Chapter 24

During the plane ride, Hermione did her best to not think about the fact that she was flying and kept to the book she found in the Malfoy Manor Library. It was a journal of sorts, from Septimus Malfoy. Oddly enough, the 18th century wizard mentioned Eric a few times.

I met a vampire today by the name of Eric Northman. He had seen my duel last night and was impressed by my magical skill. He had never met anyone in the wizarding world before. We continued discourse and concluded that it would be profitable if we become business associates.

He was such an eloquent and charming creature, I daresay he couldn't be a more perfect partner for the House of Malfoy. (At this Hermione rolled her eyes. It seemed arrogance and vanity ran in the Malfoy family as well as their platinum blonde hair.) I look forward to the many returns we will have and can only hope that my future sons continue on with his business.

To Hermione's relief the airplane landed safely and as she and her cousin got off they could hear the airline greeting over the loudspeaker, "Anubis Airlines welcomes you to Dallas the most vampire-friendly destination in the great state of Texas."

When they saw an older man holding a sign stating 'Compton Party' Hermione smirked when her cousin waved, "You Who!"

The man awkwardly waved them over and Sookie was grinning from ear to ear.

"That's us," The blonde telepath held up a small liquor bottle. "I've always loved these. They're like booze for dolls."

Hermione laughed at her tipsy cousin, but noticed the man glancing nervously in her direction, "They gave her 10."

The man looked like he was sweating, "You're two hours late. Supposed to be here before sundown."

"We got delayed for takeoff," Sookie gave her cousin a pointed look.

Hermione's anxiety over flying and resulted in the delay. An airline medic had even been involved.

Hermione shrugged, "I hate flying."

"Why don't you two go into the limo?" The man suggested. "I got the A.C. cranked."

Sookie was still grinning, "No, thanks. I'm fine."

Hermione arched an eyebrow at their limo driver, "Everything okay?"

He smiled and gestured to the vehicle, "Yeah. You two just go on. There's Cokes in there."

He glances nervously between Hermione and the travel coffins.

In that moment Hermione heard his thoughts, and by Sookie's wide eyes, she could tell her cousin had heard as well, {Just get in the goddamn limo, you stupid bitches.}

He grabbed ahold of both women and Hermione tried to reach for her wand.

"Get your hands off me!" Sookie demanded.

Hermione could seem to shake him off to get to her wand. Times like these she wished she had mastered wandless magic.

"Bill!" The witch shouted.

Bill burst out of the coffin and grabbed their attacker by the throat and growled, "Make a noise and it'll be your last."

They heard thumping and the sound of a travel coffin falling onto the floor.

"Hey, how the hell does this thing open?" They look over when they heard Jessica's muffled voice. "Somebody help get me out of here. Help!"

Feeling pity for the new vampire, Hermione rushed over and opened the coffin for her.

Jessica smoothed out her rumpled strawberry blonde hair as she stood, "Thank you."

Once they were seated in the limo, Bill wasted no time glamouring the male human, "Tell me your name."

The man's eyes held the vampire's, "Leon."

"All right, Leon, no one is gonna hurt you," Bill looked to Jessica. "Would you like to try?"

Jessica grinned, "Could I?"

"Here," Bill moved over a little as Jessica moved next to him. "Lean in close so you can catch his gaze. Then just let everything go. Let yourself be dead. You feel it?" His vampire 'daughter' nodded. "You are empty, a vacuum. Now you can pull his mind into yours."

Sookie looked to her cousin, "Is this how Obliviate for you works?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, it's a spell that alters the mind. It works with intent, but you don't need eye contact."

Jessica continued the glamour connection with Leon, "Everything's gonna be okay. There's nothing to fear. Don't you worry about a thing. It's gonna be all right."

Bill moved to sit in between Sookie and Hermione.

Sookie smiled at her boyfriend, "You were very sweet with her."

He scowled, "He was sent to abduct the both of you."

Jessica still held Leon in glamour.

"Which means somebody knew the both of you were coming," Bill finished.

Hermione shook her head in the negative, "He looked nervous when he saw me. As if he didn't expect me to be here."

The male vampire frowned at his friend, "Still, he grabbed you also."

"Who do you think's behind it?" Sookie asked. "Vampires?"

Bill disagreed, "To sloppy. Maybe that church."

Sookie laughed, "Bill, they may be crazy, but they're still a church. They're not gonna kidnap anybody."

Bill gave his girlfriend a look, "Sookie… Churches have done much, much worse throughout history."

Hermione agreed, "Yeah, not counting burning my people… though, most of them didn't actually die due to a Flame-Freezing Charm… but that's beside the point."

~HG/EN~

Once they arrived at the Hotel Carmilla, Bill, Sookie, and Hermione went to check in while Jessica sat down with Leon.

After giving the receptionist their names, the woman looked to Bill, "I have you down for a room with no bed."

Hermione had to give the woman credit. She didn't bat an eye, as if wanting a room with no bed was a natural request.

Bill turned to his travel companions, "Eric."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "He would."

Sookie smiled at the receptionist, "No, we need a bed."

"Of course," the hotel employee typed on her computer, "I do have a light-blockable room with a king-size bed. It's a suite. Double-soundproofed."

"Oh, with an adjoining room for my-" Bill looked to Sookie and Hermione. "What should I call her?"

Sookie tilted her head, "Isn't there a vampire word?"

Bill answered, "Progeny."

"Childe," Hermione added.

Her cousin grinned, "Call her your ward. You have a ward, like Bruce Wayne."

They smiled and Hermione grinned.

"And for you, Miss Granger," the receptionist told the brunette. "You're booked in the Penthouse."

Hermione rolled her eyes once again, "He would."

"You can stay in our room, if you want," Sookie offered.

She was not going to be a third wheel during this trip, "No, it's okay."

"These accommodations are covered by a third party, right?" Bill asked as he signed some papers.

The receptionist nodded, "Yes, sir. It's all been taken care of by a Mr. Northman."

Suddenly Leon shouted, "Becky Eubanks is a stuck-up whore!" They turned to see Jessica laughing hysterically. Hermione joined in- the man had tried to kidnap her and her cousin after all. "Who let Jayce finger her in the church!"

"Jessica!" Bill reprimanded and gave Hermione a disapproving look. He and Sookie turned to the hotel employee, "She's new."

The group went up to Bill, Sookie, and Jessica's suite with Leon in tow. After Hermione lit a fire with her wand in the fireplace she sat down with Sookie while Bill sat next to Leon. Jessica went to her room.

"Leon, look at me. Look at me, Leon," the (man slowly looked to Bill. "Everything is going to be okay."

"No, it's not," Leon was scared. "My worst nightmare is-"

Bill shouted at the closed bedroom door, "Jessica, what on earth did you do to this man!?"

Hermione found herself chuckling from Jessica's response, "I am on the phone!"

"Maybe if you put your hand on his shoulder?" Sookie whispered. "Sometimes touching them helps me hear their thoughts better."

Bill put a hand on Leon's shoulder. "Who sent you?"

"Fellowship of the Sun," he answered instantly.

"Are you a member?" The blonde telepath asked.

"No," Leon said. "They hired me."

"Who did?" The witch asked.

"Specifically?" The vampire added.

"I'm not sure," the man told them. "It was over the phone. Money was put into a locker for me at a Greyhound station."

"And they hired you to do what, exactly?" Bill wondered.

"Abduct a human with the Compton party, bring her to the church," he glanced at Hermione. "There was only supposed to be one human."

"Do you know my name?" Sookie asked.

"No, ma'am," Leon answered. "I didn't even know you were gonna be a woman. All I know is the vampires are using a human to find the vampire Godric."

Hermione sat forward, "Do you know where he is?"

"No, ma'am, I do not," he answered again.

The three looked to each other and Bill nodded, "You did very well. I'm sure your employers will be pleased."

Leon smiled, "You think so?"

Bill smiled, "Of course. What could you do? We never arrived. It's not your fault."

Leon let out a reassured laugh, "Yeah. Flight never arrived."

Bill shook his head, "No. We just weren't on it."

Leon grinned, "I got so nervous for nothing."

They all give Leon a reassuring smiles.

Hermione then turned Sookie and waved a hand, "These are not the droids you are looking for."

The women laughed as Bill sent the man out of the room and away. As he called Eric, Hermione helped her cousin unpack.

"We were ambushed at the airport," Bill said by way of greeting on his cellphone.

Hermione looked from Bill to Sookie, debating on telling her cousin what she had experienced.

"You know exactly by whom, Eric," Bill's voice was irritated. "The Fellowship of the Sun. Why didn't you tell me they were involved?"

"Sookie," Hermione whispered. "I need to tell you something."

Her cousin stopped what she was doing and looked at her expectantly, "What is it, hun?"

"I read that man's mind," Hermione then remembered telling Sookie that witches and wizards could do so with the use of magic. "Without magic."

"You mean, like me!?" Sookie's eyes widened with her shriek.

"Shh!" Hermione looked to see that it was too late. Bill was watching them. "Yes, it first started with Rene. It came in like bad reception but with Leon… I heard everything."

Sookie hugged Hermione. "You must be scared."

"Something like that," the witch muttered.

"Hermione is fine," Bill turned his attention back to his phone.

Hermione looked from the phone, to Bill, to Sookie, "We can't tell."

Sookie frowned, "Eric's gonna find out eventually."

"Bloody hell. You're right…" Hermione sighed. "Um… I don't know…"

"You could have shared your suspicions with me." Bill scowled into his phone.

After what Hermione could only assume was a telling-off, Bill hung up the phone and turned to the witch, "Is this new?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I was always terrible at Legilimency, so I have no clue why I can read minds now."

"Maybe it's because we're related?" The blonde suggested.

"That's highly possible," Bill put a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "But do not worry. We'll figure it out."

Hermione nodded and went to her room. She was amazed by the elegance; however, she grew tired as she unpacked her beaded bag. She slipped on her new nightgown and crawled into the California King-size bed. As soon as she closed her eyes she was asleep.

A short time later she rolled over and felt someone pull her into their hard body. She went to grab her wand on the nightstand but a strong hand grabbed her wrist.

She rolled over to see Eric's blue gaze by the low light of the room, "Eric, what are you doing here?"

He smirked down at her, "Snuggling."