The next evening was quiet as the house and its inhabitants recovered themselves from the previous night's festivities. Many a guest had been drunk with blood, their sexual needs met, and minds overwrought with thoughts and ideas.

Aurea did not sleep much the previous night, her mind on fast forward after listening to Bill end his love affair with Sookie. The whole timing was off to her. Why after all this time, and right at this moment did he decide it was time to end it with Sookie, and with Lorena in the background giving additive voice, no less?

He was definitely up to something, and she had spent the entire night trying to figure out his angle. The obvious choice was that by siding with Russell, Bill took the heat off of Sookie who would no doubt be used, or was being used, to gain his favor, thanks to Lorena and her obvious desire to end Sookie. By willingly giving himself to the King, Sookie would be left unharmed. But even with all those actions, there still lay the problem of her being on their radar. That's why Bill took the less than believable step to break up with her. A fool's errand. She could hear it in his voice when he spoke the words.

He still loved her. Emotions such as love could not be ended so quickly.

The issue Bill wasn't taking into consideration was Sookie's annoying persistence. Knowing her, she was still on the hunt for Bill whether he broke it off with her or not. Bill was still in hot soup, and no phone call to-

Aurea sat straight up in her bed. She had been awake for hours going over everything from the night before and focusing too much on Bill and his idiocy to focus on the one major advantage that fell into her lap.

Bill's phone!

"For fucks sake!" she complained, groaning as she climbed out of her bed and straight to the wardrobe.

She commended herself for keeping tabs on Bill and seeing what she could use to her advantage, if anything, but of course once more the obvious failed to reach her grasp.

She combed through the closet, looking for something that wasn't so outrageous, so that she could slip over to Bill's room. She had heard him leave earlier in the evening to meet with Russell, thanks to one of the Gorillas' loud mouth. If luck was working on her side, then his room and hers would be left unguarded. Russell had given instruction to the Gorilla's that she could leave and go to her room whenever she wanted.

"A probationary period for your allegiance."

That was what Russell called it. More like a probationary period to get her shit together while playing the accepting princess. The more he could trust her and believe she was working for his advantage, the more she could get away with and be overlooked.

She found a floor length, long-sleeved, fitted black dress towards the back. No pizzazz and no flare, which was why it was shoved in deep. Simple was the best word. She shimmied her way into the dress and tied her hair up into a messy bun. She forwent shoes as she slinked to her door, her ears opening up like a flourish of wind rushing through a canyon, searching for any sounds that would give away her plans.

She heard no footsteps and no voices except for some soft mumbling downstairs. She grabbed the end of her dress and used it to wrap around the silver doorknob. Cracking the door open slightly, her eyes ghosted down the hall to see it vacant. She slithered her way out of her room, closing the door gently behind her. She kept her ears open as she tip-toed to Compton's door. She turned her ears to inside the room, hearing no movement and no noise of any kind.

She grasped the doorknob as voices drifted up from downstairs. She heard Russell laugh and Bill chuckle at something they were discussing. She paused only slightly, thinking if she should try and listen to what they were saying, but figured her current mission was much more pertinent.

She quietly opened the door and slipped inside, using her dress to grab the silvered knob to gently close the door. Her eyes quickly went to work on scouring the room, looking for any evidence of Compton's cell phone. She looked into the usual places: side table, bed, bathroom counter. She hesitated when she saw his pants on the ground but decorum be damned. She rifled through the pockets, her hands coming up empty.

She growled in frustration as she threw the empty pants to the ground. She ran her hands over her face before placing them on her hips, her eyes doing one more overview of the room.

"Looking for this?"

Her body whipped around so fast she was surprised her spine didn't break in half. Bill stood in the doorway, his cellphone clutched between his fingers and an inquisitive brow arched.

She chuckled in embarrassment as she looked towards the ground. She looked back up, sweeping a stray curl from her face. She held her hands up into a shrug before dropping them to her sides.

"Guilty." She laughed, catching her bottom lip between her teeth.

"And what was your plan if you found it?" he asked, slowly closing the door behind him, sealing the two of them from prying eyes and ears.

"Was thinking of ordering a pizza." She smiled, placing her hands to her hips.

"Eric delivering pizza now?" smiled Bill, knowing the actions she was desperately trying to take.

She laughed as she crossed her arms to her chest before taking a seat on the bed. She licked her lips as she looked down to the ground, Bill's shoes coming into view as he sat next to her.

"It would be suicide." He stated, referring to Eric finding out where she was. "Not only for him, but for you."

"I know." She mumbled, feeling like a child who got caught stealing from their parents.

"He would be reckless, mind clouded, and enraged. Wouldn't care who got in his way or why."

"You don't know that." She said.

"I do." Whispered Bill. "I would do the same if Sookie were in your position."

Aurea rolled her eyes and scoffed before turning her eyes to meet his. She saw what she knew to be true when she heard his call last night. All a ruse.

"I know you're not her biggest fan- "

"I've tracked myself into a different state and I still can't escape her." laughed Aurea before turning to a more somber mood. "But I understand what you're saying, when it comes to her. And I know what you said to her last night."

She saw Bill turn his head to her in whiplash motion, his eyes large as he saw a small smile grow on her face.

"How- "

"Not important." She said, waving her hands in disregard. "What's important is that… I know why you did it. I know you're hurting right now and we both know it wasn't enough to send her home. She's too damn stubborn and persistent to just take your breakup over the phone."

"I am worried." said Bill, his shoulders slumping, his fingers beginning to intertwine in nervousness. "I've informed Russell of Eric's order to sell vampire blood in Louisiana on behalf of Sophie-Ann."

"You did what!?" she shouted, standing to her feet and towering over his slumped form. "Are you insane? He could have Eric killed or- "

"I advised that it was under orders from the Queen- "

"It doesn't matter, Bill. He could very well overlook that it was orders, but he could also throw him in the pit along with her!"

"I don't think that is how it will play. Now, here me out." he stated, raising his hand to calm her rage. "Now we're both aware of Russell's plan to marry Sophie-Ann, join the two territories. Now he can't do that if The Magister is on her heels, which he will be if he finds out about the blood."

"You think she's setting up Eric?" she asked, fear coursing through her veins.

"I'm guaranteed on it." he confirmed. "Now if we can get Russell involved, he will more than likely take care of the situation with The Magister and Sophie-Ann. If he does, then Eric will be free of the blood charge and Sophie-Ann won't have a hold over myself or any of us anymore."

"There leaves the small problem of us not being able to return to our normal lives, Bill. How are you supposed to return to Sookie? How can I go back with Eric? Russell has me on a fucking golden leash and no idea of Eric and I's relationship!"

"Was it not you that mentioned you were after Russell for some indiscretion?" advised Bill.

"Indiscretion." she laughed. "He murdered my fucking family, that's more than just an indiscretion, Bill."

Silence filled the room after her statement as everything slowly began to sink in for Bill. The first night she was here, her anger and determination at finding the end to their lifelong search for revenge. It had been Russell the whole time.

"I can't risk fucking this up for us, Bill. Not when I am so close. I'll admit I'm not the best at planning or thinking on my feet, but I feel like I'm in the right spot. I just have to wait it out." she said, running her hands around the back of her neck in frustration. "And I probably shouldn't have told you that either."

"I'm glad you did." he whispered, softly. "Whatever our own differences, I do see you as a confidant, Aurea. A friend. We have our differences and views, but as I see it, we are in the same boat trying to row to shore. If we can help each other, I am positive we can both achieve our dreams and desires."

Aurea bit her bottom lip in contemplation, her fingers wrapping themselves through the loan curl that fell from her face as she thought over his words. She knew it was the right thing to do, and whether or not she should have told Bill about her own agenda, it felt good to get that off of her chest. She knew they could work together in this. Even with separate goals, she was sure they could make it work.

"Ok." She whispered. "Truce?"

Bill smiled as she gently placed her hand out, a smile of her own gracing her lips as her hopeful eyes met his own. His words rang true when he said he considered her a friend. Maybe not all the time but definitely someone he could turn to if need be. He continued to remind himself she was still somewhat knew to the vampire world, and he could see why Eric protected her the way he did.

"Truce." smiled Bill, gently kissing her knuckles as she rolled her eyes in laughter.

"My, my, isn't this a wonderful vision."

Both Aurea and Bill turned to see Russell standing in the doorway with Lorena seething in the background. Aurea withdrew her hand as they both turned towards the doorway.

"Are we ready?" asked Bill, causing Aurea to turn an upturned eyebrow towards him.

"We are." said Russell, his eyes taking in Aurea. "3 is such an odd number. How would we feel if we invited our little princess in our congratulatory soiree?"

"I feel it'd be quite crowded." drawled an unamused Lorena.

"Nonsense." waved Russell, before turning his attention back to Aurea. "My dear, would you be so kind as to join us this evening for a celebration dinner of sorts?"

"What are we celebrating?" asked Aurea, feeling like a lion in a cage as Russell ushered her out of the room and down the stairs.

"Business." smiled Russell, an evil licentious grin among his features.

Aurea shared a look with Bill as Russell led her down the stairs and out to an awaiting limo. All 4 occupants climbed inside. The limo was packed with tension, sexual and aggressive in nature depending on who you looked at. The driver took them into town where Aurea would soon see the ever-increasing nature of Russell's power.


Here's another chapter! Enjoy!