The chill of the cell she resided in was enough to make her own chilled skin shiver. It was quiet and lonely as the walls around her provided no sound. The only door to the room was located at the other end of the room, her cell located opposite.
She was in a prison. It had been 4 days since she had eaten or seen the night sky and already she felt herself going insane. She was imagining things, hallucinating images that weren't real. The hunger was getting to her. She was still too young of a vampire to go without food for too long a period. Her fangs were permanently extended, desperate for anything to come her way.
She was a mess, physically and emotionally. Her entire being could use a shower. The leftover plaster from her encounter with Russell earlier in the week had formed to her skin and hair. She had dried blood along her face and body from the bleeds. She was afraid to sleep when nature desired it of her. She was afraid of what she would see when her eyes shut.
She had used what remaining energy she had to try and send a message to Eric through their bond, but she had felt nothing back. He was probably still pissed at her; he had every right to be. She hated herself for what she did, it was selfish of her. She still believed she needed time to herself to work through everything that had happened, but she didn't need to traipse across the world to do that. She had a support system, those who would respect her wishes of time alone. Time alone spent in the safety of those she loved and trusted.
"Too late, now." she whispered, playing with a dried piece of plastered hair.
Her ears picked up the soft steps of feet coming towards the door. Her eyes watched meticulously as the door handle turned, her face pressing as close to the bars as she could without being silvered. The door slowly swung open, revealing Russell….and his lap dog Talbot right behind him.
"Good evening my little elf." said Russell, stepping up to her cell.
"Oh Russell…. she looks horrific!" exclaimed Talbot. "We must clean her up."
"She does look a little worse for wear does she not?" he questioned. "Well, we can't have you looking like a feral animal when our guests arrive now can we?"
"Please." she whimpered, crawling to her knees as her hands dug into the cold metal, her mind ignoring the slight burning of flesh.
"How long has it been since she's eaten?" asked Talbot, noticing her outstretched fangs as he turned a disappointed glare to Russell.
"A few days." said Russell, slightly shrugging.
"You poor dear." said Talbot, ordering a guard over to unlock her cell.
Talbot helped her stand on wobbly legs as her body screamed in lethargy and desperation. She needed food….and at the rate she was hungry, she could drain a human in 3 seconds and hold no remorse.
"You must forgive him." said Talbot, referring to Russell as he helped her out of the basement. "He sometimes forgets his manners."
Aurea only nodded as he led her up the stairs to the main floor. The house looked the same, except for the rather large hole in the wall down the hallway. Her nose caught the scent of blood as her eyes instantly darted towards the dining room.
"Not yet, my dear." said Russell, watching her being led up the stairs. "Once you are cleaned up, we will dine together."
She snarled lightly as Russell laughed. Her eyes fell onto a deep cherry wood door that opened into a rather large and comfy room. She took in the décor: a wooden bed containing decorative furs, another fur acting as a rug in front of the fire, and an assortment of swords and paintings depicting Viking life adorned the walls.
"I call this room the Viking Conquest." replied Talbot, setting her down on the bed. "Befitting don't you think?"
"I feel almost at home." she smiled.
"There are clothes provided for you in the closet there." he said, pointing to a set of doors. "Through there is the bathroom. Please make yourself presentable before joining us for dinner."
She watched as the doors closed softly behind him. She herself stood shakily and made her way towards her exit, her fingers gently brushing against the silver plaited design that adorned the door and doorknob. She hissed in pain as her skin burned at the contact, a welcoming feeling to remind her where and who she was.
She let her hand fall before silently stepping into the bathroom. The water of the shower was turned to scalding, the elation at the feel of the water washing away the filth she had lived in for days giving her a small amount of energy. She scrubbed her face clean of all blood before washing her hair. She felt her hands shake as she turned off the shower, the towel falling from her grasp as she tried drying herself off.
She needed to feed, and soon. She found the closet filled with dresses galore with shoes to match. She pulled out a light lavender sheath dress with lace sleeves and collar. A pair of lavender shoes sat by her feet as she scooped those up. She dried her hair and left it down, pulling back her bangs as she let the rest fall across her shoulders. She stepped into the dress and zipped it up before stepping into her shoes. She gave herself a once over in the mirror, her fangs refracting the light from the bathroom.
She rang the little bell next to the door that she noticed when Talbot left, feeling like a dog waiting to be let outside. She fiddled with her wedding rings as she waited for the big oaf on the other side to open the door. Finally, it seemed he had heard her as the door opened. The guard escorted her down the stairs, her heels clicking softly as she landed at the bottom. She stepped across the foyer and into the dining room.
The layout was exquisite as the guard pulled out a chair for her. She sat down slowly, her eyes slowly moving to Russell who sat across from her at the other end of the table. He only smiled before raising his cocktail, watching as her tongue ran across her lips in hunger.
"Antoine!" yelled Talbot.
Aurea's eyes snapped to a rather tall and good-looking vampire dressed in a butler's uniform emerging from the kitchen, his eyes resting on Talbot.
"Please bring our guest the bottle of carbonated blood from 1876, please." he requested, gesturing to Aurea.
Aurea watched him bow before returning to the kitchen. Her eyes then quickly flashed to the guard who leaned down next to her chair, his hands covered in black gloves. She went to pull her foot away but his tight grip was around her ankle before she could move.
"Forgive me, princess." said Russell, causing her attention to fall on him. "This is for your own good."
"You think I'll run?" she asked. "You seriously doubt my intelligence."
"It's not that at all." said Russell. "I just need to make sure you remain safe and in control. We do have another guest dining with us this evening. I can't have you acting out of character."
Aurea growled as silver was wrapped around her ankle, the searing pain rushing through her as her ankle was chained to the floor. She huffed in pain as her other ankle was tied back. The pain was quickly dealt with as Antoine returned with the bottle of carbonated blood for her.
She felt her mouth water as her tongue ran across her fangs in anticipation as the cork popped and the blood poured into a glass. She snatched the glass quickly and drank, the hunger raging within her slowly dying away.
"It's best you leave the bottle, Antoine." said Russell.
Antoine bowed before disappearing back into the kitchen. Aurea finished the glass of blood and quickly poured herself another. This one she drank less enthusiastically but with a little more gusto.
"Thank you." she whispered, feeling her body begin to tingle as it healed itself.
"No, it is my pleasure, princess." smiled Russell.
"So how did you two meet?" asked Talbot, looking between Russell and Aurea.
"I think it's best we not touch that subject." said Russell, gently patting Talbots hand.
"Why not?" interrupted Aurea, causing Russell's head to turn sharply towards her. "Don't want your lover to know what an evil asshole you are?"
"Oh, my dear," laughed Talbot. "I know the man I married."
"Then I assume murdering families and their children is the trait you most love about him?" she asked, noticing Talbot's face fall as she satisfyingly sipped her blood.
"Russell!" he exclaimed, looking over at him.
"It was centuries before I met you." said Russell, trying to calm Talbot down. "I was a changed man by then."
"I'm sure." replied Aurea, taking another sip of her blood.
"Don't make me clamp those fangs, princess." snarled Russell. "I just need you present- "
"Your Majesty."
Everyone turned their head to the guard standing in the entryway to the dining room. He looked to Russell and slightly nodded before turning and walking away.
"Now," said Russell, looking squarely at Aurea. "The rest of this evening is going to be silent and reserved. Do we understand?"
"Yes." she replied, even though her mouth wanted to say something that would most certainly get her in trouble.
"That's a good girl." replied Russell.
She sat in silence and sipped her blood as Russell and Talbot talked quietly amongst themselves, her silent chuckles as Russell tried to calm an angering Talbot. Her ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming from the foyer.
Her gaze fell to the opening of the dining room, her eyes focusing on a pair of black patent shoes matching a tux that sat on none other than Bill Compton.
'Holy Fuck.' she thought.
Their eyes connected immediately as he stepped into the room. They both played off ignorance very well as Talbot stood to greet Bill. He ushered him into the room and around the table to his seat. Aurea kept her eyes hardened and wide as she curiously followed Bill through the room. He sat down across from Talbot, Russell introducing him immediately.
"My princess, I would like for you to meet Mr. Bill Compton." he said.
"Pleasure." she said, slightly lifting her glass in greeting before taking a sip of blood to hide her face.
"May I ask your name?" asked Bill, trying to play the part.
"Aurea." she smiled, gently placing her glass on the table.
"Beautiful name." he replied, turning his attention to Talbot who poured his drink, his eyes quickly flitting back to Aurea.
"Carbonated blood. It's cruelty free, all willingly donated." said Talbot. "Notice the citrusy finish. This one ate only tangerines for weeks."
"Mr. Compton, thank you for joining us. It is an honor to have you in my kingdom, again." said Russell, holding up his blood.
They all raised their glasses and drank in toast, Aurea's eyes never falling from Bill. She had never liked him…. not even when she was human. She had a problem with shifty people, and Bill matched that persona perfectly. Plus, his constant obsession with Sookie made her queasy.
"Your majesty has been very hospitable. Perhaps my Queen will take this into consideration before she has you, staked." laughed Bill.
He was stepping on glass as he conversed with Russell. She was just as curious as to why Bill was here….and Russell wanting to make him Sheriff of Area 2 just didn't seem to fly.
"You want to wage war on Louisiana?" asked Bill, his words catching Aurea's attention.
She really needed to pay better detail to her surroundings. As Russell and Talbot laughed at Bill's remark, she noticed his eyes dart to her own in question. She only looked away, sipping lightly on her beverage. Her eyes suddenly followed Talbot as he left the room to prepare the next course.
"I mean Sophie Ann no harm. In fact, I plan to marry her." said Russell.
Aurea silently choked on her blood as the truth of his statement ran full force into her. Surprise was one reaction she had, and by the looks on Bill's face, it was his also. Russell shot her a look as she politely wiped her mouth, attempting to hide the smile on her face.
"And how is Sophie Ann going to say yes?" asked Aurea, for the first time surprising Bill and Russell with her voice.
"With your help, Mr. Compton of course." said Russell, glancing briefly at Aurea.
The table fell silent as the second course was brought out. The soup of blood set down in front of her looked good enough to drain with a straw, but unfortunately propriety won out. She took the time to listen to the continued conversation between Bill and Russell…. her ears perking up lightly at the mention of Bill being sent to Louisiana by the Queens command. She had already known why Bill had moved to Bon Temps…. but that was really all hear say from Eric.
"I know that you're still working for her." said Russell. "And I know she has secrets. And I want to know what they are."
Most likely those secrets belonged to Sookie….and what she really was. Had it been the Queen who had ordered Bill to do this? She had always figured it was Bill's own doing…but knowing the psycho Queen she herself hated sent him to do this…. this was whole new info.
Fangs were flashed and threats were made as Bill informed Russell of Sookie's ignorance to any and everything. Aurea had zoned out after that…. her own mind rushing back to how the hell she was going to get out of this mess she was in….and by the looks of how dinner went…. the mess she was going to get into.
