Chapter 15: Wicked Ones

Eric walked on a tightrope every night. He wasn't so sure how his life got this fucked up, but here he was. While the shower was running, he took off his leather jacket and tossed all his bloodied clothes into the hamper. He wet a facecloth next and started wiping his jacket clean, working every stitch, every nook of the buttons, every valley of the zipper. It was somewhat cathartic.

It had been a busy week, month, year, he couldn't even remember the last time he had time off. Although he longed for some peace and quiet, he knew he would be bored out of his mind 2 hours into it. Or at least that's what he told himself.

Tonight he had caught a group of three vampire drainers and disposed of them appropriately (hence the blood); solved a conflict between two neighbouring nests and broken into the Lakemount Church, the local Fellowship of the Sun affiliated faith group. They had no vampire cells in their basement like their Dallas friends, but there was a sizable gun locker, plus silver nets and boxes and boxes of silver and wooden bullets. Eric did a quick count and found no bullets missing from the boxes, and the silver nets were still folded neatly in their packages, brand new. Nothing seemed to be ever used, but the fact that a religious group was hoarding this kind of weapons was bad enough it warranted a call to Nan Flanagan.

If he could pay a fee to never have to deal with Flanagan again, he would gladly pay it and tip extra on top of it. However just this once Eric was glad to give this pile of shit to someone else to handle. Pam was busy enough taking care of Fangtasia, and handling their DEA mole plus living her best life which included plenty of sex, blood and deviltry.

His phone started ringing on the bathroom counter and he died a little further inside once he recognized the number.

"Your Majesty, at what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"

"My bank account is feeling awfully light, Eric."

The Queen wasted no time. "Carson is on it."

"No, she's not. If she were, the money would already be on my account."

Eric gritted his teeth. The Queen's childish impatience got on his nerves. "I'll make sure she's on it, you'll get the money promised."

"Good, you have two days."

Having to pressure Olivia into doing something faster was the last thing he needed to add to his never-ending list of shit to do. "The deal we had gave me until the end of the week-"

"I'm altering the deal, Eric. Don't you have the money?"

"I have it dirty, if you want it clean you'll have to wait."

Silence on the line. "Send it to me dirty. All of it," she demanded.

And then a click.

"Fucking bitch-"

Eric felt like throwing his phone across the bathroom and watch it shatter into pieces, but instead just lightly tossed it on the pile of dirty clothes. He hoped in the shower and washed the rest of the blood off. He felt tension in every part of his body and he yearned for release. It didn't help that now he had to speak with Olivia, who only compounded every craving in his body. But Eric knew he always got what he wanted, sooner or later. And when he did get Olivia, it was going to be a finger-licking, world-shattering, raw and primal release. Those little shudders he felt from her pleasure were nothing but the slight tickle of a feather compared to what he planned for their time together.

He texted Olivia and required her presence at the bar to which she agreed without protest. It wasn't much later that he appeared back at Fangtasia himself, but he wasn't in the mood for the stage. Instead, he sat at the only VIP booth, in the very corner opposite to the bar. Ginger approached him, trembling with excitement as usual. Or maybe she was just cold - he kept Fangtasia on the cool side, as the Louisiana heat was rather uncomfortable for the dead. Eric also found out human employees were a bit like deer: keep them cold and they'll keep roaming around the tables, serving customers and doing work to keep warm.

"Anything I can get for you, Master?"

It was a bit cringy every time she called him that. "Just bring me Olivia Carson when she arrives." Ginger slumped her shoulders slightly at the mention of the accountant but didn't walk away from the edge of the table. "Yes, Ginger?"

"I was thinkin'..." Thinking? This ought to be good. "I've been workin' here longer than anyone, other than yourself and Pamela of course-"

"Out with it, woman."

"I was thinkin' I could do the books ya know? More responsibility, I think I'm ready for it and-"

Eric looked up at the poor waitress and stared deep into her eyes. This was something he actively avoided doing out of fear Ginger would explode on the spot. He reached deep into her mind, her whole bony body relaxed, almost dropping the serving tray she was holding. "Why do you want to do the books?"

"So Olivia don't gotta talk to you as much. You like her, so I don't."

Eric smirked at the hilarity of Ginger's jealousy. He severed the glamour hold between them. "Olivia does a lot more than the books. Now get back to work, table seven just finished their drinks."

Ginger disappeared among the crowd and Eric could finally have a few moments for himself, or at least that's what he thought. Not two minutes went by and Chow slid into the booth with him. He liked Chow, he was both clever and funny and probably the only other male vampire in Shreveport who could compete with him in terms of acquiring female companionship. He was 5'10, lean and muscular and had dragon tattoos running down both arms, shoulders and all of his chest from his Yakuza days. He also had a pretty face, and Eric had never seen the vampire wear a shirt - he sported only a vest and slacks most of the time, tonight being no exception. There was an obvious air of danger surrounding him, which most women were always attracted to.

Every so often Chow and Eric targeted the same woman at Fangtasia. Chow was young, he had been a vampire for maybe 20 years and needed much more blood to survive, so Eric often let him have her out courtesy. No need to spoil a friendship over some fangbanger blood. Plus Chow was as loyal as they came, and often helped Eric in the common court matters, along with keeping him updated with any noteworthy news. He had a sharp judgement to filter out secrets and relevant information from petty gossip.

"Eric," Chow nodded and returned the gesture. "Is it true I hear you're turning Fangtasia into a strip club?"

Being a prominent vampire in the area, it was impossible to keep certain moves quiet. "Do you object?"

"Not at all," he wanted to smile but held back. "I came to offer my services to you. I've worked as a bouncer before, you'll definitely need more muscle to keep staff safe."

"You think my progeny is not up to the task?" He cocked a brow. If Pam heard Chow say this out loud she would rip him a new one, quite literally.

"All I'm saying is that strippers bring more male patrons, male patrons bring trouble,"

Eric paused for a second. Chow, of course, was correct. Still, he held himself stiff as a board, as if he had bad news. "Alright, but why do I get the feeling this isn't all you came for?"

"It's not. The word on the street is," he slightly leaned forward and lowered his voice. "That Hot Rain has summoned Long Shadow and he did not return."

"Ah, I see," as he wouldn't, since his remains were long dissolved in the Red River. "What else do the streets say?"

"That you killed him."

Aren't the streets smart lately? "He got tired of Fangtasia and left. I don't make vampires stay if they don't want to. Good riddance is all I say."

"And this has nothing to do with her?" Chow did not need to specify who he was talking about. "The impression is that she is available despite being in your office multiple times-"

"What I do, or don't do in my office is none of your concern." The contempt in his voice felt cold.

"Of course," his eyes darted down to the table. "His disappearance and her arrival just had… Coincidental timing, that's all." Eric knew that Chow, like most vampires, didn't believe in coincidences. There was another question on the tip of his tongue. Perhaps he wanted to ask his permission to have Olivia but didn't quite have the balls. Eric didn't think any less of him for it, though. They both knew Olivia wasn't quite like the others.
"Olivia has an edict of protection on her, signed by our Queen and trusted upon me," Chow looked up in confusion. Edicts of protection were rare, and he probably never even heard of one. "Even so much as touching one golden-red hair on her head without her consent and I'll have to kill you. Are you sure you want to go down that path?"

Chow's face closed off, and that was the end of the conversation. Eric felt like a father with a shotgun scaring his daughter's suitor, like in the movies. If Chow wanted to have Olivia he would have to do it the old-fashioned way, and he didn't even tell him yet that she could not be glamoured. Though letting another vampire pursue Olivia might convince her to be his - better to choose the devil you know than the devil you don't. But it was a gamble he wasn't so sure he was willing to lose.

Ginger interrupted their silence by bringing Olivia over from the door. He could read her obvious distaste for the task on her face. But most importantly, the two vampires did not take their eyes off Fangtasia's latest guest.

"Get I get you a True Blood, Mister Chow?" Ginger asked.

"He was just leaving," Eric informed her.

Slowly Chow left the booth, but once he stood beside Olivia he gave her a sly smile to which she did not react. He gently touched her right hand and brought it up to his lips as he bowed, then planted a soft kiss on the top of her knuckles. She smiled politely, and without a word, Chow returned to his nest's table. Ginger watched the whole thing with a death glare before leaving the two alone.

"What's the emergency?" Olivia spoke calmly. She wore a tight, knee-length black dress, black hose and black ankle boots with a tall heel. She looked as beautiful as always but her wardrobe was definitely not as refined as it used to be. Taking her clothes was the punishment that kept on giving.

"I hear congratulations are in order. It's my understanding that solo homeownership before the age of 30 is quite impressive in human terms."

"Owning property in Shreveport is hardly something to cheer about," her face was stone cold.

A little part of him wished she liked the permanence of living here. He didn't want her to go away so soon. "Am I at least getting a housewarming party invite?"

"Sorry you didn't make the cut on the guest list," sarcasm was her strong suit. "Is that all? This could have been a text."

Eric motioned her to sit, and she complied with just a bit of hesitation. She sat at the edge of the booth, and he had to motion again that he wanted her presence right next to him. Reluctantly, she shuffled closer. His arm stretched and pulled her in as close as two people could sit. He could feel the warmth of her skin radiating from her, along with her beautifully delicate scent. Eric could feel her heartbeat increase, and she had goosebumps on her forearms. Good.

Music was playing loudly in the speakers, but Eric dropped his voice lower to be safe. "Our Queen wants her money now. All of the 20 thousand, as is."

Olivia flinched slightly, concerned. "But that's dangerous. For both of you, I already took care of the contractor invoices, and I was going to clean the money slowly in the next 10 days like you asked. If I don't proceed now there will be obvious discrepancies in the accounts," Eric was unaware the Queen's wishes could so easily bite him in the ass too. "So we do have a problem."

"We do," Eric ran his fingers through the hair on the back of her head, his face was right next to hers. For everyone else, they looked like lovers in a booth. He knew that because everyone was staring with envy.

Olivia noticed it too. "What are you doing?" She asked with a frown.

"There have been inquiries about you," he spoke softly into her hair, his fingers now caressed the top of her shoulder.

"Who? What kind of inquiries?" She was nervous. He liked that.

"Vampires. As I told you they would, sooner or later."

He could tell she wanted to roll her eyes. Whatever bad news she was expecting, vampires taking interest in her did not phase her in the slightest. "And I think you are making this all up. You could just tell whoever is asking that there's an edict of protection on me and that I don't want to be claimed, end of story. You just want everyone to think I am yours."

No, I just want you to actually be mine. "Clever girl."

Olivia did not look amused. He was about to tell her that is exactly what he did, but she spoke in a solemn tone. "The Queen is in trouble, or else she wouldn't-"

"I know. So what are you going to do about it?"

She looked deeply into his eyes, deep in thought. Her scent intoxicated every part of him, making him want to kiss her. And what she said next, was just the cherry on top. "I have an idea for your reward if you want one," she suddenly perked up full of energy and slid out of his arms and exited the booth. She stood there looking at him, anxious. "This will have to take place in your office."

Eric immediately followed her. As the two crossed the Fangtasia floor, he tried not to look too smug while making full eye contact with Chow. He just pursed his lips behind a bottle of True Blood, watching the two disappear in the back without a blink. He had to hurry the pace slightly, as Olivia walked eagerly to the back room. Once they were alone in his office, he made sure to quietly lock the door behind him.

Olivia stood by his desk, quickly dialling a number on her phone. He noted she knew the number by heart and thought this was a strange reward.

"Who are you calling that you just happen to know their number off the top of your head?"

"I memorized all the important numbers I need in case I get arrested-"

It's not like cops gave you your cell phone back for your one entitled phone call. "Do you know my number by heart?"

Olivia brought her index finger to his lips, telling him to be quiet, as the line was ringing at the other end. She didn't answer his question with words, but the look on her face told him. She did know his number. Eric was caught by a feeling he didn't quite know how to describe. If she were in trouble, she would call him. While he hoped it never happened, he felt oddly honoured. The mystery person finally answered the call.

"Your Majesty," Olivia spoke loud and clear.

There was a pause on the line. Olivia didn't have to put the phone on speaker, as she knew Eric could easily overhear every word. How was calling Sophie-Anne a reward? Would he finally learn what happened between them? He would love for her secrets to be a reward.

"Olivia," the Queen's voice sounded extra cold on the line.

"It has been brought to my attention that you require an immediate wire transfer."

Always so professional. But her face had nothing but worry on it. "Yes, as I told Eric, I need it in a couple of days max."

"What's so important? I know your expenses are taken care of."

Bold of her to question the Queen's spending.

"There are some debts I simply must pay-"

Olivia's concern was filling the room. "To whom?"

"It's none your fucking business-"

"I asked to whom!" She repeated angrily. He had never witnessed someone yell at the Queen before, even on the phone, nevertheless a human. If the Queen were actually here, Olivia would be dead for sure.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes," she lied.

"The Mississippi King," the Queen confessed.

Eric raised his brows in astonishment. This was Bad, capital B.

"You're not gambling again, are you?"

There was another silence on the line. "It was just a silly bet."

"Sophie-Anne-" Olivia pressed sternly.

"It was just a game of cribbage-"

"You lost 20 thousand on a game of crib?!" Olivia now sounded like an angry wife.

"It wasn't a game of crib, we played like 21 rounds. And it was 60 thousand, I'm just short 20, it's not a big deal, Liv-"

Olivia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You're gambling again." She sounded and looked deeply disappointed. "You promised me you were going to stop."

As the silence grew deafening in the room, Eric could not believe what he was witnessing. If he was not in the room himself and watched this whole scene with his own two eyes would have never believed that the Queen of Louisiana was confessing a gambling problem to a human. He was beginning to suspect Olivia was not the Queen's mere accountant.

"I promised a lot of things. You have two days." And the call ended.

"Now you know the Queen's dirty little secret," Olivia took a deep breath and quietly walked away, her body moved as if she felt heavy. "You've been rewarded."

It took a minute for him to process the information he was just gifted - perhaps cursed - with. Nevermind the enormous consequences of his boss owing money to Russell Edgington implied, the gift lied in between the lines.

"You really want me to fuck her over, don't you?" He smirked when her lips pressed together. Bingo. "She cast you away as punishment and now you're trying to get even. Question is, what is she punishing you for? A mistake? Unsatisfactory results, perhaps?" But all he got from her the sparkle of anger in her eyes. He was close. Olivia called the Queen by her first name - no vampire worth his fangs did that, and he couldn't believe Olivia simply didn't know proper vampire etiquette. She had a perfect track record on the matter so far. "Maybe, someone got a bit too close-"

"Do you know why I prefer to work with vampires over the Mexican cartel?" Her voice was sharp.

"Because you clearly have a death wish?"

"Because humans are reckless. Everyone is greedy, but men think they are invincible, vampires know they are not."

He knew she meant every word. "Aren't you poetic?"

"The Queen is being dangerously reckless. I used to keep her gambling habits at bay, but I'm not in that position anymore. This means the twenty thousand she wants is just the tip of the iceberg. She is going to need larger and larger sums with short notice and high consequences. Which means you'll either have to cover her gambling habit with your own money,"

"Or?" He asked, already dreading the alternative which he knew damn well what it was.

"Or we are going to have to sell a lot more drugs."

A.N.:

Hello angels! A whole Eric chapter, would you look at that? It's been a while. I'm still doing a lot of plot set-up, I know the story slowed down a bit but it's going to pick up oh-so-soon.

I've been actually reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels (they are cute, I like them. I'm on book 6) and although you don't have to read them at all (!) there will be nods to the book in the story. For example, Chow being a hot Japanese model with gang tattoos. They correctly casted so many hot people in this show, why did they skip Chow? Let's add it to the 'questionable choices' list the show made I guess.

Anyway, until the next chapter xoxo