"Save me," Eric whispered to Peggy when he saw the outfit he was meant to wear on the Mardi Gras float. It was covered with rhinestones, sequins and feathers and came with a sparkly Viking helmet.

"The Committee decided a Viking theme was appropriate," said Gregory Marstock with a big, smarmy smile. "Both Bill and I will be wearing something similar, though the horns of our helmets will be smaller."

"Wonderful," said Bill. He tried to smile, but only managed to look as if he were in pain.

"Well, go try it on," said Sookie, her eyes twinkling.

"You, too, Eric," Peggy said. Shaking his head, Eric took the costume and followed Bill into the changing area.

Eric, Bill, Sookie, Peggy, and Pam were at Mardi Gras World, across the river from the French Quarter, where the floats for the parades were constructed and painted. They had met there with Marstock and a few other members of the Vampire Businessmen's Association of Louisiana for the costume fitting.

Christopher Santiago was conspicuously absent.

Marstock was the first to emerge in his white and gold outfit, smiling proudly and turning in a circle to display himself to the other members of the club. Peggy held her breath. Laughing at this vampire was a very bad idea. Bill's outfit matched Marstock's and he looked decidedly embarrassed. Sookie pulled out Bill's camera phone and snapped a picture and he sighed as she giggled.

Eric was grinning when he came out of the changing room. Peggy felt her breath catch in her throat. The outfit was ridiculous and extremely garish, but that was the style for Mardi Gras Kings. The helmet indeed had big horns. The tunic was short and worn with tights, showing off Eric's muscular legs.

"How authentic you look," Marstock purred at Eric.

"That is not the word I would have chosen," said Bill.

"Nor I," Eric agreed. "In my day we did not have quite as many sequins… or a feather ruff."

"Oh, I like the feathers," said Sookie.

"Me, too," said Peggy.

"I know who is starring in the next ABBA number," said Pam, and she was the only one who received a glare from Eric.

The seamstress who was responsible for the costumes entered then, and Peggy looked about for Andre. For whatever reason, he had not joined them, and she was just as glad. She knew Bill was not in any hurry to introduce Sookie to the queen's intimate retinue. While the excited lady pounced on Eric, Bill, and Marstock, Peggy drew Sookie quietly aside to speak to her.

"Are you sure you're ready for…later?" Peggy asked.

Sookie smiled. "About as ready as I can be, I guess. You know it's hard for me…"

"I appreciate it, and I know Eric does, too."

"Ha," Sookie chuckled. "You have a higher opinion of Eric than anyone else but Eric himself."

"He has a good side to him," Peggy insisted.

"Don't be angry with me, Peggy."

"I'm not."

"Peggy."

"Well, maybe just a little. But you haven't seen the side of him that I have." Purposefully she opened her mind and grabbed Sookie's hand. Sookie gasped and pulled away as quickly as she could.

"It doesn't matter how good he is in bed!"

Peggy felt her cheeks heat up. "That wasn't what I meant to show you."

"I know, honey," said Sookie. "And I'm sorry Bill and I got to the hotel room before you did last night."

Now they were both blushing. Trying to focus, Peggy took Sookie's hand again. She wanted Sookie to know that Eric wasn't all deviousness and plotting… nor was Christopher.

"I can tell you truly love him," said Sookie. "And you know I'd do this for that alone." She paused. "Christopher, too. Even though I think he's a trickster."

"Sookie, he is a trickster… but he's not evil. Someone is trying to set him up, and Eric, and I think it's the same person. To have stolen Christopher's formula, he must have gotten someone inside the club."

"And that is why I'm going to…eavesdrop…on everyone at Bloody Mary's tonight," Sookie sighed.

Peggy felt cold eyes on the back of her neck and looked up across the room. Marstock was staring at them, and she wondered if he had overheard. After all, vampire hearing was legendary. She squeezed Sookie's hand and silently warned her that they had best end the conversation.

An hour later they were sitting at the best table in Bloody Mary's. Sam and Anne Marie had arrived first. Peggy was glad to see that they seemed to be in a good mood, and might even have been sober. Pam looked bored, but she pushed away her glass of the House Special when it arrived. Bill drank his with obvious delight, despite the glare from Sookie. Eric sipped at his, but he looked distracted.

Peggy reached over and took Eric's hand. He looked at her and smiled, but it looked forced. At her look of dismay and worry, he bent and kissed her cheek. "Everything will be all right, sweetheart," he promised, but she didn't know how he could say that and mean it.

Sookie closed her eyes and Peggy knew she was concentrating on the room. The telepath's gift wasn't always the most accurate weapon, but it was all they had.

"Almost nobody is thinking about Pickle Delight," said Sookie, frustrated, after a few minutes.

"Divine," Sam corrected.

"Well, someone hasn't forgotten her," said Eric.

"You shouldn't either," Sam said seriously.

They had a different waitress tonight, Peggy noticed. She also had not seen Christopher, and she wished he would join them. She looked over and saw Kinkerbelle working a section across the room. As if she felt Peggy's eyes on her, the human drag queen looked over at them, and her cheeks flushed beneath her garish rouge.

Sookie gasped. "She's hiding something…" She turned and look to see who Peggy was looking at. "Her, that waitress."

"You have to talk to her," Sam said urgently. He leapt to his feet, as did Sookie and Eric. Kinkerbelle turned and disappeared through a red velvet curtain. Peggy was still holding Eric's hand and she tugged on it.

"Sit back down. You scared her off."

"Pam—"

Pam sighed. "Yes, Eric. I will go request her company." She zoomed away from the table in a flash.

Eric and Sam sat back down, but Sookie remained standing. She swayed on her feet, and Bill jumped up now to help her sit again.

"You're wearing yourself out, Sookie," he said softly, glaring at Eric.

"What was she thinking, her?" asked Anne Marie.

"Can't let them know," Sookie said. "That's what she was thinking. Can't let them know."

"Know what?" demanded Eric.

"If I knew, I would tell you, Eric," Sookie snapped. She took a sip of Bill's drink. "Ugh, that's worse than regular True Blood."

"But the effect is much more pleasant," said Christopher Santiago as he and Pam appeared beside the table.

"Where's… Kinkerbelle?" asked Sam.

"Regrettably, Kicksy seems to have cut and run," Christopher said. He bent and kissed Peggy on the cheek, then winked at Eric. "I have sent some of my ladies to find her, and when I do, I promise that she will be detained until you can speak to her."

"Could she have killed Lady Pickle?" Sam asked.

"Possibly," said Christopher. He reached out and stroked Sam's hair. "Good boy," he crooned.

"Stop that, you," Anne Marie growled. Christopher laughed. His laughter was wicked and loud and infectious.

"So how did you like the feathers, Eric?" he said, winking.

"Remind me why we are helping you, again," said Eric.

"Because he's paying," said Sookie. She held a hand out to Christopher and he slipped her a check.

"That and because who ever is plotting against him is probably plotting against you, Eric," said Peggy.

"Are you really in love with this Viking, Margaret?" Christopher asked, cocking a dark eyebrow. "You could do so much better."

"No, Christopher… I couldn't," Peggy said, lifting her chin. "And as my friend, I will thank you to remember that."

"Very well, very well. It's late, my darlings… the club is closing soon. I suggest we reconvene tomorrow."

"Tomorrow night is the parade," said Eric.

"Trust me, I haven't forgotten that," said Christopher. "Come here at first dark and I promise I will have Kinkerbelle here to speak with Miss Stackhouse. You will have plenty of time to put on your shiny costume once we have finished her."

"You mean finished with her," said Sookie.

"Let's not argue semantics," said Christopher.