I hope you enjoyed the previous chapter. I want to thank everybody who took the time to read the story. I am definitely enjoying this and I hope you're enjoying it too.

Disclaimer: I am not the owner of these characters. The original story and the characters belong to Charlaine Harris. I am only borrowing them for a little while.

Chapter 9

Eric's POV

From the moment I woke up I knew my body was completely healed. My energy was back and I felt strong again. I went to check on Karin and Pam. Karin woke up when I entered their bedroom and Pam followed a few minutes later.

Pam used this bedroom on a regular basis and she had it decorated to show her feminine side. Modern style furniture with colorful materials decorated it. Karin's taste was opposite to hers. Last night they shared Pam's large bed, and as long as both of them agreed, I wasn't going to interfere.

"I have not been able to talk to you properly," I told Karin as I kissed her forehead.

"I understand. Who did this to you?" Karin asked.

"There's much you don't know," I replied while I inspected Pam's toes. "Your recovery is remarkable," I told Pam.

"I feel much better," Pam replied.

Meanwhile, Karin walked in with three warmed bottles of blood and we drank them fast.

"King Felipe de Castro did this to us," Pam told Karin.

"Then, he must die," Karin replied.

"It's not that simple," I explained as I went on with the takeover story, Sookie, our marriage, Ocella, and Freyda.

"Ocella did it to fuck with you," Pam said.

"There is some of that in it, but he also saw the economical advantage and the power that he would have received with the marriage. Freyda lured him well."

"I understand your need to comply with your maker's last wish, but is it worth it?" Karin asked me.

"I'm split. I really love Sookie. For the first time in a thousand years I have fallen in love. That didn't even happen when I was human."

"Are you willing to wait another thousand years to find somebody like her again?" Pam asked.

"No. I don't want to."

"Then, it's not worth it. Besides, King Felipe de Castro will find a way to kill you no matter what, and he will use Victor's death as an excuse," Karin replied.

"I know."

"Then tell me why aren't you planning his death?" Karin asked.

"Because he doesn't want to be king," Pam replied.

"That's a minor detail. Either he dies or you die. I don't see what's to decide," Karin replied.

"He needs to die after what he did to Pam, but it has to be strategically planned," I replied.

"Right now, he will use Sookie to keep Eric checked," Pam said.

"I want to tell Sookie the truth, but that might put her life in danger. The least she knows, the better," I explained.

"I disagree," Pam said while looking at me, "you're underestimating her ability to survive."

"Why don't you turn her?" Karin asked.

"She doesn't want to be turned," I replied.

"It's not like Pam and I had a choice. Why would she have one?" Karin asked.

"I have considered," I replied.

"Then do it," Karin stated.

"I'll turn her if you want me to," Pam offered.

"Let's discuss this later," I replied.

"I could guard her in secret, and since nobody in Area 5 knows about me, then it would be easier," Karin offered.

"That's a good idea, but you need to know a few things about Sookie," I replied to Karin, "but that must wait. King Felipe de Castro will be at Fangtasia tonight with Freyda. They want to talk about the marriage contract. Karin, stay hidden here with Pam. I'll see you both closer to sunrise." I closed the conversation and went on to get ready to go to Fangtasia. Tonight was going to be a long night.

On my way to Fangtasia, I made a must needed stop. When she opened the door, she was happily surprised to see me again.

"May I come in," I asked her.

"Yes you may," she replied and moved away from the door for me to enter.

"I never asked for your name when I visited you two nights ago."

"I never asked for yours," the wicked lady smiled mischievously.

"Yet, you helped me."

"Olivia Docket is my name," she replied.

"Mrs. Docket, you have a generous heart and you helped me without asking for anything in return."

"I'm glad I was able to help. You looked like you had been in a lot of trouble, and the lady you carried in your arms looked like she was dying. I didn't know a vampire could die from a disease."

"She was poisoned, but today she's recovering. And thanks for your generosity we made it home safe."

She smiled timidly. I scanned her house and it was simple, yet warm and pleasant.

"I would offer you a True Blood, but you are the first vampire that ever visited me. I could have a few bottles for the next time you visit."

I smiled at her. Her humble personality warmed my heart. "You don't need to do that, but I would like to repay you for your kindness."

"Seeing you naked was good enough payment. I just wished I was forty years younger so I could have jumped your bones. Under my current conditions, I would break into pieces," she smiled.

"You have a heart condition; a blocked artery to be precise."

She sat on the sofa, looking at me in disbelief, "how do you know that?"

"I can hear your heart in distress."

"I haven't seen my son in almost three years, and I with this news, I don't think I'll see him again. Ten years ago he got an executive position at a large bank and he pretty much forgot about me. He got busier every passing year and he visited less. I wished he knew how important he is to me."

I sat next to her and she continued, "I also have rheumatoid arthritis that has damaged my joints, hypertension, diabetes type two, and osteoporosis." She lowered her head, her sadness was visible.

"Would you like me to take the pain away?"

"Please don't kill me. I don't want to die."

"I didn't come here to kill you."

"Then, how could you do that?"

"I could give you my blood and it would heal your body."

She looked at me; her eyes were wide opened in disbelief, "really?"

I bit my wrist wide opened and offered to her. She was skeptical, but she took it and drank quietly. A couple of minutes passed and my wrist healed. However, she remained immobile for a couple of more minutes without saying a word, and then she stood up and walked across the room. She walked fast. She came to me and hugged me tight, "thank you!" and then started crying, but she controlled herself soon enough. "Thank you," she repeated herself.

"This is my gift to you. Enjoy your life. I must leave now."

"You are an angel, and good things must be coming your way."

"I ensure you, I'm not an angel, but I hope you are right about the good things coming my way. Good night Mrs. Docket." I glamoured her to forget about my visit and the healing and left her house satisfied the results. I got in my car and continued driving to Fangtasia; for the first time, I dreaded it.

Everybody stopped working and rushed to meet me at the entrance of Fangtasia.

"Master," Thalia said as she bowed to show respect.

"Master."

"Master," everybody else echoed as they bowed.

I nodded at them and turned to Thalia, "Pam told me you're in charge tonight while Pam is out."

"Yes master. We kept your office cleaned and organized as much as we could. King Felipe de Castro has been visiting us every night."

Now I knew he had checked everything in my office he put his hands on. "He will be here tonight again," I warned them.

"Master," Bubba said as he entered Fangtasia.

I nodded at him and turned to everybody else, "get back to work and keep Fangtasia organized for our King's arrival." Instantly, everybody left to do their jobs and I was left alone with Bubba.

"Bubba, I need you to go and tell Sookie a message. Once you deliver it, stay in the woods guarding her and find a place to hide for the day."

"Yes master," Bubba said paying attention to my words and left immediately.

I went to my office to check what damage had King Felipe de Castro done in my absence. Not long afterwards Felipe de Castro arrived with a large entourage. Freyda followed him with hers. Her eyes were set on me from the moment she spotted me. While she was beautiful and brave, she wasn't Sookie. We went to my office, and after all the pleasantries were said, we proceeded with the contract discussion.

Of course, Felipe de Castro sat on my chair behind the desk; Freyda sat in one of the guest chairs and I sat next to her, facing the king. I wasn't sure if Freyda was part of the torture plan, but I was determined to find out.

"As I was discussing with Freyda while you were gone these days, she made a deal with Ocella where he was to receive fifty percent of your gains, and since I'm here making sure his wish is followed, then I think it's only fair I get his share," King Felipe de Castro stated. His words made me realize that he has been making deals with Freyda behind my back, and I wondered, what else have been said in my absence.

"My maker is not here to receive his part. Therefore, his share should go to me as his beneficiary." I could care less about Ocella's share, but I would be damn if Felipe de Castro made money out of my misery.

"And as I told King Felipe de Castro, Ocella's share couldn't go to him because the deal was signed in Oklahoma before King Felipe de Castro's involvement. The legal bounds were between Ocella and me. In his absence, his part would be void," Freyda stated.

"If his part would be void, as you just stated, then it would void the contract in its entirety. You can't choose to void parts that are convenient for you," I said.

"Would you deny my part after helping you to fulfill your maker's last wish?" King Felipe de Castro asked me.

"My maker didn't stipulate for you to see his wish was fulfilled," I stated.

"I'm doing it out of the goodness of my heart," King Felipe de Castro said as he put his hand on his chest. He was all about dramatic gestures.

"Then, you shouldn't expect to collect benefits over something done out of the goodness of your heart," I stated.

The night was too long, and we kept going in circles. For the first time in a very long time I was very productive by wasting their time.

A knock at the door interrupted our discussion. "Please come in," Felipe de Castro said and his guard walked in.

"Your majesty, the ride has arrived," the guard said.

"Time went by so fast," Felipe de Castro said. He stood up and continued talking as he passed us, "I must return to New Orleans tonight to take care of some pending affairs there, but I will be expecting you there Eric."

I was shocked, "it's 4:15am and I wasn't aware I was to go to New Orleans."

"You have plenty of time to make arrangements. I will see you at 9:00pm tonight in my office over there," he then bowed to Freyda and left immediately.

Felipe de Castro was testing my last nerve, but I couldn't show my emotions in front of Freyda. I went to my desk and started making phone calls, arranging my daytime transportation to New Orleans.

"As my consort you wouldn't have to deal with any of this," Freyda said, breaking the long silence.

"With all due respect your majesty, I have plenty of work to do before sunrise."

"Of course. We took most of the night with our discussions. I wish you farewell and I'll see you again upon your return," Freyda said.

She left the office and I was thankful to be left alone. Now I'll have time to feed Pam my blood once more before sunrise.

Fangtasia was already closed, and Thalia was handling the last minute tasks before retiring for her sleep. I nodded at her on my way out and before arriving at my house I made a quick detour to feed from a human.

My mind was preoccupied with too many problems at hand, and Pam and Karin respected my silence. Instead, I packed a change of clothes, fed Pam with my blood, and returned to Fangtasia where the special transportation was waiting for me. I knew Felipe de Castro didn't need me in New Orleans; he was setting me up, looking for ways to accuse me of failing to comply with his orders. I won't allow him to do that.

Note: I hope you're enjoying the story. Can you tell that Felipe de Castro is intimidated by Eric? The King knows that Eric has loyal people working for him which it's something that the King doesn't have. It takes a lot for a new King to earn his subordinate's respect, and allowing Victor's dead to go unpunished would set many vampires off as they would feel the King won't support them in time of need. Eric knows this, and he needs to act soon before it's too late! Stay tuned for the upcoming chapters! Would Eric kill Felipe de Castro and become the new King? We will see about that! Reviews are more than welcome. Let me know your thoughts!