do something half-cocked if you knew more about what was going on with him. Please don't prove him right."
Sookie seemed to have drawn in on herself as she continued to stare at Pam to the point that Pam began to fidget slightly under her scrutiny. Finally, as if coming to some momentous decision, Sookie straightened her shoulders and turned to face the windshield. "Let's go, Pam. I'm on lunch duty tomorrow. Let's get this over with."