We left off with Adele experiencing telepathy for the first time. This chapter is one that fills in more details about the wondrous children in Louisiana and the mysterious men in Paris. The end will bring us right up to the party.

The title references time passing on for both the vampires (Pam and her locket) and the humans (their children growing). Thank you in advance for any reviews. I'll work right up to the end of the story from here on.

And Time Passes On

Adele Merlotte giggled at her flash of telepathy. Cool, I'm like Mommy now! She grabbed her brother's arm to hear his thoughts again, to feel that buzzing in her mind. But this time, she heard nothing.
"Adele, are you all right?" Bill asked, concerned. A.J. was looking at her like she was beyond crazy, that half-annoyed, half-worried scowl of big brothers.
"I'm good," the little girl said, bobbing her head. But if Mommy could read minds all the time, why couldn't she when she touched her brother again? Was that something she'd get as she grew up?
"Are you going kookoo?" A.J. said once Bill was out of the room.
"No. I heard what is in your head!" Adele whispered.
A.J. grinned in awe. "Whoa, really! I never could do that! So like Mom?"
"Yeah. But I got your arm again and I didn't hear anything again."
"Really?" A.J. was getting curious about this, and more than a little envious. "Let's try again--ow!"
Adele grabbed his arm a little too hard, but still nothing went through her mind.
"Huh. Maybe you grow into it. Maybe you didn't hear my thoughts at all."
"I hear-ed something!"
"Whatever. Go play somewhere." What the children didn't know was telepathy was not a click and it's on thing. Like any other trait, it took time to develop and master. Sookie's parents didn't find out until she was six, and Adele wouldn't have that steady stream of consciousness her mother had until she was nearly eight. But in time, it would come.
A.J. was envious of his sister's possible telepathy, but he had some special traits already, a month before he turned eight. He could hear, see, and especially smell better than other kids, which made him unbeatable at hide-and-seek. Strangest of all, when he got mad or worked up, his eyes would change to the gleam of a cat's eye. And now, blazing with curiosity about what was up with his sister, his eyes were the eerie green of cat's eyes. The first time it had happened, Sookie had about shot into orbit, panicking. Sam had calmed her down by pointing out the eye change was the half shifter in him. A.J. would never completely change, but his eyes would show his unique parentage.

The kids were asleep by the time their mother woke up in Paris. Sookie slid out of bed, careful not to wake Sam who was sprawled out on the rumpled sheet. (Just like an old dog, she thought.) She slipped on her robe, ran a hand through her ruffled hair (last night was fun) and grabbed her phone, heading in the bathroom. Time for the ace up her sleeve.
Pam's voice picked up, clearly amused. "Yes, Miss I've-Got-a-Plan?"
"So Laffy told you?"
"He said you won't take part in anything skimming the edge of the law but you have another idea, which I am so eager to hear." Sookie noted the playful sarcasm.
"Well, yeah. We're after your locket, right?"
"Yes--back in 1887."
"Why didn't you take it with you?"
"I left with Eric very quickly. I never said good bye to my folks, and I don't regret it."
Sookie gulped. "So anyways, remember that one night after I broke up with Eric?"
"Considering what happened, yes, Sookie."
Sookie grinned a little. "And you said you would do anything I needed you to?"
"Yeah, but you know, that was..."
"Emotion talking?"
"Nah, I have no use for that."
"Right...Anyhoo, I thought maybe you'd come here to the party and get your relatives to hand over the locket?"
"I see..." Pam looked over at Eric, holding a hand over the phone. "You realize she's rewriting your whole plan?"
"Yes, but I took that into account when I sent them over there. See why I like her so? Only Sookie would pull something like this."
Pam grinned. "So Sooks, you're asking me to cross an ocean to meet a few distant relatives who don't know I exist to take back one piece of jewelry?"
"Yep!"
"We shall see..." But Pam's tone told Sookie she would make the trip. The telepath hung up, and did a little victory dance there in the exquisite bathroom.
"Mmm, I can watch this all day." Sam was in the doorway, a wry grin at his wife. She blew him a raspberry in return.
"So Pam's coming Friday, and Laffy said he's in close touch with whoever is taking us to this party."
"So like a chaperone?"
"I guess." She shrugged. "We'll see Friday."
The next three days went by much as Monday had. The Merlottes would walk around in the mornings, Sam being especially fond of little cafes on side streets. "International competition," he'd joke. Mornings were also the time for catching up with the Louisiana vampires. The couple had to wait until late at night in Paris to talk with their children, as the seven hour difference meant school in Bon Temps got out at ten at night Paris time. But there was plenty in Paris to keep them busy during the meanwhile. Of all the things the city had to offer, Sookie's favorite were quiet walks along the Seine, perhaps a ride on a boat under the stone bridges. As for their nights, well, they were a couple in their prime in the most romantic city on Earth. They would have some fond memories of that hotel room...

Thursday night, the mysterious van parked down the street from the hotel entrance. Out stepped the two men, in sharp suits. Jack Ravenscroft and Arther Ogilvey were investigating, and they had one couple in mind. They greeted the doorman politely and strode in, looking around. Both had British accents, but Jack was about fifteen years older. Arthur Ogilvey looked about twenty-five and was tall, thin, and blonde. Jack Ravenscroft was average height, stocky, but was jokingly called by his friends "Robert Downey's long lost English twin."
"All right, so they're the ones after the family locket?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah, those two at the table. They look innocent, but they being here and hunting around in that jewel store is bloody suspicious."
"Well, should we go talk to them? You know, see if we can figure anymore out?"
"All right."
Sookie and Sam glanced at the men walking by, then looked up as Jack stopped in front of their table.
"I say, that is an exquisite gown there. Lacroix?"
Sookie blinked for a moment at Jack's compliment. "No, it's, uh, Von Maur?" She focused on his mind. Yep, they're American. Her voice gives it away.
Jack smiled, "It is a lovely piece. Allow me to introduce myself, if I may. I am Viscount Ravenscroft, which I believe is a name familiar to you?"
You have no idea, buddy, Sookie thought. Sam nodded. "We've heard that name, um, a few times. I'm Sam Merlotte, and this is my wife, Sookie. Um, so you're part of the Ravenscroft family?"
"Yes, I am. Here is my cousin, Arthur Ogilvey. If I may ask, have you heard of the Ravenscroft locket?" Arthur was busy eyeing Sookie and trying to keep it hidden. He wasn't succeeding, and Sam kept giving him little looks that Jack noticed. The Viscount bade his cousin to sit down at the next table and order a round.
"We have," Sookie said. "A shop owner back on the Sham-Zelly--ah darn, that big shopping street--told us about it. He said the owner disappeared without a trace," she said with a knowing grin.
"Ah yes, mysterious Pamela Ravenscroft. She was my great-great-great-aunt. That locket is a family heirloom of mine." And you two are not going to touch it.
Sam mentioned the soirée the next night. Arthur's eyes lit up and he glanced at Jack, who nodded back curtly. The Viscount smiled and leaned in. "Yes, at an Empire-style mansion not far from L'Opéra. But I am afraid that it's invitation only."
"Oh, we have an invitation," Sookie said. Hmm, their names aren't on that guest list I looked at. Sookie masked her sudden doubt about these people, keeping the welcoming smile on her face.
"Then I would say it appears I shall encounter you there?" He smiled that aristocratic smile again, and Sookie decided there was something slightly creepy about this guy and the blonde man who stayed silent.
"I'd say so," Sam said. The two British men said goodbyes and walked away. Sookie arched an eyebrow at Sam. "I was in his head the whole time. He wants us to be there, and he thought clearly that we will not touch this locket. What's a viscount?"
"He's nobility, but low on the ladder. Hmm, well, Laffy is going with us. And he told me his friend is another vampire, but a famous one. Plus Pam will be with us, you said." He twisted his mouth.
"We're still going, right?" Sookie asked. "When I have something to do, by golly it's getting done."
"Yeah, we still are. But we should be cautious, love."
On the other end of the room, Jack asked Arthur, "Did your gift pick up anything?" The younger man nodded.
"Her mind was on your name: Ravenscroft. And her thoughts lit up at Pamela's name. I'm thinking she knows her, but I have no idea how. And towards the end, she thought that we were rather creepy," he said with a grin.
"My instinct is saying they will still attend. So the woman knows Pamela?" The Viscount raised his eyebrows. "Do we know Pamela is no longer around?"
"If she had been turned or anything else, we would know about it. The local sheriffs in the States and all Europe have denied knowing her."
"Something is not adding up here," Jack pointed out. "Not at all."
"And what's more, this Sookie, she seemed to react specifically to your thoughts. She has some unusual way to read people..."
"Another telepath?"
"I've only met one other one, and she was in Rome. I hope we figure this all out tomorrow."

Friday evening came to Paris, the couple preparing for the soirée where they would find their locket. Sam was putting together the formal outfit he had packed, but his tie was nowhere to be seen. Sookie had holed herself up in the bathroom for over an hour now, and he getting a bit flustered at how fast time was ticking away while he looked for that damn tie.
In the bathroom, Sookie was getting her long blonde locks to lay nicely and adjusting the elegant evening gown Sam had no idea she had bought (using Eric's credit card info she had gotten out of him). Pam had texted her saying she was leaving New Orleans on a Paris flight a little before sunrise, and that put a grin on the telepath's face. "Honey, where's my tie?" Sam's voice came through the door, muffled.
"I'm just about done. I'll come help you look." Sookie looked back in the mirror, smiled, and opened the door. "How do I look?"
Sam looked her up and down and whistled. "Like an expensive perfume commercial," he said, "but hotter."
"Wait until you see the lace," she winked.
"Lace? Wher--Ohhhh. Planning a little something?" Sam grinned playfully.
"Maybe. You know, I feel almost like a spy or something in this dress. Like I'm on Burn Notice or something."
"And it's turning you on, isn't it?"
She leaned in close. "You'll see, Sammy. But first, this party thing. How am I supposed to talk at it?"
"Just keep it simple. Lots of thank yous, 'I would like' this and that, and you probably should call me 'Samuel' or 'my husband' or something like that."
"Okay, I can do that. And if you're wondering where your tie is, check under the mattress. I, um, sort of stuffed it there in the heat of the moment."
"Sookie, Sookie...you darn gal. Can't go throwing my clothes away."
"Then keep them on longer around me," she teased back, giving him her best sultry stare.
"Keep looking like that and they won't," he countered.
A few minutes later, they met up with Lafayette in the lobby. As expected, the vampire was dressed to the nines. A pale, thin man with wild hair and a thin mustache was beside him. Sookie realized he was the escort to the soirée, and a vampire. Sam was thinking he looked really familiar. Sure enough, Laffy introduced him right away. "This is our ticket in and a bit of a poet. Edgar Allan Poe."
The poet's voice was soft and high, but he had the air of intelligence around him. "If you have read any of my work, you may likely suppose being a vampire would suit me quite well. I'm afraid human life wasn't that kind to me, but this life, I can write as much as I please. So you have been enjoying the sights of this fair city?" Sookie nodded. Poe continued, "Lafayette has told me some of your unique traits and I can assure that you are amongst persons as wondrous as yourselves. Paris is a world center for the supernatural, all manner being drawn by this city's singular aura. If we may, we must leave now for this soirée. Perhaps you wilt see the more Gothic side of this city tonight." Poe nodded and walked off, bidding the couple and Lafayette to follow.

And thus began a most intriguing night.

Next chapter: The soirée and Pam arrives...