The light streaming into the room after the loud banging noise dissipated had her eyes opening begrudgingly. She sat up in bed, wiping her eyes as a large overbearing shadow filled her open doorway. Gorilla 1 stood tall and his glare boiling down as he stepped into the room, silence following him.

"Yes?" she asked, trying to catch a glimpse of his shadowed face.

"Russell would like to speak to you." he grumbled.

"Now?" she asked, noticing night had only fallen 15 minutes ago.

"Now." he growled, stepping out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

The sleep she had been rudely woken from had done nothing to revamp her mood or energy. Eric's face had haunted her dreams every second, preventing her from trying to relax and calm her mind. The absence from him was beginning to gnaw at her. She had regretted everything she had said to him, from what she had said in Dallas to the words she muttered before she left. She did need time to try and get her head in the right spot….and now that it finally was, she realized that maybe she didn't have to leave in order to do that.

Eric had always found a way to calm her and make her see reason…. she didn't see how this time would have been any different.

She climbed out of her bed and shuffled into the bathroom, the cold tile sending a nice jolt through her system. She turned on the water and watched the steam billow up. It reminded her of the fog that had settled over the small town of London the night she had died. It was an eerie, calm reminder of the life she had lost but had now regained. She needed to keep her mind sharp and present or else she would no doubt find herself in a sticky mess... like usual.

She quickly showered and stepped out. She dried herself off while trying to pick out a dress to wear. She really wished for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt…but unfortunately, she was living with the gayest couple in history. Coordinating fashionable outfits were required.

She picked a deep plum covered dress with long sleeves and a hemline that ended at her knees. It fit tightly against her skin as she picked a pair of nude pumps with a bow to match the outfit. She dried her hair and pinned it up into a curled mess. She made sure her ears were covered as she picked a pair of hooped earrings to bring the outfit together.

She rang the little bell next to the door like a dog needing to go outside and waited for the tall ape of a man to usher her out. She got a good look at his face now that they were out in the light. He was handsome with dark black hair and green eyes. He ushered her down the hall and down the stairs, his hand on the small of her back as he led her to the parlor. Russell sat alone on the loveseat, his robe undone and feet propped as he watched her enter.

"Good evening." he smiled, gesturing for her to sit.

She stepped away from Gorilla 1 and sat down in one of the spare chairs across from Russell. A fire burned greedily, warming the room to a comfortable temperature as she felt Russell's eyes bore into her.

"You may leave us, Gerard." said Russell, waving away the guard.

The doors closed behind him as the room suddenly became stale and stuffy. She nervously shifted in her chair as her eyes slowly moved up to meet Russell's.

"You wanted to see me?" she stated.

"How much do you know of what you are?" he asked, watching her head snap towards his.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Don't play coy with me sweetheart." he said. "What do you know about yourself?"

"Not much." she replied.

"Your powers." he stated, his eyes taking in her fiddling fingers. "What are they?"

"Nothing spectacular." she said, trying to seem less than what she was.

"Do not doubt yourself." he told her, his words echoing what Eric himself had said many times. "I've witnessed the fire already….what else is there?"

"Just the fire." she said, her voice but a whisper.

"We must work on your lying skills." smiled Russell. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I have a wonderful room downstairs I believe you are familiar with."

She shuddered at the memory of the cold cell she was kept in for 4 days. No company…..no food. She thought quickly on what Eric would do in a situation such as this….she figured the truth would be her best option at the moment.

"I can….my hearing has become quiet sensitive-" she paused, looking into his hungry eyes. "I can…. hear thoughts and conversations from a distance, but I'm not very confident with it."

She laughed a bit after confirming the last bit. She was a freak….and there was never a greater moment than now when she wanted Eric here with her.

"What about influencing others?"

She froze after his words, that particular trait being lost to her memory. The last time she had used it was during the incident with Christian. After that she had forgotten about it….until now.

"Well it's obvious I am able to glamour." she smiled, trying her best to throw him off of this. "Seeing as I'm a vampire after all."

"You know the influence I speak of." he replied, his own smile making hers disappear as hunger grew upon his face.

She had hoped to try and play this off as nothing but simple vampire glamour, but the look she received told her he already knew. Knowing she could influence vampires was a quality that would put her at a higher price towards those who like to market freaks of nature like her. She could also be seen as a danger…something to be rid of for the greater good of the vampire world.

"I've only used it once." she whispered.

All she heard after that was Russell's laughter. His head was thrown back in joyous ecstasy as he gently clapped his hands. She felt the sinking feeling of dread slowly filling within her as his eyes seemed to spark with mischief.

"This is just marvelous." he replied, his eyes shining brightly as his lips portrayed a smile of greediness.

"You knew all of this already." she stated.

"I did." he nodded. "I just was curious if anything else exciting popped up."

"You make me sound like a science project." she humored, her eyes turning towards the fire.

"Oh nonsense, puddin'." he said, leaning closer to her. "Since the first time I found you…I haven't seen or smelled anything as delicious and exciting as you."

"Well I suppose I'm to feel flattered, then." she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"You should." he replied. "Things exquisite such as you don't last for too long around these parts. There's a high demand for unique items….especially one that's vampire and elf all mixed into a very beautiful package."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Edgington." she replied.

"It's not flattery, hon, it's fact. One you should be painfully aware of." he stated harshly. "You should be thankful I'm not one to throw you to the wolves, figuratively of course. I'd much rather keep you to myself. For your protection of course."

"Of course." she replied, hearing the bullshit as he spoke it.

"Now tell me…where do you call home normally?" he questioned.

"Louisiana." she replied.

"I caught that little accent of yours. Tell me, which Area do reside under?" he asked, leaning back and reaching for his snifter of blood that sat forgotten on the side table.

If her sweat glands were alive and kicking, she would surely be drenched in water right now. She tried thinking quickly…. was she to divulge the truth and get Eric mixed up in this, or was she to lie and hope it all worked out? She didn't want to get Eric mixed up in this but something told her she should, not only for him to finally find the man he had been searching for centuries, but so that she could see him once again.

"I reside in Area 5." she said, the uncertainty of outcomes weighing on her.

"And what is your relationship with your Queen?" he asked, noticing her relax at the change in topic.

"Not much of a relationship. I don't exactly swing her way." she smiled, watching Russell's own chuckle erupt within him. "She's tolerable."

"That's the most common reaction I receive of her." he said, leaning towards her. "She doesn't make you play Yahtzee, does she?"

"Till dawn." she replied. "I'd rather rip my fangs out."

Russell laughed as he leaned back in his chair. His gaze looked her over as the silence within the room became prominent once more. She was feeling slightly more comfortable since the conversation faded from herself to the Queen.

"I would like to try something…..if it is alright with you." he replied.

"I have a feeling I won't have much of a choice." she replied.

"Your instincts are spot on, my dear." he smiled. "As you heard at dinner the previous night, I plan to marry Sophie-Ann in hopes of joining areas and to also save her pathetic backside. Now…there is a chance she will say no."

"I'm pretty confident she will say no." replied Aurea.

"Most likely…..but I would like to ask for your services when it does come time to visit the dear Queen. She may need some, persuading shall we say." inferred Russell.

"My influence doesn't last." she replied. "Whatever I influence on someone, once I break contact, they can reverse whatever's happened. I've only ever used it to gain information."

"Trivial." he smiled, brushing his hand across the air as if to dismiss her comment. "I just may need you to make her say yes and sign some papers. That's all. Once that's done…well, she can't really take back her word on something such as that, can she? So what do you say?"

"Like I said, I don't have much of a choice." she stated, feeling her control slipping away over herself.

"Excellent." he replied, standing up and sitting on the coffee table directly in front of her. "Also, while you are here, I expect you to practice your talents. You're not normal my dear…it's time for you to embrace and accept what you really are. There's no telling what you'll be capable of."

The doors to the parlor opened catching her attention away from Russell's. In stepped the werewolf who found her in the woods, along with none other than Bill's maker, Lorena. She had caught a glimpse of her the night Bill set her on fire, but had never officially come in contact with her.

Instantly she feared the knowledge Lorena had. Was she privy to the fact that her and Eric were married? If so…this night could certainly take a massive turn for the worst. She couldn't remember exactly what had happened in Dallas, all she remembered was the altercation between Godric and Lorena, but she couldn't be sure if Bill had opened his fat mouth and mentioned something.

She watched Lorena's face for any signs of recognition, but their eyes never met. She followed her form as she walked towards the back of the room, taking a lazy posture against the desk. Russell stood as Talbot entered last, each of them taking a seat on the loveseat. She could feel the wolf behind her huffing pointedly as Russell turned back to the rest of them.

"My dear, I don't believe you've met Lorena." introduced Russell, gesturing Aurea from her seat.

Aurea slowly stood from her chair and stepped up to Lorena. Everyone in the room watched them with gilded eyes as they gently shook hands. Aurea looked into Lorena's eyes, waiting…searching for something to flash across her face. She had been right in her fear that Lorena recognized her, but how much was the question.

"I remember you from somewhere." drawled Lorena. "Those eyes and that hair are unmistakable to miss."

"I'm sorry but….nothing comes to mind." said Aurea.

"No, I've seen you before." said Lorena, looking at her a little too pointedly.

Aurea decided that the time was better than ever to "practice" her talents, as Russell so eloquently put it. She looked into Lorena's eyes and cleared her mind, the rest of the room disappearing. Images quickly flashed in her mind of Godric's nest, the image of her and Eric talking quietly to each other before the two of them shared a soft yet passionate kiss.

She watched Lorena's eyes flash with recognition as her mouth opened to speak. Aurea tightened her grip on Lorena's hand as she stared icily into her eyes. Lorena's face seemed to stop movement as Aurea opened her mouth.

"We met in passing I believe. At the hotel in Dallas not too long ago." replied Aurea, her eyes never breaking contact with Lorena's.

"Yes. The Hotel Carmilla." said Lorena, her tone almost comatose.

Aurea gripped Lorena's hand one more time before letting it go. Lorena's eyes fluttered as she seemed to snap out of whatever trance she had been in. Her eyes moved up to Aurea's before they turned to the tenants of the room. Aurea could tell she was slightly confused just by the look on her face. As she looked back at Aurea, she could see Lorena nod slowly before putting a smile on her face.

"I knew I recognized that hair." smiled Lorena.

"It is unique, isn't?" laughed Russell, oblivious to whatever had just happened.

She turned slowly from Lorena to face the room, everyone's eyes on hers as she retook her seat, crossing her legs and placing her hands on her lap. She heard the wolf growl behind her, catching Russell's attention. She felt the nerves slowly wash away as Russell spoke with the wolf. It had been a gamble messing with Lorena like that, the woman was delusional with a mouth the size of Texas. Aurea was just glad she got the hint to shut up. Aurea was sure she'd have to reiterate her threat later on when others were not present, but at the moment….it had worked.

Her ears picked up the mention of a waitress as Russell suddenly got very irritated. Again, she really needed to start paying attention when it was important. Her head snapped to her left as Lorena mentioned something about Eric. She was surprised her head hadn't rolled off by the sheer quickness of her motions.

"Who?" asked Russell.

"He's a Sheriff under Sophie-Ann." replied Lorena. "He has a perverse interest in that waitress."

Aurea felt her blood begin to boil as Lorena continued to speak. Aurea saw the mischievous glint in her eye as she looked squarely into her own.

"I'm sure he's been watching over her." finished Lorena.

"Huh." replied Russell, turning to Aurea. "Is this your Sheriff?"

"He is." stated Aurea. "Though I have only had the pleasure of meeting him once."

Russell looked her over with a scrutinizing gaze before turning towards the doors. Aurea followed his gaze as she saw Bill being led in by his own posse of guards.

"Ah, Mr. Compton." replied Russell. "Good days rest?"

Bill drew his gaze around the room, his eyes slowly settling on Aurea for a longer period before addressing Russell.

"I have considered your offer." he replied, Aurea furrowing her brow in confusion. "My service to Queen Sophie-Ann has brought only suffering to me, and the humans I have lived amongst. I recognize that now. For their safety…and mine, I hereby renounce my fealty to the kingdom of Louisiana, and I humbly pledge my loyalty to your majesty."

Aurea lowered her eyes to the ground in confusion. What was his angle in pledging his allegiance to Russell. What did he gain from this? Was this about Sookie? The bitch wasn't even here and yet she still could make men do the stupidest things.

"Wonderful." smiled Russell, turning his gaze to Lorena. "We don't need the girl after all."

"What?" asked Lorena, suppressing her anger. "But, you gave me your word."

"And I gave my word….to Mr. Compton." replied Russell, gesturing back to Bill.

So that's what Bill had planned. For Sookie's safety….he would align himself with Russell. Smart move Bill…..but it wouldn't last for long. No plan made out of desperation for a woman ever ended quietly. This one for sure would definitely end with horrific side effects.