Armando faded to darkness.

"Sleep," was the last thing I heard.

I was tranquil, peaceful, and content. A vast emptiness. I couldn't tell if I was sitting, standing, or floating. It was more restful than sleep, more peaceful than lying in the grass on a summer afternoon. It just was.

A remote voice intruded on my serene state. My mind refused to focus. The words drifted past in the darkness. Warmth brushed my forehead, down my cheeks. The smell of mint oil filled the air. The voice grew louder, closer, beckoning me. Yet the words were still an incomprehensible mumble to my resting mind.

Closer yet, in my head now, "Wake."

I opened my eyes and adjusted to the dim lighting. Candles cast golden shadows on my skin. I was standing barefoot in a barren room wearing only an emerald green silk nightgown. It was mid-thigh length with spaghetti straps that cross in the back. A ribbon tie defined my bustline. The floor beneath my feet was black and smooth, free of texture. There were no walls or fixtures to define a room. Hundreds of candles formed a circular perimeter around me, but there was nothing else. The smell of fresh mint strengthened. Warmth brushed down my neck.

"Sookie," a faint whisper filled the air.

I turned. Empty.

A motion caught my eye. I looked up to find Armando standing just outside the bounds of the candles. His skin was glowing, hair shining in the candlelight. He smiled reassuringly and stepped into the circle, his eyes gauging my responsiveness. Keeping his distance, he circled around me, walking slowly, intently. His eyes focused on mine. I wondered if I could will a stake into the dream. I stepped back, but he was faster. Smooth silk caressed my skin as he slid a robe over my shoulders. I cinched it around my waist and stepped back, distancing myself. He watched me curiously, cautiously, as if I were a wild animal about to flee.

"Trust me," he whispered

I stepped back again, the situation too familiar. These were his first words on the boat. I was wearing the nightgown from the bed. Armando had it in his grip when he touched me.

He stepped closer.

I held my hand out, cautioning him to stop.

He hesitated, looking confused by my resistance.

"You promised you wouldn't have sex with me if I did what you wanted!" I yelled. "I know you're not Mark, I won't sleep with you again. Step back, now!"

A look of complete agony crossed his face. "Again?" he muttered. His eyes turned to the floor, masking a series of unspoken emotions. After a long silence, he stepped closer and asked, "You thought he was me, and he… he took advantage of you?" His eyes, his rich brown eyes, were wide and full of concern. His hands clinched.

Rich brown eyes.

"Mark?" I questioned hopefully.

He stepped closer, cupping my face in his warm hand.

"How do I know it's really you?" I whispered.

He paused thoughtfully. A smile swept across his face and he reached for my hand. He held my hand to his face, pressed his soft lips to my skin. When he released my hand back to my side, I felt a soft object slide against my palm. I looked down. It was a corsage. Three pink carnations. I smiled up at him.

I inched closer, asking "Are we dreaming?"

"Yes," he smiled down at me, taking my hands in his and pulling me into his arms. I put the side of my face against his chest, he tucked me against him. He said, "Sookie, what did Armando do?" He voice was soothing, reassuring, but there was a flash of fury behind Armando's name.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around the void in an attempt to divert his questions.

His eyes followed mine. "Anywhere you want to be," he said.

A breeze swept through the void around us, carrying the sweet fragrance of flower blossoms. The floor softened beneath my toes. I looked down to a thick blanket of lush green grass. Cherry trees, in full bloom, surrounded us. A temple illuminated the landscape. Tall thick wooden columns towered, each atop a single large stone, supported a green tiled sloping roof with upturned flaring corners. Every inch of the temple was painted in red and gold, metallic in the gold shimmered in the endless candlelight. The song of exotic stringed instruments and bamboo flutes danced through the air.

Mark stepped back and put his hands together, palm to palm, in a prayer position. He bowed. When he stood, he was dressed in a charcoal kimono, with an emerald green obi belt. I looked down to find that I too wore a kimono, a floor-length emerald green kimono with grey obi. My hair was up in a voluminous bun adorned with flowers cascading down my neck. He reached out and cupped my hands in his. A warm breeze returned, gently tossing cherry blossom petals into the air overhead. Thousands of white and pink petals carried through the breeze, swirling through the air around us. The grass was blanketed, delicate petals rained around us.

Gently and slowly, he pulled me to him. Our eyes never parted. I wanted him to kiss me in this perfect moment. Instead, he just looked into my eyes and smiled. In that moment I felt completely content. I stepped closer, our bodies nearly touching, and stood to my toes to lean in and kiss him. He put a finger to my lip, and leaned to the side. He kissed my cheek, temple, and forehead, his lips sensual and soft. From my forehead he trailed kisses to my earlobe, gently tracing the sensitive skin of my ear with his tongue. I released a welcoming moan.

Suddenly he stopped and stepped back. I looked up, disappointed at his withdrawal.

"When our lips meet again I want it to be because you have chosen me, because you want me as I want you. My desire for you is more than physical." He spoke softly, his hand placed over my heart to emphasize his point.

He bowed again, speaking what I guessed was Japanese. When he stood we had returned to the void, only candlelight surrounding us. I groaned in disappointment.

He chuckled, "I can take you anywhere. Where do you want to go?"

"Home," a plain and simple truth. I would go home, alone, wear an old pair of pajamas and watch movies all day long.

He nodded in understanding. A frown crossed his face, "What did Armando do?" His voice attempted to sooth, but he was clearly enraged with his brother. I understood it wasn't his fault. If everyone blamed me for Jason's indiscretions, I would be exiled from Bon Temps. He softened, "Sookie, please trust me. I promise to never hurt you."

"Mark," I protested, shaking my head. I couldn't tell him. He would interfere.

"Tomorrow morning we want you to leave town. Wait an hour after sunrise. Hal has keys and directions. Northman says you will be safe at this location. We will join you in three days and..."

"No," I shook my head, a tear slid onto my cheek, "I can't leave."

His eyes studied my face, questioningly, cautious, "He threatened you." It wasn't a question. The corner of his mouth twitched, the only visual indicator of his raging fury. He tried to smile.

I needed him to stay out, and not interfere. I couldn't risk Amelia. I said, "If I just stay here and help him he said I can leave in 72 hours. You cannot interfere."

"I will help you." From the look on his face I knew he wouldn't let this go. There was no way I could keep Mark and Eric from interfering.

I shook my head, "I wish I could tell you everything, but I can't."

He smiled and said, "Sookie, I am going to wake you now. I am one room over if you need anything."

I nodded.

He put his hands on my temples. He smelt of fresh mint and candles, hands still warm.

The candles burnt out and I was in darkness.

*

I opened my eyes to find myself in bed, lying on my side. I was snuggled beneath several layers of blankets. I should say we were snuggled beneath several layers of blankets. I didn't need to look up to recognize the muscular arm wrapped around my shoulder. But I did. He was watching me, looking thankful that I was finally awake.

He smiled.

I smiled back.

Eric.

My smile faded as I identified the feel of silk against my skin. I whipped the blankets off to find that I was wearing the silk nightgown.

Armando had dressed me, worst yet, he had undressed me. "Oh… Oh no!" I gasped. Panic ripped through me like a tsunami. Armando said he wouldn't have sex with me. If he wasn't, who was? It was a vampire, there had been a bottle of Royalty. It was the most expensive, and rarest, bottled blood on the planet. My hands flew to my neck, desperately checking for any sign of exploitation.

Eric gentle gripped my hands in his. "We found you in time. He didn't have sex with you… But he did…" Eric stopped and looked away. I wasn't exactly what he intended to tell me, but his face was pained.

"What did he do?" I wasn't certain I wanted to know. And I knew Eric wouldn't want to be the one to tell me.

He pulled me to his chest and took my wrist in his gentle grip. He kissed my wrist, and after a pause held it in front of me. He said reluctantly, "You exchanged blood."

"No," I gasped, looking down to the nearly healed marks on my wrist. Anger swept through me. I would not play by Armando's rules anymore. He crossed the line with this. "You walked in while he was doing this?"

The look in his eyes was significant, telling.

"He did this to see if you would react, didn't he?" I asked.

He nodded, "I am certain of it."

I continued, "And when you got upset, he knew who you were and that you care about me?"

"Yes." He admitted reluctantly.

"Eric, he said this whole thing was never about me, but that he was using me for something bigger. Maybe he is really after you and he is using me as bait. He broke our bond temporarily. He must know we are bonded. Why else would be torment you?"

He considered my words, nodding.

"Something is happening within the next 72 hours. I don't know what, but Armando said I could go home after that."

"Sookie, you must leave tomorrow. It is too dangerous for you here and I can't risk…"

"No! I can't leave. I said I wouldn't."

Eric's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You owe him nothing Sookie," his tone scorching.

I took a long, deep breath and decided to get it all out before I could talk myself out of it, "Eric, there are two things that I know. First, I will not leave if you are in danger. You can't say or do anything to make me leave you here. Secondly, Armando has Amelia and he said he would kill her if I try to escape or if anyone interferes in his grand scheme."

Eric stared at me. He had not anticipated this move from Armando, and it upset him. I wasn't certain if he was admiring or enraged by Armando's deviousness. Perhaps both. Whatever was going on around us was well planned and well orchestrated. Eric did not appreciate some else holding the upper hand.

"It was Amelia on the phone," he said sullenly, "This is why you left with him?"

I nodded. "Eric, were you in cahoots with Stan to overthrow Felipe?"

"Stan was badly injured in Rhodes. As he recovers, someone else is calling the shots."

"Who?"

"I don't know," he admitted.

"But you're in cahoots with them anyway?"

"It was the only way to save you, Sookie."

"And Armando is in cahoots with them too?"

"It appears so."

"Then how could you and Armando be on opposite teams if you're in cahoots with the same person… unless one of you is being betrayed."

I recalled the fate of Fangtasia. It was suddenly blatantly obvious who was betrayed, "Your bar!" it was all I could get out before tears swelled.

"Your friend Amanda saved us tonight." His words were heavy, weighted with anguish. He clearly had not expected any of the Spaniards to be on his side. Eric didn't expect anybody to be on his side, ever. I wondered if he ever put his guard down, other than the days he once spent with me. My Eric.

"What happened to Felipe, Sandy, and Victor?"

"I do not know."

"Victor was there when Felipe tricked me. He told me to say 'no', but I was too scared of him. Sandy cut off his finger."

Eric looked thoughtful, but didn't comment.

I continued, thinking out loud, "Also, before Armando came for me, a woman followed me into the bathroom at Fangtasia and said that Sergey was looking for me. She said she called him."

Eric shook his head.

Since I was already on a roll, I figured I may as well disclose everything, "And tonight Armando promised he wouldn't have sex with me, but before he touched me he emphasized that he wouldn't have sex with me."

Eric muttered, "This is all unexpected."

I'll say.

"Do you think Sergey is somehow involved with Armando, Stan, or whoever is running Texas?"

"I do not know, Sookie." He looked exasperated. The weight of his many years filled his eyes.

"Eric, I'm really sorry about Fangtasia." The bar was his life. He spent every waking moment in it, basking in the hordes of tourists and fang bangers making their nightly offerings. It was also his, and Pam's, investment.

"The bar is insured for triple its worth. When Amanda told me to evacuate I ordered my people to scatter. We suffered no losses."

It was significant that Eric was telling me this much. From the look on his face I knew he wanted to say more, but was reluctant. He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand and smiled. His brilliant blue eyes returned to their luster and I was suddenly aware that I was in bed with him, wearing nothing but a silk nightie. This clearly hadn't escaped Eric's observation either.

He kissed my forehead, lips lingering above my skin and whispered, "I thought I lost you tonight…" He pulled back, looked around the room as if searching for his lost words. His face softened as he looked back to me, "Sookie, did you love me?"

I fought against tears. The dreaded conversation. Not here, not now, maybe not ever. I did the only thing I could, I told the truth, "Maybe. I don't know. It wasn't really you."

"Do you love him?" His words were somber. He was clearly asking about Mark.

"I don't know. We just met."

"You don't know many things, Sookie"

I couldn't disagree with that.

"Right back 'atcha," I returned.

He lay down and pulled me to him, resting my head against his chest. I nuzzled into him and closed my eyes, quickly falling asleep wrapped safely in the arms of my former lover, an ancient warrior Viking.

I didn't need a man to feel complete, nor did I need a man to feel safe. I didn't need a man at all. Sometimes, however, it's just nice to be comforted in the arms of someone who cares. Especially after being kidnapped and blackmailed.

*

I woke to the simple pleasure of sun in my face. I stretched and snuggled back up against Eric, nestling in against his chest and wrapping my arm around his waist. I put one leg over his. He was warm, very warm, too warm.

And, he had a pulse.

My eyes shot open.

Hal was staring at me, ready to burst at the seams. He roared with laughter, eventually letting out, "Thanks Sookums! That was the furthest I've ever been with a woman. Am I now officially bisexual? Did I just cheat on Dominic?" he was cracking himself up.

I pinched him, laughing.

The door flew open and Armando's lady brigade entered. Did they have to look so beautiful all the time? Did they sleep in makeup and wake with perfect hair?

Michelle saw Hal and said, "Darling, what are you doing in here?" She asked it as if entering Armando's suite in the daytime were a federal offense.

"I invited him," I said snarled. I figured since they thought I was head mistress, I may as well be a bitch.

I saw Mazeika eye the silk robe, champagne, empty bottle of Royalty, and massage oils. She looked back up to me and beamed. Apparently Armando set the scene quite effectively; even his concubines thought we had been intimate. I wondered if they realized that Armando left them behind at Fangtasia knowing that there would be a fire. I wondered if he even cared enough to be concerned for their safety. Maybe they were just the vampire equivalent of farm animals to him. I suddenly felt sorry for all three of them.

"Oh spare me," Hal sent telepathically. He jumped up and declared, "Actually ladies, Armando didn't have her last night." Once they turned to him he smiled, adding, "But I did."

The blond was the first to laugh. Her laugh was boisterous and contagious. The others joined.

She stepped towards the bed, "Your clothing was delivered while you were sleeping. We put everything away for you. We weren't sure what beauty products you use, so we bought some of everything. If you need anything, just ask."

My mouth had dropped open at some stage during her greeting. Was it not bad enough that they had to share a man (a man that didn't truly love them), but now they had to be subservient to me? How degrading.

With a smile, Michelle added excitedly, "Darling, we have several things planned for us today."

Hal quickly chimed in, "Sookie has an appointment at noon."

"Business or pleasure? I will help pick a suitable outfit." The blond declared.

I fumbled for words, "umm…"

Hal turned to me and said, "Why don't you go shower and I will take care of everything on this end."

I nodded, thankful for the opportunity to flee the room, and trotted to the bathroom. I wondered what Hal had up his sleeve. Clearly he knew I wouldn't leave town. Mark must have told him.

Less than an hour later I was cleaned, primped, and ready for the day. I dressed in a strapless sundress with coordinating headband. The accessorizing shoes, purse, and shawl complimented the outfit, without exactly matching. Clearly these ladies knew more about higher fashion than I ever would. Hal and I walked out the foyer, down the hall, and to the elevators. My fellow mistresses did not attempt to follow. As the door opened into the lobby, we were greeted by two suited men. They appeared to anticipate our arrival. Without breaking stride, Hal gave them the address of our destination and headed for a town car.

The hotel was in the downtown commercial district of Austin. We turned south on Congress Avenue. Looking back, the Texas State Capitol anchored the northern point of this major thoroughfare. We crossed a bridge, sweeping views of Town Lake to the left. Minutes later we parked in front of a restaurant. We hadn't traveled more than two miles.

As I slid out of the town car, an identical car pulled beside ours. Two shifters exited, each nodding to us, acknowledging our presence. Hal squeezed my hand and sent, "They are Armando's daytime men. They will follow us anywhere we go."

Oh great.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

Hal was great, but we happen to be on opposite ends of the socio-economical spectrum. I was not expecting him to take me to a place like this… We were standing in front of an aged one-story tin building painted in vibrant red and blue. Colorful Christmas bulbs strung from every available height and pole. It must be a beacon at night. A large yellow wooden banner declared, 'Eat here now!'. Chuy's. I thought, "I love it already".

Hal chuckled, "I knew you would."

Walking inside was a visual experience, checker floor, bright colors, salsa, all wrapped up with velvet Elvis paintings and a lethal dose of kitschy Americana. It was a winner. Hal guided me to the bar and ordered two Mexican martinis, the local specialty. I chatted with the barmaid, a kindred spirit, as Hal went to grab chips and salsa from the salsa bar.

"Looking pretty Sookie," a familiar voice said behind me.

I turned to find Barry Bellboy, fellow telepath, fellow Rhodes survivor.

"Barry," I gasped. He was looking good in his designer clothing, posh haircut, handsome. He looked expensive. "What a surprise!"

He looked amused, his brows furrowed slightly, "Didn't he tell you I would be here?" If Barry still worked for Stan, he was now working for whoever was running Texas behind the scenes. For whoever let Eric's bar burn down without warning him. Who, exactly, arranged this soiree? And where was Hal?

"Who?" I asked, certain my face showed the extent of my confusion.