Thirty-six

The Wrong Company

Sookie wiped off the sweat that was falling down her head. The distance between the road and Pam's place was farther than what she had thought. It had been shorter last night, or was it because she had been in a car?

She held her stomach. Somehow she was thankful to Eric that he had given her his blood last night; otherwise, she was not sure if she could run like that after being sucked almost dry by Bill. She knew she had to sleep a lot and eat a lot after a blood donation, but there was no time now. And had she not drunken Eric's blood, she would have died by now.

She should have listened to Alcide. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Alcide knew the situation in the daytime better than Eric did. Okay, Alcide loved her and possibly wanted to be with her most of the time, but Alcide was also a good werewolf pack leader. He would not take advantage of the situation for his own private benefits. He would analyse the situations, and then take the steps. With his experiences, instinct and knowledge, most of his decisions were not wrong.

A green pick-up came from the left. Sam. He opened the door. Sookie jumped in and without saying a word, Sam left the spot.

"Thanks, Sam,"

Sam nodded.

A strong smell of mixed scents caught Sookie's nose. Where had Sam been? Had he rolled himself on incense sticks or what? Ginger, rose...chocolate?

"Stop that," said Sam.

"What?"

"Sniffing me. You are not a dog, you won't find anything,"

"Really? Want to bet?"

"You drank his blood again." He sighed.

Sookie told him what happened last night. Sam's face looked hard and thoughtful as her story was over.

"How is Compton?"

"I don't know. Pam and Eric took him to Chow's coffin so he could continue sleeping,"

"Don't drink his blood too much, Sookie. He's a vampire, and an old one. His blood works faster than the younger one,"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think there are no consequences from swapping blood like that? You remember what happened to Wilson? He drank his father's blood for hundreds of years and the result, we all know,"

Sookie did not argue. Yeah, she remembered that. Wilson had lived longer than any human and stayed young, but he had been also not able to stand the sunlight. Would she change into some kind of vampire when she continued doing it? "Where are going?"

"I don't know, I don't figure it out yet. I just want to take you away from that place as soon as possible,"

"From where do you think Debbie got my number?"

"I have no idea. That bitch," said Sam. "If I could get my hand on her tail..."

"I thought she had changed, at least that was the impression that I got from Alcide's story,"

"Alcide is too kind. Debbie can manipulate him at any time she wants,"

Sookie made herself comfortable. Where should she go? She had no gun in her bag, no silver, nothing. Perhaps she should return home and took the gun that she left there. "Let's go home," she said. "I want to take my gun,"

"Okay," Sam changed the car direction to Bon Temps.

"Who was the lucky lady?" asked Sookie. Sam had been with a woman, she was sure. Those kinds of incense sticks...only women used them.

Sam smiled. The soft lines under his eyes made his face softer. "She is a nurse, who works at the Leclreq Wellness Center. And she gave me a very good information. The Queen will come there tonight. As a patient,"

Her condition was apparently getting worse.

"You don't seem to be surprised,"

"I know that the Queen is sick," said Sookie. "I just didn't think that it would be so fast,"

"Because of the new True Blood?"

"Possibly. We still wait for the result from Japan." Sookie hit Sam's shoulder. "Good for you, Buddy! You seem happy..."

Sam lifted his eyebrows. "I can't wait for you forever, can I?"

Sookie laughed. "That's not what I heard. Alcide said that you are a very dedicated man, you will do anything to get your job done,"

"Alcide's howling is louder and longer when the moon is young," said Sam, smiling.

"I am glad that you are here, Sam. I can always count on you,"

"Hey, that's what friends are for!"

Sookie smiled. Yeah, that's what friends are for. "What is her name?"

"Amelia Broadway," Sam said. "But don't ask me where she comes from. We don't get to that subject yet,"

Sookie laughed. She bet, they had not even talked much. Somehow, it was good to see Sam in such a good mood. That woman, Amelia, must have been good, very good. "You will see her again?"

"Yes, tonight. I think I want to make a further observation...na, na...don't misunderstand me...I want to be with her, to make sure that she's safe. If they found out that she was the one who leaked the information, I am sure, they would look for her,"

"I understand,"

"Do you think those German giants will accompany her?"

"I am afraid they will. They are not only her bodyguards, but they also her children. I hope Pam or Eric will be able to talk to them. If they are willing to work together with us, it will be easier to get to the Queen,"

Suddenly her mobile phone rang. Sookie looked at the identity of the caller. James. "Hi, Sweetie!"

"Mom..." his voice sounded as if he was crying.

"Are you okay, James?"

"No, not so really," said James. "I am afraid, Mom,"

"Honey..."

"Everybody thinks that I will make the right decision for me, but I don't know what to do...I can't ask anybody...even Godric said that I should follow my heart...what does it mean? I don't know what to do, Mom..."

Godric had visited James; that was good. He must have told James about the choices that James had to make.

"What if I make the wrong decision?"

"We all made wrong decisions, James, once or twice. We simply have to make the best out of it. You remember, when you were little, and you were confused because you wanted to eat the chocolate ice cream and the strawberry ice cream, but you didn't have enough money to buy them both?"

"Yeah, but it is not about ice cream, Mom!" his voice was getting impatient.

"I know, Darling," Sookie tried to be calm. She was as nervous as James was, and it must have been very clear because Sam held her other hand, tried to tell her that he was there.

"Mom...?"

"You remember what you did back then?" tears ran down on Sookie's cheek. She realized she had just given her only son a permission to choose a kind of life she might not agree.

"I chose the ice cream I've never tasted be..." his voice was trailing. "Because you said, if I ate the same ice cream...I might not know what the other ice cream tasted like..."

Sookie let Sam's hand go and wiped off her tears. "And if you did not like it...at least you knew...and the next time you would know what to do..."

"But there won't be next time, this time...Mom..."

"I know, Sweetie..."

"Are you sure, Mom?"

"No. Are you?"

"No. I am afraid, Mom..."

"It's a good sign, James. Fear makes us careful,"

"You won't be angry, if I choose whatever I want to choose?"

"James, you are my son, how can I be angry at a decision that you made because you are comfortable or happy to live with it?"

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too, Sweetie,"

"Tell Papa, I love him,"

"I'll do,"

"What was that all about?" asked Sam as she closed the line.

"I might haven't told you," Sookie rubbed her nose, which suddenly itchy and painful. "When Eric was poisoned, and I took him to the woods...he was cured by the Faery King."

"You told me that,"

"Yeah...perhaps..." tears ran down on her cheek again. "The Faery King had replaced Eric's blood with wolf blood..."

"Was it even possible?"

"I have no idea, but that was what my great grandfather told me. When I was pregnant, the wolf-blood, which was carried by Eric's semen, is now carried by James..."

"Dear Lord..."

"Godric told me that now James has to decide whether to live as one of the werewolves or as a human. I just don't understand why now..."

"He is fourteen, Sookie. A werewolf is considered an adult, as he is fifteen. James is a young adult in the eyes of werewolves. He has to choose between live in the pack or tries his luck somewhere else and in his case, he has to choose to live as one or tries his luck as another,"

It all made sense now. However, sense did not make her heart lighter.

"Listen, Jack and Jason are there. I am not sure about Jason, but I believe Jack can give him some advices,"

"Prescott is there too,"

"The faery? I thought faeries don't want to interfere with other's problems,"

"He is in love with Cooper,"

Sam smirked. "Trust me, Sookie. If there is something that a faery can do is to control his emotion. Prescott is there for something else. Cooper is just a bonus for him,"

Sookie hoped that Sam was right. If Prescott worked for Niall, then he was there to protect James.

"I didn't understand Al's fascination with James either. I always thought it was because of you, but then I realized there was something to do with James himself,"

"Was that the reason you left your smell on his clothes?"

"What? I never do that. I am a shifter, Sookie, not a werewolf. I can't mark anybody, except when I was running around as Dean. But then, I have to pee on it,"

"But there were two different smells on James' clothes!"

"Sometimes, when young werewolves are entering their phase of being adults, they are not able to control themselves and not to send out signals, marks or other things to give some kind of notification to other werewolves about their presence,"

"Are you saying that it was James'?"

Sam did not answer straight away. His eyes were focusing on the road. After a while, he said, "If he has wolf-blood, like what you say, then it was probably his,"

Then they became quiet. Entering the Bon Temps wood, Sam said, "Maybe you should stay at the Mansion," he said. "I'll accompany you. Nobody expects you to stay there; nobody will look for you there, or you can stay at Northman's vault,"

"There is no air circulation there,"

"Maybe you should think about building one," he said. "I am not suggesting that you should sleep with him there, but who knows, the situation might get out of control and you will have a secure place, where only you know how to get in. You don't give the combination to anybody else, do you?"

Sookie shook her head.

"Keep it that way," said Sam. "If you want to give the combination to James, wait until he's ready to have it,"

"Thanks, Sam,"

The car entered the Northman ground. The ground was empty and looked neglected, not as bad as two months ago when Sookie had first arrived; nevertheless, it was strange to see the house which was normally full of people suddenly quiet.

The day crept slowly. Sam took the chance to take a nap. He said, he did not get enough sleep last night. No wonder, Sookie said. Sam laughed and said that Sookie should meet Amelia. She would like her. Sookie wonder if Sam was serious with her. It was a little bit too early, wasn't it? Sam did not say anything, except his eyes were twinkling. Sam Merlotte was in love with a woman whom he had just known yesterday. Sookie did not want to say anything about it, but she thought it was not a good idea at all.

A blond figure was gleaming under the soft light. Eric Northman, wore only a boxer and a pink bathrobe, entered his house. His blue eyes flickered dangerously.

Sookie put her bread on the plate. Sam looked at him in disbelief. "Is that..."

"Don't say a word, Shifter," he said.

"You are wearing furry sandals," said Sam. "Did you just raid Lafayette's closet or did I miss something here?"

Eric turned around and faced Sam. If his face had colour, it would have been red by now. "Why are you here?"

"She wants me to," said Sam.

Sookie shot a sharp look at Sam, but the shifter grinned like a donkey. He loved to tease Eric and he did it at any chance he got.

Eric looked at Sookie. "I thought we agreed that you would stay put,"

Sookie took Eric's hand. "Something came up," she said. "Alcide's ex-fiancée called me and asked Alcide's whereabouts,"

"Alcide will not give away your number to somebody else without your permission,"

"That's what Sam thought also. So he asked me to leave the place,"

"Good decision, Shifter,"

"Thank you," said Sam. "Well," he got up. "I have to go now. I think Northman can protect you, Sookie. Or does he need any help?"

Eric turned around to face Sam, but Sookie kept him facing her. "Go!" said Sookie. "Now?"

Sam grinned and left.

Eric sat down beside Sookie. "I'll snatch his neck one of these days,"

"Come on, you are not telling me that he can make you angry,"

"He is nerving, like a buzzing fly,"

Sookie smiled. "To be honest, you look funny. Are those Pam's?"

"I was in a hurry; I took whatever I could find,"

"How is Bill?"

"Better. He had some appetite when he woke up. It's a good sign,"

"Is his maker there already?"

"No. We won't meet her there," he said. "Pam will bring Bill over here. Tell me, what did the shifter say about his investigation at the Leclreq?"

Sookie gave him the heads-up. "The Queen is getting worse, she's at the Leclreq now" she said. "You have to contact Sigebert and Wybert. They have to listen to you,"

"I can try," he said.

"It seems that we don't need Grace Stone after all,"

"I prefer to keep that planning. Who knows we will need it," he touched her face. "You look worried. Is something bothering...James. You are worried about James,"

"He called. He said he's afraid. Oh, I don't know Eric. Are we making the right decision by letting him go?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation. Sookie wished, she could have that kind of confidence. Eric touched her hair. "That boy can read vampires' mind for his whole life. I can imagine that it scares him, but he can deal with it. He will be able to deal with these werewolves' matters, trust me. Besides, his woman is there. She will help him. What do you think that could help me go through my darkest years inside that chained coffin? You. Yes, Lover, you. The thought and the desire to see you again. You might not like Luna, but she will be a big help for our son,"

His woman...Eric just called Luna 'his woman', as if he was certain that they had slept together. "You don't think that..."

"No, James doesn't have her yet," Eric smirked. "But soon, he will," he walked away. "I want to have a shower. Care to join me?"

"It's not a shower for two,"

"Does it matter?"

Well...Sookie looked at his furry sandals. Those sandals were too big to be Pam's. "They are not Pam's, are they?"

"No. They are mine. I like them. They feel nice on my feet,"

Sookie laughed. "Well, Eric Northman, you never fail to amaze me..."

"That's an honor, Ma'am.." he grabbed her hips before Sookie could say anything and took her into their room.

Soon, they were touching each other, trying to arouse the other under shower. The water was warm and nice, but the shower was a small and narrow place. Sookie screamed once or twice when her head hit the glass door as Eric pushed her too strong and Eric growled when his own head hit the tap. At the end, Eric and Sookie had to admit, it was not a comfortable place for both of them. Eric had asked her more than twice to accompany him taking a shower. She had seen some erotic scenes in some romantic movies and she thought, why not? However, the shower was slippery, narrow and dangerous, not to mention that she had to swallow some water every time she opened her mouth. The writers of those romantic movies or novels, who had the imagination that it was good to have sex under the shower, must have never had it there or they owned a very huge shower or a shower for two. Because what happened to her was everything, but romantic. Dripping wet, they went out of the shower and continued what they had been doing on the bed.

"I should have been thinking about the way to get inside the Leclreq's building or to help James and not had sex with you," said Sookie as they were lying beside each other.

"I can do both," said Eric. His finger was trailing on her arm. "If you can't, I can show you how,"

Eric Northman had a sex-lust like a teenager. He could never get enough. Sookie could feel his desire in his touch, his voice and in his eyes. Sookie wondered if she would be able to keep up with him when she was older.

Eric got up. "Stop thinking that nonsense," he got down from the bed. Naked, he walked to the closet.

"Can you hear what I think?" Sookie was surprised.

"No, but I saw that look before. So stop it,"

Aude...Aude must have thought the same thing. "I am only a human, Eric. Sooner or later, I would get older"

"Yes, but not now or soon. You're only forty-one. Your life has just begun. So stop it and don't start thinking about finding me a woman. I'll suck her dry if you do that,"

That was a threat and somehow; Sookie believed, Eric would do it. "Why should I?" Sookie got down. She stood beside him and took a set of cloth. "You can find yourself one, if you want,"

Eric smirked.

"What?" Sookie put her clothes on.

"Nothing," he said.

"I meant it,"

"No, you didn't. You were jealous like a mad woman when you thought I slept with another woman. So don't bullshit me by acting as if I had no meaning for you,"

Sookie touched his chest. Yes, he had a lot of meaning for her. Softly, she kissed his nipple, and then she looked up at him and smiled.

Eric bowed to kiss her. "That's better," he said.

Pam, Bill and Chow came around nine. Bill was pale, paler than the others, but he was not grey any more. "Thank you, Sukeh. You saved my life,"

"You would do the same, Bill." said Sookie. "You saved Eric,"

Bill took her hand. His hand was colder than Eric's...or was it only her feeling? "I am sorry if I hurt you last night, I..."

"Forget it. You are sick and no harm was done,"

Bill nodded. "Thank you,"

"Who is your maker, actually?"

"Long story," said Bill. "I would not call her if unless I desperately needed her,"

"And you do," said Eric. "You know what I think about her, but I don't see no other choice, Bill,"

Bill smiled faintly. Sookie could see that he forced himself to.

Chow's big figure walked across the garden. He could move faster, but he did not want to. He liked walking, Pam said once, with a very annoying tune.

"She is here," said Bill. "I can feel her,"

Chow entered the kitchen and said to Eric that a woman was standing in front of the door asking for him.

Eric asked Sookie to come with him. "You have to invite her in," he said. "Your word is stronger than mine,"

Lorena de Soto had a smaller figure than Sookie was. She was as high as her nose, blond hair, brown eyes and a body like a ballerina. Small, but firm. When Lorena's hand squeezed hers, Sookie had to cringe because it was very strong.

"Lorena," Eric nodded.

Lorena smiled. "Eric," her eyes looked at him from the head down to the toe. "You look good, Sheriff," click. Her fangs were out. "You could consider yourself lucky, Sookie. He is not my type,"

Bitch. Sookie thought.

Lorena entered the house with a movement of a dancer. Her hands were flying beside her body, and the red thin gown that she wore showed clearly the shape of her body. A golden bangles with red stones on it glittered, reflected the soft amber light. "William..." she walked more slowly as she saw Bill. "My dear William..."

Bill wanted to stand to greet her, but Lorena stopped him. "Lorena,"

She put her hand around Bill's arm, up to his neck and touched his hair. "Come, we have a lot of things to do,"

Like a little boy, Bill stood and obeyed Lorena's order without any question.

"Where are you going?" asked Sookie.

Lorena bared her fangs to Sookie. "Why do you care?" Her voice was clear that she mocked her.

"Answer the question, Lorena." said Eric.

"We all have secret places, Eric. You want me to cure your friend here, let me do it my way; and the next time you want my help, watch your tone. I might not be available," She raised her hand and walked out of the door.

"Don't worry, Sukeh. I will be fine," said Bill. "If anything happens to me, I have something for you in my room at the palace. A little friendship gift. Good day, Ma'am. Eric," he nodded, and then left.

"Eric...I don't have a good feeling about it," said Sookie. Eric did not answer. She turned around to see him and found him standing some steps away from her. His hands were inside the pockets of his trousers and he bowed a little. He looked thoughtful.

"He is with her maker," said Eric. "I can't do anything about it. The relationship between a maker and his child is a privilege, nobody is allowed to interfere or they broke the main rule in our world. Lorena is a difficult woman, but she loves Bill. She won't harm him,"

"She loves him?" Sookie tried to catch their figure in the darkness, but they were not there any more. Like any other vampires, they moved fast, faster than normal human eyes could see.

"They were lovers for a hundred years or more," said Pam. "They broke up for some years, met again, became lovers again and I believed Bill had left her around twenty years ago,"

"He is very faithful,"

"Or stupid," Pam continued. "I would leave her earlier if I were Bill,"

"What do you know about love, Child?" Eric smirked.

"Everything that you taught me and some more," Pam looked at him straight into his eyes. Sookie felt uncomfortable to see how her eyes suddenly bright and warm. She still loved him.

"Lucky me," said Eric, but he did not sound convincing. He walked to Sookie and said, "Prepare yourself for tonight, Pam. We will go to see the Queen. Kill anybody who is on our way,"

Pam smiled. "What keeps you so long to give me such an excitement?"

Suddenly Sookie felt, she was in some kind of madhouse. Their eyes – Pam's and Eric's, flickered and full of lust; and Chow, who stood beside the door grinned like a donkey. This was absolutely the wrong company that she had been keeping.

Five vampires, a human, two doctors, five security guys with their guns pointed at the direction of three vampires, and some nurses in soft blue uniform were facing each other. The nurses were more like they were caught in the middle of fire and not knowing what to do.

"You are not allowed to come here, Eric," said Sigebert.

"Mein Lieber Sigebert," Eric's head moved like a snake. "I am the Sheriff of Area 5, you must aware that I am bonded to my duty to keep this area safe. Her Majesty is here, I need to see her,"

Sigebert and Weybert looked at each other.

"Nein," said Weybert. "She doesn't want to see you,"

Eric said something in German. Sookie had no idea what Eric was talking about, but the way his eyes looked at her, she had a feeling that he was talking about her.

After some moment, the twin vampires asked every guard and nurse to leave. Sookie heard thoughts of relief in their heads. She was relief too. There would be no fighting between the five of them, at least not for the moment!

Sigebert gave them a sign to follow him.

"What did you say to him?"

"He'd better take us to the Queen now, otherwise the King would see you first; and Her Majesty would not be so amused if the King likes you and decides to take you as his subject,"

"Did you really say that? Did you really mean it? You wanted to take me to the King?"

Eric did not answer. From the corner of her eyes, Sookie could see Pam giving her a sign not to continue asking him questions.

The room for the Queen was under the ground. The door was made of steel and locked from the outside. It made heavy and loud noises when the twin vampires opened the door.

The room smelt of roses. It was not a wonder since almost at every corner of the room there were roses in red, yellow, white, big and small...and chocolate. The chocolate smell was not strong, but it's strong enough for Sookie to catch it and it smelt like the one which was on Sam. Amelia was here. The bed was a king size bed covered in dominant ivory colour. And on that bed, a small figure was sitting with her head down. She looked fragile and tired. Her hair was untidy and her pale skin was dull.

Eric told Chow to guard the door.

"Sophie..." Pam ran to her. "My dear Sophie, what has become of you?"

The Queen raised her face. Sookie was shocked to see how pale her face was. It was not the colour of her skin that made her look dead, but the eyes...the fire that had burnt so brightly in those eyes, the fire that had showed spirit and determination...were gone.

Then Sookie heard somebody growled. It was Eric. With a speed, which was faster than any eyes could see, he grabbed the twin vampires and pushed them to the wall. His hands were like claws and now they were on each vampire's neck.

"You have failed her," said Eric. Sookie could not see his face, but she was sure that his fangs were out and his eyes flickered with lust of killing.

"You have to understand us, Eric," said Sigebert. His voice was choked. "She is our maker; we can't refuse her order,"

Eric let them go. Those vampires were like a piece of paper, fell to the ground.

"We couldn't stop her from drinking the True Blood that had been sent especially for her; we also couldn't stop her from staying longer and longer through the day. Her orders were becoming more and more erratic, like to kill André, or to refuse to pay our respect to the King. We have to take her here before the King found out about her real condition. We need your help, Sheriff; but we can't ask for it. She has ordered us to avoid or refuse any assistance from any body,"

"Why are you doing it now?" asked Sookie.

"Because her power is getting weaker," Pam was the one who answered. She sat beside the Queen. In fact, the Queen was in her arms now. "I can't sense her,"

Slowly the twin vampires stood up. "We almost could not get out of the Palace. The human in silver suits are all around now..." said Weybert, and then he looked at his twin brother. "Du sagst es ihm,"

Eric looked at Sigebert. "What?"

"She ordered us to take your woman's son..."

"Are you planning to carry on the order?" asked Eric.

The calmness in his voice scared her. It was like the calmness before the storm. Eric stood straight in front of them, his arms were stretching out and his hands were forming claws. Pam was also standing. She had put the Queen on the bed and now she looked as if she had been ready to kill somebody.

"Her Majesty had declared him as a dangerous human," said Sigebert. He was also in a ready to attack position. "She said that he could hear our thoughts,"

"And you believe her?"

Sigebert and Weybert looked at each other. Sookie felt her hands as cold as ice. She prayed that none of the vampires could sense her fear, which was so strong and real that it seemed to have a life of its own and moved her hands uncontrollably.

"Her Majesty could hear our thoughts, you know that, Eric. And she always told us the truth,"

"If she had always told you the truth, tell me, mein Lieber Weybert, why had she ordered you to kill André, your own brother?"

Both of them looked at each other. They changed looks as if they were changing thoughts, or perhaps that was exactly what they were doing. Sookie really wished she had James' ability to listen to vampires' heads.

"She didn't say," said Sigebert.

"And we didn't ask," said Weybert.

"Are you going to carry on her order?" asked Sookie. "She was not on the right mind! Can't you see it? My son is just a boy. She must have mistaken him with me. I can read mind, but only human mind,"

The twin vampires looked at her.

"Her Majesty is confused for the moment; otherwise she would not order you to kill André Paul, her child. No mother wants to see her children die," said Sookie. With all her power, she tried to stay calm. "I am telling you the truth. I can read human mind. You two must have known it,"

The twin vampires kept looking at her.

The room was quiet. The air conditioner was humming somewhere on the ceiling. They were all still on their alerted positions and Sookie could only pray that those vampires took her words.

"Eerrric..." a soft voice of the Queen broke the silence.

Eric came forward to the Queen. He bowed and then stood on one of his legs. "Your Majesty," he said.

"Où est André?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. His majesty needs his assistance in some matters," said Eric, lying with a straight face and voice.

"He always needs something when I need something," Sophie-Anne Leclreq tried to wake up. Pam moved fast and held her to sit.

"Pamela, my dearest lover…" she said.

"Your Majesty is not well. Perhaps she should lie down and have some rest," said Pam.

"Oui, perhaps she does that," the Queen smiled. Her smile looked very sinister on her fragile greenish pale face.

"Why are you here, Eerric?"

Eric got up and walked some steps backward. "I heard that Your Majesty is not well," he said. "I want to make sure that everything is convenient for you,"

"You are such a loyal subject, Eric. Give me your word that you would do whatever it takes to protect Louisiana from Peter..."

"I give you my word, Your Majesty..."

"I am so tired. Où est André?" Then she closed her eyes and mumbled something in French. Softly, Pam laid her down.

Sigebert gave Eric a sign to come to him. He took him out of the room. Weybert and Sookie followed them. Unfortunately, for Sookie, Sigebert spoke in German. She could only stand there, watching them. She did not understand anything. Why did they speak in German? There was nobody there, except Chow and Chow was loyal to Eric. He would not tell anybody about the conversation that they were having!

A chocolate scent reached Sookie's nose. Amelia. She looked around. Nobody was there. She closed her eyes. She had to find her. She did not want that Eric or other vampires sensed her and thought that she had been eavesdropping. Somehow, she had a feeling that Amelia was important for them. Slowly she heard a female voice.

Don't...don't let her know...I am here...I call ye, Horus and Bastet to cast darkness upon those who mean harm...

Her sound was getting louder and louder as Sookie moved away from the vampires. And then, she saw her. A slender woman, standing at the end of the stairs. Her hands clutched a necklace with a three stones medallion. Gold, black and green. Her face was pale and in her eyes, Sookie could see fear. That woman was terrified.

Her thought stopped and she turned around. Sookie dared herself to call her name when that woman wanted to go.

"Amelia?"

She stopped. "How do you know my name?"

"I am..." before Sookie could finish her sentence, something, somebody, snatched her and pushed her to the wall.

"Hexe!" Weybert hissed at her. His pale blue eyes were flickering and his fangs were aiming her neck.

Hexe? What the fuck is hexe?

"Let her go, Weybert," Pam stood behind her.

"What is going on?" asked Sookie confused. She looked at Weybert and Amelia. To her surprise, Amelia stared at Weybert and her mouth moved fast.

"Stop it," Eric's voice echoed. "You will not be able to fight us all, Witch,"

"You are a witch?" Sookie gave Amelia a glass of water that she had taken from the Queen's room. They were standing in front of the Queen's room now. Chow was told by Eric to guard the door that led to the basement. Nobody may enter the basement; if they did not listen, Chow knew what to do.

"Thank you," Amelia accepted the glass. Her hand was trembling and she looked shaken, . Sookie could understand that Amelia was trembling now. Those four vampires were looking at her like the hawks eyed their prey. "Does Sam know that you are a witch?"

Amelia shook her head.

"How could you escape from us?" asked Pam. "We should have been able to sense you!"

"This is a huge building," said Amelia. "I went to other part of the building when I saw the guards come," By the 'guards' she meant the twin vampires.

"And why didn't you keep on hiding?" asked Sookie.

"Long story,"

"Make it short," said Eric.

"My mentor is here," said Amelia. "I figure out that the only way to safe myself is by staying here with you,"

"Why are you hiding away from your mentor?"

Amelia did not answer, but her head said. That bitch wants to kill me.

"We have enough problems already," said Sigebert. "I don't want her to be here. Throw her out,"

"Her mentor wants to kill her," said Sookie. "If we let her go, she would be dead by now,"

"What? How do you know that?"

"Long story," said Sookie.

Amelia opened her mouth, but sharp look from Eric made her change her mind.

"I don't care what other witches will do to her, I want her out of here," said Sigebert.

"We could use her for the daytime protection," said Pam. "You certainly would not let the human in silver suits protect her. If anything happens to Her Majesty in the daytime, we can't do anything,"

The twin vampires looked at each other. Again, it seemed they talked to each other via their mind. Sookie really wished James to be there.

"We agree," said Sigebert. "But I don't want to let her around Her Majesty alone."

"We can solve that problem," said Eric. "I think I know somebody who'll be willing to be here, and if I am not mistaken, he will be volunteering for the job. The Witch reeks of him,"

There was only one person, who could annoy Eric in such an intense level that Sookie could see the feeling on his face. Sam Merlotte.