A/N No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter Eleven
Eric and Carly sat on the sofa, and Godric paced around the room as they awaited the arrival of the three representatives of the Authority. They were expected within moments, and Carly tried to quiet her mind and clear her face of anxiety before their arrival.
Godric suddenly stopped and held out his hand to Eric. "Give me your knife. Quickly!"
Without any question or hesitation, Eric drew out his sharp, but worn, pocket knife and opened it for his maker.
"Carly," Godric directed her, "tell me where you found the talisman. Now."
Jumping from her seat, Carly moved toward the center of the room, just beyond the edge of Godric's desk. "There." She knelt down and identified its exact location. "It was in a metal box between the hardwood and the subfloor.
Godric stabbed the carpet and slit it in one direction and then perpendicularly so that the carpet could be folded up to reveal the hiding place. "Even though we didn't excise it by hand, we can suggest that it has been found."
After folding up the knife and returning it to Eric, Godric made sure that the cuts were visible, even though the carpet lay perfectly flat.
A knock at the door alerted them to their visitors and Godric called out, "Enter."
Marcus opened the door and announced the visitors. "My king, Salome Agrippa, Nan Flanagan, and Nora Gainsborough to see you."
Eric and Carly stood, Eric taking a step forward to shield her from their view. He lowered his head respectfully as Godric advanced forward a few steps in welcome.
"Friends, please, come sit down." Godric gestured toward a settee and his wing-backed chair. "Marcus, could you move my chair?"
The butler swiftly moved the large leather chair in front of the desk so that the seats were arranged in a circle. Once in front of his chair and ready to sit, Godric gestured graciously and said, "Please, sit."
Nan answered, but rather than sitting she crossed the space and handed him a folded document, "Thank you for seeing us, King. We wanted to present this to you in person rather than sending it by courier. We anticipate you might have questions."
"Thank you," Godric nodded, then added, "May I take a moment with this before we say more?"
Salome replied, "Of course." She focused her attention on Eric and Carly, who had taken her place at his feet. "Mr. Northman, I have heard that you have taken a human companion. She is quite lovely, but perhaps she should leave until we celebrate the conclusion of our negotiations."
Before Eric could answer, Godric raised his hand and said, "Dr. Michael remains. I value her presence. It is calming, is it not?"
"I am sure," Salome countered, "that I reflect the position of the entire Council when I request confidentiality. If it is simply her presence you require, perhaps she might sleep? Mr. Northman, would you consent to that?"
"If you wish for her to be unaware of the proceedings, I can put her under a glamour, but I prefer to have her awake so that she is responsive to me." Eric reached down and grasped her wrist and drew her hand to his knee. Carly, please be convincing.
"I prefer that she be under my control, Mr. Northman." Salome stood and strolled over to Carly, knelt down and raised her chin so that she looked directly in Carly's eyes. "May I?" Salome addressed Godric, who sought Eric's approval, who nodded.
With authority, Salome instructed, "Carly Michael, you will neither hear nor remember anything of our conversation in this room until I say, 'It is time for a toast.' Do you understand?" When Salome began to speak, Carly felt the familiar sensation of being drawn up to the top of a wave and then submerged beneath water, but it lasted for even less time than it did when Eric had tried to glamour her when they first met. Carly's own rage and hatred toward the woman rose up to meet Salome's efforts to glamour her, but just as she risked making Salome aware of her resistance, Carly leaned her head back against Eric's leg. "Yes, I understand." Turning her head and focusing into the middle distance, Carly made her body as relaxed and slack as possible.
Her performance was convincing enough that Eric felt the need to check in. Are you still with us?
Yes. Just trying to put on a good show.
I was convinced...tell me what you need...you are mine...my mate...
Salome returned to her seat and said to Godric, "Have you been able to read the whole proposal?"
"Just a few more moments, Councilor. I fear I read slowly in English."
Knowing that Godric was lying, Carly worked to reestablish the connection between the three of them so that Godric and Eric could communicate with one another. Godric, Eric, can you hear me? Can you hear one another?
Yes...
Yes...
Reaching out across the room, Carly bored into Salome's mind, but just as she had discovered with Longshadow, Salome thought in multiple languages simultaneously. Unfortunately, Carly only recognized what she thought in English. Leticia's suspicions unfounded...not a fairy at all...disappointing...
Carly, please focus your attention on the pipe between us so I may hear her, Godric asked, Concentrate...I lack your practice...
Abandoning her efforts to hear Salome herself, Carly concentrated on the connection between Salome's mind and Godric's. Perhaps he could recognize what she was saying and translate for them, as Cataliades had done with Yvgeny.
"So my counterpart in Alabama abdicates in my favor as well?" Godric refolded the papers and placed them on his desk.
"She abdicates, but not because of you, Godric," Nan corrected. "She's decided to retire and return to where she was born and made a vampire. She believes that Sierra Leone is finally stable enough, and she feels called home."
"Your territory," Salome added, "Would extend across Mississippi and into Alabama, but be bounded by the Alabama River. South of that would be annexed to the Caribbean and east of that to Georgia."
"And I may appoint sheriffs at will?" Godric asked, but sent Eric the message Please agree to everything that I say, but you may need to improvise.
Yes...of course...
"Certainly," Salome replied, adding, "but you have not said anything about our central proposal. Do you accept it?"
"Frankly," Godric chuckled, "I do not know why you would want this palace, although it is a fine piece of architecture. I've only just begun renovations, but I expect that it will take quite a bit of capital to ensure that the building can withstand the coming changes to the climate."
Nan Flanagan interjected, "I've wondered that as well, Godric, but my voice does not carry much weight in this matter."
What do they want, Godric?
Carly, please just concentrate, Eric scolded. Godric will tell us all we need to know soon enough.
"This latitude provides us with more regularity than our current facilities, and the King of Illinois has bristled at our presence, to be honest." Salome turned to Nora. "Perhaps Nora may explain this in a way that is more persuasive to you?"
Nora opened her mouth to speak, but Godric cut her off before she could say anything.
"I doubt it. Miss Gainsborough and I have not seen eye-to-eye since the late 1700s." Godric stood and walked behind his desk, turning his back on the three visitors. "Perhaps, Salome, you do not know that I released her?"
What are you doing, Godric? Eric's internal voice was frantic.
Patience...
"Well," Salome paused, "yes, I am aware of your history."
"Then you have poor taste." Godric turned to face them again. "And I fear that poor taste extends to this palace. As I said, it does have architectural strengths. This room," Godric gestured up and toward the bookshelves, "was built using traditional joinery. Not a nail anywhere. Much of the house uses that kind of framing."
"The Authority is committed to preserving history, as you know, Godric," Salome reassured.
"Yes, I know well." Godric allowed a few beats of silence before he smiled and continued. "I've benefitted a great deal from Eric's experience in Louisiana, his connections to contractors, to craftsmen."
"I am sure," Salome replied blandly.
"And he has developed a few very interesting hobbies while he has been here. One could even say that his hobbies led him to Dr. Michael." Godric pointed to Carly and sent the word Archaeology to Eric.
Eric recognized that as his cue to improvise. "Yes, without my interest in archaeology, I would never have met my beloved Carly."
Metal detectors, Eric, Godric prompted silently.
Nan seemed to grow anxious, "I'm not sure why this is relevant?"
"When I moved here," Eric continued, ignoring Nan's efforts to redirect the conversation, "I took over a sawmill, and we had a great deal of trouble with metal fragments – nails, etc." Eric smiled broadly with great excitement, "So I began to use a metal-detector at night to make sure that the wood was clear before it went into the machines. Soon, I began to find older artifacts, and even, one day, the proverbial pot of gold!"
"When I moved into the palace, Eric used the metal detector in the house. Actually a number of them, yes?" Godric took a few steps toward the cuts in the carpet.
When Salome's eyes followed his movements, and she saw the slits in the carpet, Carly heard her mind scream, even though her face was unperturbed. She tuned into Salome's thoughts, but they raced.
Godric, she is panicking...
Yes, Carly, I know. Concentrate and do not move...
Eric continued his exposition. "They make small ones for construction that we used to map the electrical structure, but we also decided to use the outdoor detectors to see what Sophie-Ann buried through the house!" Eric laughed and turned the floor back over to his maker.
"And we have found quite a few things."
Salome turned to look at the bookshelves and noticed the gaps.
What is she saying, Godric?
Please, Carly...
The room was silent until Nan said, "Okay, I have no idea what the hell you are playing at Godric. Did you find Blackbeard's treasure or something?"
Godric dragged his foot against the wound in the carpet. "We found a number of objects that appeared quite dangerous. Magical objects."
"What did you do with them?" Nora asked while Salome's mind still raced and screamed.
"This is another place where I have leaned upon my dear Eric," Godric replied to the woman he had made vampire but now had no connection to whatsoever. "While New Orleans does not have much heavy industry, Shreveport has a smelter."
"Excuse me?" Salome finally spoke.
"Yes," Godric smiled at her and returned to his chair, crossing his legs and extending his arms as far out to the sides as he could. "We supervised their destruction. We had them melted down."
"And what did you do with the metals?"
"Salome, I am so glad that you asked that." Godric rose again and opened a large drawer in the bottom of his desk.
I am so glad that I kept this all these years, Eric.
Carly could tell that Godric was laughing within, as was Eric.
Godric lifted a mass of metal onto the desk. Carly couldn't see it, but she heard its impact, even insulated by the blotter. "With the markings on the object, I feared that they could be used in conjuring, or that they would be used by someone who believed they could conjure, fairies, so I asked the metallurgist to mix the molten metal with iron."
Carly's confusion must have been clear to Eric because he pushed a memory toward her with so much force that her practiced blankness almost broke.
Walking at the edge of a pine forest in the rain. A flash, the sound of thunder, but steam and soil cast up 100 feet in the air, trees fallen. Godric proudly digging out a fragment of a meteorite from the ground. Godric's struggle to run home with the still warm rock in his hands.
"I doubt any magic could survive this." Godric turned the stone over and then lifted it toward Salome. "You have some interests in magic, yes?"
"Once, long ago," Salome cracked a faint smile and readjusted her position on the setee.
Nan's frustration was apparent in her voice. "Well, this is all very interesting, but can we return to this proposal, Godric?"
"Yes," Godric took up the papers again. "I am happy to take on responsibilities for additional territories, but I refuse to relinquish New Orleans, particularly this palace."
Salome stood, her mind still screaming, raging, even though she smiled the whole time. "I'm sure that the Council might be persuaded to reconsider its plans, but we will have to return with a new contract."
Godric looked at the footer of the papers and thumbed through all the leaves. "This was drawn up by Dustin Cataliades?"
"Yes," Salome nodded. "We must have him revise it for the agreement to take full force."
"Any of the Cataliades could make the alteration, I am sure." This shall be so amusing, my children, Godric communicated to them.
Another knock on the door interrupted them and Godric responded, "Enter, Marcus!"
"My king, Desmond Cataliades to see you."
Entirely dry and well-shod, Desmond Cataliades rolled into the room, smiling his predatory smile at them one by one. "Salome, Nan, oh, and who are you?" Cataliades took Nora's hand and then looked first to Godric and then to Salome. "Your name?"
"Nora Gainsborough."
"Mom got you in the divorce, I take it." Cataliades laughed at his own joke and then dropped Nora's hand. "Northman."
"Desmond, a pleasure."
"What has Salome done to your pet?" Cataliades bent down and lifted up Carly's eyelid so that her eye bulged. She didn't really manage to glamour you, did she, kid?
No...please don't let her know...
"Why do you presume Salome is responsible?" Godric asked his lawyer. "Out of curiosity."
"Well, Salome's the only one with something to hide, now isn't she?" Cataliades laughed heartily and then took the papers from Godric's hand. "Dustin told me what you were trying to pull off. All of you on the Council have been trying to chip away at the power of the monarchs, so you think you can get away with a power grab like this."
"The Authority is the organizing principle..." Nan began before Cataliades cut her off.
"A little time on television does not give you the right to rule, Nan." Cataliades added, "And the Council did not back True Blood, you just got out in front before the cleverest monarchs orchestrated the revelation. I hasten to add that the monarchs would have done much better in India and the Middle East than you have. You've pretty well botched it."
"Can you modify your brother's contract?" Godric asked the demon.
Cataliades pulled a fountain pen from his pocket and took off the lid. "What one does, another can undo or redo." The lawyer read through the contract, scratching out sentences and paragraphs as he went.
Salome and Nan remained still, but Carly could sense their discomfort with each stroke of Cataliades's pen.
"Godric, may I use your phone?"
"Of course." Godric moved the heavy leather chair back behind the desk and invited Cataliades to sit in it.
"Who are you calling, Cataliades?" Salome's brain was still screeching, but Godric hadn't provided Carly with any feedback.
What is she saying, Godric?
Cursing me, mostly...although she has begun to wonder how old I was when I was turned...
No! Carly recognized immediately. 18? 18 days after 18? A sacrifice?
Then I am safe, my child...I was 17. She is cataloging her back-up plans, many truly absurd.
"Sarai?" Cataliades addressed an interlocutor on the phone without any other greeting. "Yes, Desmond Cataliades. How are you?"
"Why are you calling her?" Nan's voice seemed sharper.
Ignoring Nan entirely, Cataliades said, "I wanted to make sure you knew the Authority was partitioning your territory and sending you home to Sierra Leone." Cataliades pulled the receiver from his ear and the entire room heard the invectives pouring from the phone. "As I thought." The Queen of Alabama calmed and asked a number of questions, to which Cataliades answered, "Yes...no...Godric...Georgia and Caribbean...Of course not." Cataliades offered the phone to Godric. "She'd like to speak to you directly."
Godric addressed her in French. "Ma chère reine...oui...Salome et Nan Flanagan et mon enfant mort..."
Carly felt Godric's acute pain as he called Nora his "dead child," but knew that it was a volley in this psychological battle against the three vampires from the Authority.
They concluded their conversation in English. "I have no designs on your territory whatsoever, my friend, and I will advocate for you if Georgia or the Caribbean do have such intentions...Only through Mississippi...If you have any vampires worthy of advancement, let me know of them. I need them in Mississippi...Yes, we shall meet again soon... No, Eric did not tell me that..."
Apparently you met a friend of hers in New York. Her great-grandfather, so to speak...she shared a maker with the previous King of Mississippi.
"...Yes, I presume that I will have access to Edgington's collection. I invite you to come and go through it with me... Mu kpoko hoe o muva hoe, Sarai."
Simply 'good-bye' in Mende, my children...just to remind Salome of the advantages a wanderer can have over a princess, even if the princess has the largest library in the world...
With a flourish, Cataliades struck an entire page of the contract. "Let me read this over again before I put it into force..." He turned the pages, made small emendations, muttered, added words and then handed it to Godric. "Read."
After Godric read over the contract, he handed it to Nora. "As the only native speaker of English in the room, would you do the honors, Miss Gainsborough?"
Nora took the contract, read it and then handed it on to Salome. Without much enthusiasm, Salome read it over and then passed it on one more time to Nan.
"Looks fine to me. The notification to the monarchs will be easy. Godric consolidates Louisiana and Mississippi into one kingdom without any condition." Nan laughed and said, "I doubt Salome and Roman will try to push you into a corner again, Godric."
"I'm certain they had no such thing in mind." With that conciliatory gesture, which was a clear declaration of victory, Godric refocused attention on Cataliades, "Are you able to put the contract in force now?
Cataliades took the contract back from Nan, lifted it in the air, and a dark cloud gathered around the it. The cloud precipitated into words that fell and adhered to the paper. "It is ready to sign. Salome? Godric? Who wants to open a vein first?"
Carly heard a drawer open and the sound of a small object being retrieved.
"Shall we use my pen? I am happy to go first."
"Extend your wrist, Godric," Cataliades directed, then stabbed him with the pen, bloodying its nib. "Sign here." After a few scratches against the paper, Cataliades said, "Your turn, Salome."
The procedure repeated, Cataliades held up the contract again, the cloud gathered once more, but instead of precipitating onto the paper, the cloud consolidated into two duplicates of the contract. "One for each of you and, as always, I keep the original." The demon stood, folded the contract, and placed it in his breast pocket. "Nan, are you once again the keeper of the keys and titles?"
Nan brought out a thick envelope from her briefcase. "Yes, here is everything that you need to access the palace in Jackson."
"That is done." Cataliades queried, "Godric, I hear that you brought your cook from Dallas?"
"Yes, would you like some refreshment?" Godric smiled as he deposited the contract and the envelope in his file drawer. "Perhaps it is time for all of us repair to the dining room? Salome, would you do the honors and release Carly from her bondage?"
Salome was silent, but Nora and Nan moved toward the door, which Catliades opened chivalrously.
"I—" Salome didn't finish her utterance, but instead fished a pendant from beneath her blouse. She held a firm grip on it, and then raised it so that she could look through it to Godric.
Her Plan B, my children...
"I think that we should seal our agreement with a drop of the sacred blood, one for each of us." Salome removed the pendant from her neck. Although Carly couldn't see it directly, she could knew its form from what Eric and Godric could see.
A vision of her preparation of the vial came into Carly's mind—Salome standing before the crystal vessel in her underground temple, a long glass dropper extended into the blood to siphon off a few drops, then gingerly deposited within the vial suspended on a long gold chain.
"Unnecessary," Cataliades objected. "You know what would happen if you broke the contract. Your superstitions are an unwarranted indulgence."
Salome moved toward Godric, employing all the charms she'd perfected over the last two thousand years. "I know Godric believes the blood is sacred. He has sworn upon it once."
"And it was ridiculous last time, Salome. According to Dustin, you put on a ridiculous spectacle."
Cataliades's disapproval only agitated Eric more, and as his anxiety climbed, Carly worried about Godric's intentions, and the consequences if Salome consumed the blood around them. Flashes of orgiastic scenes flared up, but she didn't know if the source of the visions was Godric or Salome.
Godric...
Patience, Carly, we need to see how it impairs her judgement.
Jean-Jacques says it will hurt you...that I'm to stop you...
And that it will do nothing to harm me...trust me...
"Salome," Godric took the vial from her hand, "yes, I believe the blood is sacred. But why should I believe this is the sacred blood? You just tried to orchestrate a coup against the Queen of Alabama." Godric unscrewed the cap. "For all I know, you could have filled this vial with red food coloring and colloidal silver."
"Never, Godric," Salome caressed the back of his hand that held the vial. "I think that the Council simply misunderstood Sarai's intentions."
"So you will not object to taking the first drop?" Godric drew the dropper out of the vial and held it before Salome's mouth. "Yes?"
With her hand moving from Godric's wrist to his side and finally his hip as she descended before him, Godric deposited a single drop of blood on Salome's tongue which was thrust forward suggestively in her mouth. She rose, her mouth coming perilously close to his groin as she stood.
"May I give you the blood?" Salome reached out for the vial.
"No," Godric drew up another drop, cast back his head and raised the dropper high in a pose that recalled 1920s fraternity boys as they swallowed goldfish. He squeezed the dropper and the blood fell into his mouth.
Carly imagined the way she and Eric had burned away the Edgington's blood within the werewolves, concentrated, slowing time so that she could follow the falling drop, and, as it passed from view of the vampires in the room, she vaporized it in a burst of fire and light.
With the taste of smoke in his throat, Godric closed his mouth and remained in the pose, his eyes closed theatrically.
Carly...is he in pain?
No. I destroyed it before he consumed it.
And I am grateful...Can you refocus on her thoughts so I can know them?
Within Salome's mind, euphoria, but also lust, wrestled for control with her conscious mind still intent to bring Godric into her orbit. But her intention shifted...
Finally, Godric was able to translate so that Eric and Carly could understand. The palace lost to me...now must find Compton...continue his search. One will come of age... Or perhaps Leticia was not wrong about Carly...how close to 27 is she? Perhaps the wrong multiple...
"Are you ridiculous creatures finished?" Cataliades expressed his disapproval. "Salome, you need to release Eric's pet before you make her an idiot."
Godric lowered his chin and kissed Salome's forehead and each of her cheeks. "Release her, Salome."
"Yes, Godric. It is time for a toast."
Carly stirred, and Eric lifted her up to sit on his lap. "Beloved, did you have a good rest?"
"Mm-hmm." Carly stretched. "Did you have a good talk?"
She looked around the room and focused on Salome, who stood expectantly in front of Godric, who locked her in his gaze. She leaned forward incrementally to kiss him, but he smiled and turned away toward Eric and Carly. Releasing Salome from his grasp dismissively, Godric took Carly's hand. He kissed her palm and then leaned down and kissed Eric on the lips. "May I share your refreshment, my son?"
Godric...are you okay?
Yes, Carly, I am just antagonizing Salome. She thinks she can persuade me to take her as consort. I want her to believe my attentions are focused on the two of you. Nan also still thinks that you have some responsibility for Sophie-Ann's demise. Do you mind if I drink from you? I may need to take greater liberties than before.
Carly tried to suppress the lust that Eric felt, but failed, and let out a quiet moan.
Carly! Eric giggled as he nuzzled into her neck.
No! That was you! I know it was you...
Do we have your consent, Carly? That is the only way I will proceed.
Yes, Godric...I will feed both of you...I just can't...
No one will demand sex, Carly...
Speak for yourself, maker... "Of course, my king. With great pleasure."
Godric raised Carly to stand, where she wobbled slightly. Eric stood, but rose up behind her with his hands on her hips and forced his arousal into the small of her back.
"I will have Marcus summon donors for the three of you. Please, proceed to the dining room."
Disengaging from Eric and Godric, mainly to insulate herself from the fantasies—or perhaps memories—that were rising in Eric's mind, Carly waited until the strange precedence sorted itself out. Cataliades continued to hold the door and waved his hand frantically. "Come on, people, I'm hungry! Salome, out! Godric, Nan, Nora, Eric—have a little family reunion on the way—and Carly—yes, that's right, out!"
With the demon's prompting, the library emptied and the group moved along the elegant, marbled hallway.
"As we walk," Salome suggested, "may we discuss the policy you put forward about makers and progeny?"
"And what of it?"
"You have demanded that makers seek your permission before taking progeny," Salome confirmed Godric's edict from his coronation. "The Council believes this might abridge our progress integrating with the human world."
"That is the policy that I have set, largely to prevent the blasphemy that Sophie-Ann tolerated." Godric moved to stand beside her as they walked. "Why would sudden population growth promote integration? New vampires are volatile and require the patience of their maker to ensure they do not kill indiscriminately." Godric looked over his shoulder, "I may have only succeeded once as a maker, but I do know what is required."
Why is he being so cruel, Eric?
I don't know...but I know he has a reason...can you hear Nora?
Finding her thoughts, Carly focused on Nora. So glad I left him...so glad I found my way to Salome...to her...to the Council...to the truth...it is good that Eric is happy...he should survive the changes...
Carly pressed more deeply into Nora's consciousness, into her memories, and found little incriminating...time in a library, reading, Salome and a stern, solidly built man standing before her, quizzing her on a text, on verb paradigms...geography...
But then a vivid memory...
Salome traced the muscles on Nora's forearm, We will rule them as we were meant to...the humans are meant to serve us...to serve us in our own garden...as they did before their fall...before our retreat...
They believe the same thing as Russell...but layered over with... Biblical stories...
"Yes, I am grateful for your efforts as maker. Nora is dear to me," Salome replied to Godric's denigrating remarks. "But we believe that governments will be able to understand us more effectively if they have their own records of humans made vampire."
Godric stopped before the double-doors into the dining room and asked, "And why do you expect me to agree? I who have only made two vampires in two thousand years? I do not believe we should be numerous, Salome. How many progeny do you have? Alive?"
"Thirty-four, all told," Salome answered. "I do not believe I've been profligate."
Without much inflection in his voice, Godric added, "Thirty-five, with Nora, then."
Marcus opened the double-doors and revealed a well-appointed dining room where three humans, two men and a woman, waited for the vampires.
"My king," Marcus spoke as he opened the doors for the party, "I have arranged the room as you prefer when you require donors, although Jimmy has set a table for Mr. Cataliades next to the passage to the kitchens.
Cataliades barged past the line of vampires and took his seat and stuffed a napkin in his shirt. "Thank you, Marcus! Please let him know that I'm am ready and waiting!"
Marcus looked to Godric for confirmation that he could serve Cataliades. "Yes, Jimmy may serve my guest. The rest of you," Godric moved toward a long Roman style couch with rolled arms but no back, "please acquaint yourself with a donor and take a seat."
Nan immediately selected the woman and led her over to a short settee with a high back and dyed green leather. "What is your name?"
"Jemima." The donor smiled and asked, "How do you wish to feed?"
"You're so polite." Nan patted her hand and added, "Let's wait for everyone to get settled."
With little hesitation, Nora selected one of the men, a tall blond with long hair.
Carly wondered how Melissa—or Godric—she wasn't certain who had selected the donors—made their choices and how they had already acquired four donors so soon after taking the throne. Salome waited, watching as Eric and Carly crossed the room to Godric.
Once the others were all seated, the remaining donor offered his arm to Salome. "May I feed you?"
Salome smiled blandly at him and said, "Yes, thank you. The last seat appears to be ours."
Eric sat against one side of the Roman sofa, with his arm raised over the edge, and his legs spread. Carly sat within his embrace facing the room, and Eric stroked her hair, finally moving it away from one side of her neck. Godric sat on the edge of the couch and stroked Carly's thigh.
"Friends," Godric addressed his guests, "the donors in my court have only agreed to provide blood. They are not prostitutes and are not to be misused. If you require more than your donor may offer safely, let Marcus know and he will bring another to you." He raised Carly's leg so that it laid across his lap. "They are, however, free to express their own desires, should they have them."
"Well," Cataliades laughed as Jimmy placed dishes overflowing with food in front of him, "I presume this cow's only desire is to be eaten with great relish and appreciation!"
"Indeed," Godric answered, "a toast to the Authority, to the Monarchies, and..." Godric closed his eyes before looking to Salome, "...to the blood of Lilith."
One after the other, the vampires repeated, "A toast!" Cataliades was already eating with gusto.
Eric raised Carly a few inches and exposed his fangs so that they scratched her neck as he licked the space between her arteries. Godric raised her wrist to his mouth and kissed it before clicking his fangs into place. Just as Eric did, he licked her, pressing his tongue into her pulse, which quickened.
Without warning, Godric dropped her wrist and reached up to hold Eric's cheek.
Carly, I think that we need to be bolder. Please unbutton your blouse for me. I will not harm you, but this may be more than you anticipated. . . Salome must believe. . .
Slowly, Carly unbuttoned her blouse and when she reached the clasp on her bra, she unhooked it, finally moving it all to the side, exposing most of her left breast to view.
Godric flattened himself out along Carly's body and then tapped Eric's leg. The two vampires bit her simultaneously, and Carly felt them both stiffen in arousal, and as much as she tried to deny it, she felt herself open up. She rubbed her leg against Godric's side and moaned. Neither of them sucked at an artery, so she bled slowly. Eric began to rub himself against her more intently as Godric did the same, matching his progeny's rhythm.
Carly knew she couldn't focus on their minds, that she didn't see what they saw or thought at that moment, so she focused on the minds around them. The donors were all calm, as were Nora and Nan, who were watching the king and his sheriff hump his companion as they drank from her.
Finally, Nora told her donor, "Just a mouthful, love. That's all you need to give me." She took his wrist, bit, took in one mouthful and then licked his wounds shut. "You've been a dear."
The donor smiled sweetly at her and said, "Is there anything further that I can do?"
Nora returned the smile and said, "No, I think that I have had quite a bit of New Orleans, thank you." She stood and looked to Salome and Nan, both of whom were feeding eagerly on their donors. "Salome, Nan? I think that we should say our good-byes." They disengaged from their donors in response.
Eric and Godric grasped their hands together, encircling Carly, and grunted. Both men licked Carly's wounds shut, but then rested against her after their shared orgasm. With a raspy voice, Godric whispered, "Thank you." Pulling himself to his knees, he kissed Carly's lips gently and then stretched to kiss Eric's more intently, more passionately. Finally pulling away, he said, "You have given me so many gifts, Eric. It will be my privilege to have you both with me..."
Trust me, Carly... I say these things only to confuse Salome...please...please...keep them from Sookie...
Returning to sitting, Godric straightened himself as best as he could with the blood streaking the front of his clothing.
"As is her preference, Nora wishes to leave us prematurely, so let us say good-night."
"Yes," Salome answered, "our departure is much sooner than we wished. I had hoped to spend more time with you, grow better acquainted, Godric. We share a great deal. Few have as many years as we do. Or have recollections of the Empire."
"Few, but I suspect more than the Authority has kept track of in your files and libraries. But I have no need of what you have offered others, Salome. And my kingdom has no need for your designs on it." Godric reached across Carly once more to touch Eric's hand, which he brought over Carly's bracelet, pressing his fingers to it. What does your third set of eyes see, my children?
Instantly, tentacles stretched toward Salome and encircled her, like dogs scenting their prey. Her blood! She has Edgington's blood! Within her!
Godric, she is Edgington's progeny, or in his line...
Eric lifted his hand from Carly's bracelet, severing the connection between the two of them, allowing the entity to dissipate, allowing its power to dissolve before it acted against another vampire in Edgington's line.
Salome. . .Edgington. . . the same thing. . . they want the same thing. . . make humans livestock. . .
I understand, Carly. . . but to destroy her alone. . . thirty-five progeny. . . with the same blood. . . the same belief. . . we must find a way to burn it all down. . .
Godric smiled, "Jean-Jacques and Peter Threadgill have warned me, sweet Salome, of your offers in the past—to bring the Council and the Monarchies together by serving as a consort to a monarch. I fear that I prefer we avoid the dance you enjoy so much. I have other things to occupy me. You see, Salome, I have already chosen consorts. I simply await the time when we shall turn Carly before we summon the Pythia to cement our union. Seven years hence suits me. . . then she shall be twice my age at turning. That amuses me."
Carly tried to remain as impassive as possible, even though she was startled by Godric's assertion and confused by his bring up her age, nevertheless, she dipped into the other vampires' minds.
Kinky...but he got Salome's number quickly. Impressive...I'm so tired of her and her shenanigans...her cult...I don't know why she is so angry about Jean-Jacques and True Blood...and Northman's pet's not poisonous...put upon...but not deadly...
What does he mean 'we shall turn Carly'? How? The two of them together? No...Eric chose me...but Godric...it isn't possible. No...even with what Salome talks about...with finding a way to bring Lilith back into the world...two vampires can't make another? Can they?
Salome's mind was obscured from her, but images were clear. Her own awakening as vampire, her awakening to the Scythian, to the face Carly recognized as Russell Edgington's, and to his progeny, her maker...
Carly sent the image to Godric as quickly and accurately as she could. Do you recognize him?
No. . . but that is no guarantee he no longer lives.
"May your journey be uneventful," Godric stood so that he may bow to the Authority members. "Give my regards to the Guardian."
The three vampires filed out, then the donors acknowledged the king and departed. Once Marcus shut the doors, Cataliades whistled. "That was a better show than Bourbon Street, gentlemen."