Chapter 16

"Bill. What can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to say congratulations on catching La Sangsue."

"Thank you. Hopefully nobody will step in and take her place for some time."

Bill made a noncommittal noise. "I heard that you found a vampire there. One who had been drained. How is she doing? I understand that she was in terrible shape."

Eric's eyes narrowed. "What is your interest here, Bill?"

"Nothing in particular. I heard that she was found right across the cemetery from my ancestral home. I was simply curious."

Eric paused. "I didn't realize that your old house was so close. She was near her final death. She has a lot of healing to do. Dr. Ludwig said it could be as much as a year before she is well. Maybe more."

"Oh. Well that is too bad."

"Did you happen to see anything there? Maybe something that could help us tie up any loose ends?"

Bill sounded almost regretful. Eric didn't believe it for a second. "No. I'm afraid not. I haven't visited my old home in some time... I would like to see her, if you don't mind. Wish her well."

Eric paused again. "I think that could be arranged. Are you staying in Area Five? I don't remember you checking in."

"No, I am staying with friends in Dallas, but I thought of heading your way soon. The old house is mine again, as the last of my line met his death a few years back. I was thinking about moving in. If it is alright with you, of course."

"Of course. Mainstreamers are always welcome. Just let me know when you arrive."

Bill was quiet for a moment. "Where you found the vampire… That was the old Stackhouse place. I wonder who owns it now."

"Sorry, Bill. That's Pam's wheelhouse. I'll have to get back to you on that."

"Well, maybe when I arrive."

"And when should I be expecting you? Soon?"

Bill sounded almost bored. "Maybe in a week or two. She might be feeling a little bit better by then."

"Maybe so."

"Well, Sheriff, I guess I'll be seeing you soon."

Eric smiled, his fangs long in his mouth. "Bill, I'm looking forward to it."

After he hung up, Eric called Stan Davis, the Sheriff of Texas's Area Nine, who confirmed that Bill was indeed staying nearby. Eric asked Stan for a small favour, and he was happy to oblige. Next, Eric called Pam.

"Are you alone?"

Pam walked to the door and stepped outside. "She's downstairs. She can't hear me."

"I just heard from Bill Compton. He had a lot of questions about Sookie. He used to live next door when he was human, on the other side of the graveyard. He mentioned the Stackhouses. He wants to see her."

"I'll bet he does."

"Bill said he's staying in Dallas, and Stan Davis confirmed. He is staying at Joseph Valasquez's nest. Care for a road trip?"

Pam smiled. "Wouldn't miss it for the world.

"Call Felicia. She can stand guard outside while we're gone. What will you tell Sookie?"

"She likely wouldn't have even noticed, but I will tell her as much as she needs to know. She was up earlier, but she's hiding again." There was an accusation in her tone, but Eric ignored it.

"We will leave in half an hour. It shouldn't take us more than two hours to arrive."

Felicia and Eric arrived separately, but at the same time. Pam met them in the front yard. Felicia hid in the shadows to keep watch and Eric and Pam were on their way.

Eric's stomach was tight with anticipation. He lived to fight, so to speak. He drove on autopilot while he planned every way that he was going to punish Bill Fucking Compton when he got his hands on him. Pam broke him out of his reverie.

"Are you sure it's him?"

Eric smiled darkly. "He wasn't just calling to chat. He had information and was looking for more. Yes, I'm sure."

"So she'll be safe, then."

He looked at her, and his smile softened. "Yes. Stan has eyes on Bill. He won't be able to get to her. Everyone at the nest where he's staying have all been called away. There are a few humans there, but no other vampires."

Pam sighed. "Pity about the humans, though. Such a waste. Maybe they'll stay out of the way."

The directions Stan had given him were excellent, and Eric found Joseph Velasquez's nest easily. They parked a few streets over and snuck quietly between the cookie cutter houses.

It was raining in Dallas. Eric grinned. His fangs were down and his eyes were almost glowing red. He had braided his hair into a tight plait to keep it out of his eyes and away from grabbing hands. He was terrifying. "Pam. Go around to the back. We will go in at once."

Pam grinned back, and her loveliness somehow made her more frightening. "Yes, Master."

A minute later, they burst through the front and back doors. Pam stepped aside, and a handful of humans ran past her. One was completely naked. A pretty redhead was standing frozen in the hallway. Eric grabbed her by the arm, but not hard enough to hurt. "Where is Bill Compton?"

She pointed down the hall. The redhead ran out the door, and Pam followed her. Eric took off for Bill Compton's room

Eric barged in, and Compton was disappearing out the window. Eric ran over, grabbed him by the belt, and hauled him back in. "Going so soon, Bill? The party is just getting started."

Pam climbed in through the window after him. "Eric, you never let me have any fun."

There was a dead human bleeding on the floor in the corner. She must have gotten in Bill's way on his way out the window.

"Oh, Bill. Look what you did! Murdering humans is no way to mainstream. Of course, neither is keeping your child captive for years while draining and selling her blood. Not to mention the child rape and torture."

"Eric! I assure you that I have done no such thing!"

"Bill, she's lying right there! Am I supposed to believe that she threw herself against the wall hard enough for her brains to leak out of her ears?"

"That was an accident! I mean the rest. I have no children!"

Eric tossed Bill on the seat in the corner and put his hands on the chair's arms, caging Bill in. He leaned forward so his face was inches from Compton's.

"And yet you called me earlier tonight, sniffing around for information about Sookie Stackhouse."

The corner of Bill's mouth twitched."So, it is her."

Eric slapped Bill across the face. "Yes, it is. Which you know very well. Only her mother and her maker knew that she was Vampire."

Bill put his hand to his cheek. "The queen's child Hadley told me about her cousin Sookie a few years ago. Sookie Stackhouse. Hadley showed me pictures, and she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen." Eric growled deep in his chest, and Pam cut her eyes at him.

"She told me that Sookie was a telepath, and that she committed suicide when she was eighteen. Not too long before we started hearing rumours about La Sangsue."

Bill saw the dark look on Eric's face and realized that he really was in grave danger.

"I slept with Felicia last week! She told me about the girl that you discovered in an old farmhouse on the outskirts of Bon Temps, next door to the cemetery! I knew it wasn't my home, so it must have been the old Stackhouse place. And then she told me that the vampire's name was Sookie. I was in Seattle ten years ago. Eric, I swear it wasn't me!"

Eric still looked like he was going to tear Bill apart. He was nearly in bloodlust. Pam put her hand on his arm. "Not in Stan's area, Eric. It sounds like Bill isn't her maker. We can check with Felicia and the queen, but it all makes sense. We need to leave him be. Stan will hold on to him, just in case."

Eric put his hands back on the arms of the chair, leaning forward until his nose was almost touching Bill's. "You are not welcome in my area. Sell your house. If I see you again, you will be finally dead before you even realize you're in danger."

Bill swallowed. "Yes, Eric."

Pam called Stan Davis and told him what had happened, and about the dead girl. The vampires who had been watching the house came to get Bill and deal with the body.

Pam and Eric got into the Corvette, and Eric was vibrating with rage. Pam sighed. "We'll find him. It will just take a little more time. I'll call Felicia and let her know that we're on our way back."

Pam called Felicia's cell phone. When she didn't answer, Pam tried again. Her stomach dropped, but she tried to put on a brave face for Eric, who felt exactly how concerned she was. Pam tried Eric's house phone, and got no answer there, either. She looked at him, the worry clear on her face. Eric threw open the car door and flew as fast as he could back to Shreveport.

...

Sookie made herself get up and go to the kitchen for some blood. She had hoped that she would start feeling better, but she just kept feeling worse. Untethered. She was anxious and distracted and she couldn't concentrate on anything. She really wished that Pam hadn't had to go. She guessed that she could add scared to be alone to all of the other things that were the matter with her.

When her blood was warm, she carried it into the living room. A car drove by, and the headlights cast moving shadows across the wall. It made her jump a little. She rolled her eyes at herself for being such a wimp.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Someone's been a very naughty girl."

He was sitting in an oversized chair, facing away from her. She hadn't been able to see him over the tall back. The mug smashed on the floor, splashing blood all over the white tiles. She dropped to her knees, grinding the shards of ceramic into her skin. "Master. I'm so sorry."

He stood up and faced her and gave her a loving smile. "Oh, sweet little Sookie." He walked over to her and reached down and stroked her hair. Then he grabbed her by the throat and picked her up, his long nails impaling her neck. "You're going to be."