A/N - SVM characters belong to Mrs. Harris, original story line and characters belong to me. Forgive me for the update delay, I've been under a major case of spring fever and spent more time planting seeds this last week for my vegetable garden rather than hammering away at the keyboard. (Ducks and runs). Thank you again though for all your support, feedback, alerts and reviews.

Chapter 14 - Ego Much

Scene 1 - EPOV - Distaste

"I appreciate your assistance Mr. Cataliades. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow," I said as the conversation between myself and the demonic lawyer came to its conclusion.

With a sigh I flipped the phone closed and leaned back in my office chair, barely registering the few pieces of paperwork that fluttered to the floor when I rested my feet on the edge of the desk.

Sookie had informed me of Hunter's dream which had caused me to basically place myself under house arrest to soothe her worries. Then Hunter had come forward after Sookie had left tonight to tell me what he had held back from her and asked for my assistance.

Two hours later and half dozen phone calls made, Hunter seemed to be satisfied that he had done everything possible to counteract his dream. The family resemblance between him and Sookie was obvious, once he got his teeth into something he refused to let it go. The lawyer had been the last favor requested of me from Hunter, along with a call for confidentiality. I made sure to address everyone of Hunter's questions so his decisions were made fully informed. Despite my attempts to dissuade him he was bound and determined to do things his way. Perhaps Sookie would have a stronger influence on him when she returned.

I was weary of all the political bullshit and at the same time my skin was crawling with the need to DO something. This nebulous threat to my family plus the persistent feeling that Sookie and I were being manipulated was a relentless itch in the back of my skull. My temper was riding a razors edge, worse for the fact I could not allow my natural instincts free reign and go on a bloody rampage.

Pam slipped into the office, drawing me from my thoughts, and seated herself in the chair in front of the desk.

"What have you discovered?"

"Carmichael's body was found a few days ago, what there was left of it," she said. "He was carrying blue prints for some sort of industrial project."

"No indication as to whom he was meeting?"

"Nothing, the prints did not have any specific markings."

"Hand the prints over to Chow; let us see what his protégée can dig up on them."

"The kid returned safely?"

"Fully marked, yes. Obviously more to the little nerd than meets the eye."

"Are you still meeting with Viola?" Pam asked.

I curled my lip, "Unfortunately yes."

"Sookie left so she wouldn't be tempted to kill her, is that it?"

"Viola keeps pushing the blood connection, Sookie refuses to acknowledge it."

"That creature is not Sookie's family."

"No Pam, indeed she is not."

Pam stood and excused herself but before she left the room I dropped one more bit of information.

"Pam, there is no memory or record of anyone called Aeson amongst those remaining in the political hierarchy of New York, or any of the adjoining states."

"What a shame."

"Yes," I admitted. "He had great possibilities."

"You want me to kill him?"

"Not yet, I want to see just what he is up too. If you spar, stick to the more modern techniques. He will not become suspicious then."

She smirked, "You mean what you have learned in the last six hundred years?"

"He is dangerous; I do not wish to lose my child to her ego."

"Eric I have moves even you have yet to see," she purred.

I rolled my eyes, "Good night Pam."

My phone vibrated as she exited the office, indicating by text message that Viola had arrived and was waiting with her retinue in the Hall. The staff had already set it up business meeting style. I knew Viola had thought we would be able to have this discussion in a more intimate environment like my office or the library but I had no intention of encouraging such a relationship.

She may be a Queen again, but she was no Stan or Russell. She was not an ally or a friend to be trusted without heavy security in attendance.

She was talking quietly with her people when I entered. The statuesque vampire was dressed to impress with a dove grey tailored suit with sapphire jewels at her throat and ears, displayed to their advantage by her up-swept dark blonde hair.

I meandered over to the table and took my seat at its head with Thalia sitting to my right and Charles to my left of the oval conference table. Viola looked up and I could see the anger sweep over her features before she hid it at my casual attire. I was greeting her dressed in worn dark jeans and my signature black tank. I had not even bothered to fully lace up my boots.

She sputtered for a moment then sat down at the other end of the table, signaling her retinue to join her. I dismissed the other two vamps as unimportant; they were younger than Pam, and probably with Viola only as a means to jump start their climb up the vampire hierarchy.

I kept my face neutral but the foremost thought in my mind was the faster I got this meeting over with, the faster Viola would leave and the faster Sookie would return home.

"Welcome to Gudrun Viola, to what do we owe the honor of this visit?" I asked her.

"Nice setup you have here Eric," she replied. "Perhaps I could persuade you to trade a couple of your donors before I leave. You have a delicious selection available." She did not answer my question which I refused to allow annoying me.

"They are free to come and go as they please. If one decides to follow you back to Alabama, it makes no matter to me as long as they fill out the proper paperwork severing their contract with us."

"They are contracted with you?" she asked surprised.

"Of course. We make arrangements for their room and board, medical expenses and anything else they may require. Some are on a direct salary and for others we are paying their college tuition in exchange for their donations. If they decide to leave us, the exit paperwork only confirms their understanding that such support structures are no longer our responsibility. But I am sure you set up something similar for your own donors, so the transition should be smooth."

She sat a moment gaping at me before responding. "Actually no, our donors receive the roof over their heads and food upon their tables, but we do not pay them for their services. We consider being chosen to donate blood to the monarchy a reward in itself, and encourage competition between the donors. For example, those who eat healthy or in such a way to enhance their flavor and therefore their demand, gain access to private living quarters and other occasional rewards."

So her donors were given the bare necessities and probably replaced frequently. "As I stated if one of my donors wishes to leave they may. I do request you properly inform them of what their new roles with you will entail."

"Of course Eric," she simpered then glanced around the room. "Will my sister be joining us shortly?"

I bit back my instinctive growl, Viola was well aware Sookie and I did not recognize any blood bond between the two of them. Sookie had completely wiped such a taint from her system but Viola refused to acknowledge the fact, obstinately claiming they were still related by Freyda's blood. "Sookie is traveling this evening."

Viola's eyes hardened though she formed a pout to keep up appearances. "I was so looking forward to speaking with her, Queen to Queen you know."

I was bored already and not in the mood for diplomacy. "Yes, congratulations are in order for your new position. I have one question though, how long do you expect to cling to a throne this time?"

She snarled and stood with her hands braced upon the table, leaning towards me and allowing her power to roll forth, as if to impress me. "You dare question my ability to be Queen?"

I leaned back and placed my feet on the table, waving a hand in dismissal to her display of temper. "I do not question your ability to take advantage of situations and work them toward your own ends. You are a vampire after all. Am I impressed with how you won your current throne? Not at all, you did what any other vampire, desiring the throne would have done in your shoes. You had a physical advantage from the culling which Madison did not, as she had not been called yet. You used the advantage and now you hold the throne. The dubiousness is do you have the talent necessary to keep it."

She was growing angrier, her fangs on full display and a growl rumbling in her throat while her aura of power swelled. "I am a Queen and you will treat me as such Eric. I demand your respect."

Next to me, Charles' lips twitched and I could see the glee dancing in his eyes, he was expecting me to put this chit in her place and I had no intention of disappointing him.

I had no need of posturing and remained in my relaxed position, but I let slip the noose which held back the essence of my power. It roiled forth slowly, oozing across the table and over the people seated alongside before swelling over Viola and her lieutenants until it filled the whole room. It pulsed as if to the rhythm of a heartbeat and weighed heavily on the senses until even Thalia sat with her head bowed and trembling.

I honestly surprised myself; apparently I had come back with more from the culling than expected. For I had never had this strong of a vampiric presence before, enough to overwhelm most yes, but not to fill a complete Hall. No matter, I had accomplished what I wished and smiled sardonically at the terrified Queen of Alabama.

"Do you desire to repeat your demands?" I asked Viola as I slowly drew the power back until the room returned to normal while I quickly read the text message my phone just delivered.

"What the hell are you," she whimpered as she flopped back into her seat.

I allowed her to see my displeasure with her idiotic question. "I am a King, no more, no less. Now I tire of these games you seem to wish to play, tell me why you are here."

Viola took an unnecessary breath and replied, "I heard you were looking for information on Cinaed MacTeine and am willing to trade for the intelligence I have."

"This knowledge could not have been divulged over the phone?"

"Eric, I wished to visit my sister and her husband. I had hoped to spend some time with my remaining family. I thought to work the information into our conversation to show my familial support."

"What do you want in return for the information?"

She smiled like a cat with a mouth full of canary feathers. "I wish our states to be allied like Mississippi and Texas are to you."

"You are afraid Victor is going to take your head so you wish to hide behind me," I summarized truthfully. "Come now Viola," I interrupted her response. "You killed Victor's wife to get the throne, and while there was no love lost between the two of them, Madison and Victor worked well together. You stole power from Victor and he is not going to react to it well once the culling is over."

"What is wrong with an alliance between the two of us? What makes Stan and Russell so special?" She pouted.

"Firstly, our states were allied before I took the throne. Secondly, as Sheriff I had already worked with Stan and Russell in the past. The trust and respect had already been formed; add in the fact each Monarch had hired Sookie's services from Sophie-Anne it was a win win situation. They also honor the agreement between the Fae and the Vampire without abusing or manipulating the Fae in their employ," I explained pointedly. Madison had allowed one of the Fae warriors to die when he defended her second in command instead of calling in one of Ludwig's people to care for him. It was rumored the body was drained and the blood distributed as a 'reward' for services rendered. Viola was guilty by association as she was a member of Madison's retinue at the time and did nothing to assist the Fae.

"So you won't let me into the boys club," she snarked.

"Viola, you lost one crown due to incompetence. You do well as an officer but you have no experience as a leader. You have never been a Sheriff. You still cling to the tenants Freyda espoused and your battle prowess is negligible." I waved a hand at her officers. "You cannot even gather the loyalty of Madison's officers; instead you had to replace them with associates with less experience than you. How are they too advise you?"

She stated emphatically, "These men survived the culling; they are strong enough to be at my side."

Charles' rolled his eyes and one of the officers in question growled.

"Viola," I said. "I will assist you in smoothing over the mess Madison made with the Fae, but you will have to prove to their clan leaders, not me you have the desire to honor any future agreements. As far as an Alliance is concerned, my answer is no, not at this time. You will need to show me you have the strength and leadership skills to stand on your own first. I will though, advise Stan and Russell of your request in case they wish to ally with you separately." I decided to give her a crumb, "Viola you were very good as a liaison and a diplomat play on those strengths and you may survive Victor's revenge. Bring the people you now have under your command to your side using the tact you used to excel in. Do not follow in Freyda's bullying footsteps; it is the reason why she failed. Threats and brute force will not keep you on the throne, it will speed your loss."

She was contemplative for a moment then responded. "Fair enough Eric, I will accept your assistance with the Fae and I will still give you information you have been looking for. Cinaed MacTeine is well known for his black magic. Even before the Fae alliance he was working among the vampire courts and covens in exchange for mineral rights and investment opportunities." A strange smile crossed her lips. "MacTeine has a good reason to wish you and yours to hell. You killed his greatest student, Pari Lium and were responsible for the death of his human partner's daughter, Amelia Broadway as well as the destruction of one of the most powerful covenants in the nation." Her smile grew at my raised brow. "Yes Eric, He is a Master of the Black Magic's, including Necromancy and Demonology and he has been allied with most of the vampire monarchies in Zeus Clan for centuries. Just as Brigant has worked with you and yours for almost the same time period."

She stood and raked me with a disdainful glance. "You have bitten off more than you can chew with this Fae and I will take the greatest pleasure when he breaks you and your precious Sookie." She spun on her heel and marched toward the double doors with her officers in toe, watching us warily over their shoulder.

"Viola," I called out when her hand touched the door. "Your diplomatic immunity lasts until dawn, you are open game afterwards. If you try to return to this State, I will not keep Sookie from killing you."

"My sister would never harm me," she blindly denied. "But you on the other hand I have no doubt would attempt to do so." She flung the door open, attempting a dramatic exit which fizzled when the pneumatic hardware absorbed the brunt of her force. I heard her curse and then the clack of her heels stomping down the marble hallway.

I let the fangy smile I had been hiding spread across my face at her peevish display of temper.

"Do you want me to track her to the border?" Charles asked quietly.

"No," I said with a wicked grin as I showed Charles and Thalia the text I had received. "Victor is waiting to welcome Viola with open arms back at her palace."

"You set her up," Charles said in admiration.

I shook my head and smiled with pride. "It was all Sookie's doing."

Scene 2 - SPOV - Gossip

I landed in Russell's courtyard with a finesse Eric would be proud of. I even grounded the levitation magic before the wind managed to destroy Russell's carefully coiffed hair do.

He was waiting for me with his honor guard, comprised of some of the most delicious human, Fae, shifter and vampire man flesh in the nation. Russell gathered me into an embrace and air kissed my cheeks before stepping back and running a paternal glance from my toes to the tip of my nose.

"Sookie darling, you look wonderful. Marriage assuredly agrees with you," he gushed before hooking my hand through his elbow and escorting me into his compound. The sweeping staircase was just as I remembered from the last few times I had visited, complete with its "Gone with the Wind" flavor. The mansion reflected Russell's opulent and contradictory style, combining lush Victoria with an austere elegance. Russell's retinue followed closely behind us then dispersed across the marble floor to return to their various duties.

We ended up in Russell's library where a complement of donors awaited us. I politely fed from one of the females he had considerately provided, a rarity among his household and then took a seat in one of his comfortable leather chairs.

We then proceeded to gossip for the next several hours, getting caught up in all the comings and goings of the various monarchs Russell was familiar with. He was the one to inform me that Bubba had survived the culling, sporting a large mark while happily carrying on about the huge cat dinner he had been invited to attend.

"Apparently he is a bit more lucid and according to some vampires who have been unfortunate enough to upset him, extremely deadly now in hand to hand," Russell related. "He actually seems to remember a small amount of what happened to him, unlike the rest of us."

"Have you heard from Bart yet," I asked quietly. Bartlett Crowe was Russell's husband and King of Indiana. He had come through the culling safely but his state had problems in Indianapolis as well as having to deal with a slew of vampire refugees from Illinois and Ohio.

Russell beamed at me. "Bart is fine, and has absorbed some noteworthy officers from the other States. He is going to try to visit me next week."

Unlike many vampire monarchy marriages, Russell and Bart had married for love, just as Eric and I had. I was happy to see his lover had survived the scourge for I doubted Russell would recover easily from the loss of his beloved, despite his many centuries of existence.

One of Russell's staff interrupted us with a tray full of warmed exotic bloods which we enjoyed before continuing our conversation.

Russell divulged the intelligence his people had collected about MacTeine for us, emphasizing that the Fae had cornered with Carmichael much of the silver and precious metals market and that his 'Blood Factory' was well up and running.

Russell waved a hand over the blood samples we had just tasted. "These are some of his offerings, rather popular with the West Coast Monarchies. He and his clan are quite deep in the pockets of many influential vampire and human businessmen."

"You think he will buck the alliance?" I asked, meaning the new alliance between the Fae and the vampire as well as the upcoming revelation.

"I know he will," Russell replied. "Supernatural entities working as one against the humans instead of against each other will lower the market value of his various products. For example, without the hint of danger acquiring them used to entail he will have to lower his fees. How can he charge extra for Fae blood based products when many Fae are willing to place their blood on tap, safely, in exchange for other services? He no longer has a corner on the market, and he is not the only supernatural unhappy with his leader's decisions."

I nodded, "There will be splinter cells of rebellion everywhere, but the Elders and the other Clan leaders seem to be determined to go through with this."

"It will be a sight to see indeed. I doubt the humans will be overly receptive to the demand of a three party system here in America. I can just see their foolish faces when they are told the new party system will be comprised of Democrats, Republicans, and Figments of Their Imagination."

I snorted with laughter at his apparently silliness, and then my eyes widened in horror when I observed he was serious. "You're kidding me right? They really want to use that as a party designation?"

Russell nodded with a straight face before collapsing into giddy laughter. "Oh Sookie, you are still so gullible."

I growled and pouted. "It wasn't as bad as some of the other potential titles I have heard."

Russell's eyes began to gleam as he leaned forward confidentially. "Enough with the sleazy politics, give me the real scoop darling, how are you and Eric doing. Is he living up to that sexy bodies advertisement?"

If I could blush I would have been. I loved Russell, I really did but sometimes he could be so obnoxious. "We are fine, though we do not get much time together right now. I usually end up dealing with the human side of things while he handles the vampire issues. He hates dealing with the BVSA and local human governments so that is where most of my evenings are spent."

"I heard the BVSA tried to recruit you."

"Tried being the operative word, I turned them down flat."

"Good, they are so not in touch with the political spectrum they claim to monitor and represent."

"Eric and I do find time here and there to be together," I admitted then frowned. "But it seems like every time I turn around something or someone is threatening us our very existence. Eric claims that since he broke me out of Andre's chains he hasn't had so much excitement in centuries. Personally I am sick and tired of it, and it hasn't even been a year."

Russell patted my hand gently before reclining in his chair. "Eternity is a very long time isn't it," he said with a wry smile and I nodded.

Eric and I had either been fighting against or chasing down some sort of nasty almost every month if not every week. It was becoming a heavy burden realizing this could be our lifestyle for the next decade, the next century even the next millennium. While I was human I could ignore the passage of time by hiding deep within myself to contend with Andre's abuse. Each day passed by as a painful blur, blending each unto another.

But now I was no longer emotionally restrained and was required to personally partake of each and every minute of every evening. It was daunting to know I could be caught on this particular roller coaster ride for an extremely long period of time.

"It will get better, will it not?" I asked Russell in concern. He had been a King for over a century, unlike the only other monarch I was close too, Stan.

"It will never be easy Sookie," he admonished quietly. "But once you get a better feel for your responsibilities and the political maelstrom dissipates you will find the monarchy will practically run itself and you and Eric can go back to humping like little bunnies."

"Russell!"

"Well what do you think Bart and I do whenever we get a chance?" He asked in disbelief. "With that fantastic hunk of manly pleasure at your beck and call you cannot tell me you do not indulge and frequently!"

I held my hands over my ears. "Too much information Russell, really, too much."

I was able to steer the conversation back to less embarrassing waters and assisted Russell later in the evening by interviewing some of his new human staff and settled some disputes using my telepathy.

When it neared the time for me to leave, Russell once again escorted me back to his courtyard and gave me a swift kiss goodbye. Many of his household crowded around us to see me summon my 'magic air carpet' and rise into the sky.

Russell shouted at me over the roar of the wind. "Have you heard anything about Viola?"

Remembering the text message I had been copied in on from Victor, I shouted back, "I do not believe she will be a threat anymore." Russell mimicked my satisfied smile and threw me a cocky salute.

I gave another wave goodbye then began my flight home to the arms of my Viking King. It wouldn't be long before a new day dawned determined to bring us to our knees.