Bill Compton's nights and days were beginning to merge. He only knew it was night when Pam and Stackhouse turned up. He'd never thought he'd say this, but Stackhouse was far more vicious than Pam. His torture had turned into a competitive game between them. Pam had taken his fangs, which Stackhouse scoffed at. He then snipped Bill's toes off. On and on it went until Stackhouse decided to open him up as though he was having surgery. He was kept open by what were obviously surgical tools. Stackhouse had won when Pam begged to take out his spleen. She'd conceded the idea would have never occurred to her. In truth, he had never known a vampire opened up and his organs taken in a torture session before either. Then again he wasn't that old. In fact, he was sure as long as they didn't take out his heart he would continue to exist.

Eric's relationship with Sophie-Anne had shocked him more than his relationship with the Stackhouses. If Felipe had remotely suspected their closeness, Eric and his retinue would be dead. Eric saw Sophie-Anne as a childe, he thought her everything he knew enough to make her a queen. He was a proud adoptive maker when he found out she was queen, so much so he put aside his hate for politics and became her sheriff.

Hearing just how much Sophie-Anne meant to these people told him true death was not going to come for him anytime soon. Pain and suffering were going to be his friends for some time.

He had not seen Sookie or Eric for three nights, on the night they finally showed he got a rest from his torturers. "Hellooo Billy boy." Eric sounded almost drunk, which was not possible. "Cheer up, you will be getting a companion soon." From what he had heard he knew Victor was next on their list. An opportunity had fallen on their lap, and they had taken full advantage of it.

"So Victor will be coming here tomorrow night," Pam asked with a smile that unnerved him. He found himself hoping Victor would join him soon then maybe he would be left alone, for a while at least.

"Yes, he believes we are strategizing. We will go into my office if he doesn't tell us about the bugs…"

"Then we know he is instead setting you up," Pam added.

"I can't think of any other reason why he would keep the fact that he had my office bugged a secret." Bill had to admit it was a brilliant way to test Victor's loyalty.

"Billy boy, you are looking a lot less… literally." Sookie snarked.

"Yes, Jason here is showing a real natural ability for torture," Pam said proudly.

"Showing?" Jason raised an eyebrow at her.

"Okay, he is a natural." Pam deadpanned. "Happy." She added with an eye roll.

"Very." Jason returned in the same sarcastic tone.

The following night Victor had shown up, but before Eric could utter a word, Victor started. "We can't talk in your office… it's bugged." His voice was low enough that only Eric heard.

"Pam's office then or is that…"

"No, no… her office is perfect." Eric already knew that.

The minute they got into Pam's office Eric turned his furious glare on Victor. "My office is bugged." He growled.

"Every sheriff's office is bugged," Victor said in an attempt to placate.

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OTHER SHERIFFS." He bellowed. If he was human his face would be red in color.

"It wasn't my idea, and in truth, Felipe barely listens unless he feels something isn't right. We've only heard you conduct sheriff business, feed and fuck. Occasionally you and Pam talk about your past, and argue about things Felipe can't care about." He hadn't fucked anyone in years, but for appearance sake, glamoured fangbangers played the part well enough.

"You seem to be missing the point," Eric growled low and deadly. "Get out."

"Eric…" Victor tried. He knew his revelation would upset the Viking he was just hoping he'd get over it quickly enough to talk.

"I can't I am too incensed right now to be if any use. Sookie and I will be in New Orleans in two nights we will talk then." Victor nodded understanding he wasn't going to get anywhere that night. Victor vamped out of Fangtasia happy the Viking hadn't physically attacked him.

"Eric sat down on the couch with a smile on his face. Victor could be trusted and that, he was afraid would be to the vampire's detriment.

"What do you know about Victor?" Sookie asked as she ate her ice cream with relish. After a couple nights at home, they were back in New Orleans.

"He's Felipe right hand and sheriff of area one," Sebastian answered.

"I know what he does. It wasn't what I asked."

"You are the telepath you already know what I think." He responded.

"Actually, I'm not reading your mind. The biggest joy I get from being around vampires is the fact that I can't hear their thoughts. So even talking to you my mind is focused on several voids." She says with a chuckle. "You actually look disappointed by the fact I'm not listening to your thoughts." That was a first.

"I am, but then again I should have realized. Every time you ask a question you wait for me to verbally answer and you have the appropriate response."

"I wouldn't go by that if I were you. I have learned over the years to mask my feelings and show the right response. But in this case, you are right I'm not listening, therefore, I react as I should." Sookie answered somewhat honestly as honesty went a long way. As Eric always said it was more believable to tell a lie with some basis in truth than an outright lie.

"I thought you were supposed to be reading minds?"

"Yeah, when the vampires are up and about. Humans though working in a vampire court tend to think of the mundane day-to-day stuff when vampires aren't around. And most are still asleep." Sookie said.

"So when you say you are focused on vampire minds you…

"Sleeping minds." She confirmed.

"Wow," Sebastian whispered.

She could talk freely as Sebastian had invited her to his private quarters. There was a door that led to Felipe's chambers, but it was securely locked and could only be opened from the inside. Sookie was surprised to learn that Sebastian didn't share Felipe's chambers, but had his own. That would apparently change when he was turned so Felipe could monitor him closely.

"So when do you think you will be turned?" She was nonchalant in her outward appearances, but internally she was praying she didn't mess it up. She couldn't be seen to care too much or ask too many details. If She asked a question and he didn't answer she didn't push, she just moved on to more banal topics.

"I think when this Compton stuff was over." He looked impatient about the wait.

"You really are eager to turn." Sookie said surprised.

"I am, have you ever considered it?"

"No, because I could lose my gift completely or worse, I could wake up hearing vampires as well. Believe me, no vampire would want me around then." Sebastian understood that very well.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to turn if I were you either." Sookie smiled.

"Anyway the reason I asked was, I heard Victor tell Eric he believed the reason you hadn't been turned was because Felipe didn't trust him not to take over while he was in the ground with you." Sookie actually let out a yawn as she said that. Talk about appearing bored with a subject.

"Hey, this is my life here look interested," Sebastian growled.

"Sorry, not sleeping at night and I still can't get used to sleeping during the day." She said apologetically.

"No, I'm sorry, I remember those days and I don't miss it. You will get used to it." He said with a great dose of sympathy.

"It better come soon. My job requires a great deal of focus."

"So Victor thinks Felipe doesn't trust him." Sebastian was eager to get the conversation back on Victor.

"I shouldn't have said anything. It was a private conversation and…"

"I'm not going to say a word… you don't have to worry about that." It was a blatant lie and she didn't need to read his mind to know that, but she did.

"Yeah, he sounded like he was getting tired of doing all the work and Felipe getting all the glory." Sookie sounded bored by the entire conversation, which was beginning to piss Sebastian off.

"What did Eric say?" He figured Eric didn't approve or else she wouldn't be talking about it to him of all people.

"Not much, but I know the next time he talks to Victor he's going to record it. He doesn't like where Victor's mind is going at all." Sookie stood and stretched. "Anyway, I have to get back. I want a few hours shut-eye before the king holds court." She gave Sebastian a hug.

'I am so grateful for her and her openness. If she hadn't talked to me, by the time Felipe realized something was up, it would have been too late. What I'd give to be able to wake Felipe up right now.'

Sookie smiled at his thought as she walked away. Mission complete.

Felipe got up from his day rest to find Sebastian pacing his room like a madman.

"Sebastian," Felipe called out.

"Oh thank God." He murmured with huge relief. "We have a problem." Sebastian didn't have relay the entire conversation to Felipe. He simply had to watch the video surveillance in his room.

Felipe looked positively concerned about the latest development. In truth, he had noticed the change in Victor's attitude, but he put it down to the development with Compton and the likely takeover from unknown sources. The first thing he did was to check the audio recordings from Eric's office to find there was none. Victor had chosen to talk to Eric outside his office. Felipe, like Eric, didn't like where Victor's mind was going either. He needed to speak to Eric immediately. If this conversation had taken place days ago, just maybe Victor had gone back to talk to Eric again.

With Victor and all the other sheriff's in court, Felipe didn't want to risk calling Eric into his private chambers, as he had never called him without Victor present. If he did so it will fuel Victor's developing thoughts of treason.

He couldn't use Sebastian either as he had promised the telepath absolute secrecy. If she felt she couldn't trust him, she'd never talk so freely, and he needed that. Her rather loose tongue was his saving grace.

He had to find a way to talk to Northman without implicating the telepath. If Eric suspected her involvement, it would be risky for her. Sure, Eric wouldn't kill her, but she would be kept on a short leash, and that was not good for any of them. Right now he needed her abilities more than ever.

Two hours later he had glamoured a donor sent to give a note to Eric. Eric was quick to respond to the note. "Eric, for some time I have sensed Victor's unease…" Felipe started carefully. "I think he believes he can do better. I believe he thinks I am getting all the reward for his hard work."

"And you will be right," Eric answered without preamble shocking Felipe. "I have known about this for some time, but a few nights ago he was brave enough to voice this thought to me." Eric sat down. "I didn't want to come to you without proof. In truth, I didn't think you'd believe me without it. Victor has been by your side for decades, and let's be honest you don't entirely trust me." Eric didn't hold back.

"And you will be right," Felipe admitted knowing if he was to get Eric's support it was time for the truth. "I am king and shouldn't be influenced on a vampire who has given me no reason to distrust them. I allowed Victor to do so when it came to you. I should have known better, I should have seen his jealousy of you. He wanted everything you had and to have it you had to meet your true death. I know he did a lot trying to undermine you in the beginning… but I am also at fault for allowing it."

"So he was responsible for the bug in my office," Eric muttered.

"You knew." Felipe looked surprised wondering what the Viking had hidden if he knew.

"Yes, when Victor came to see me two nights ago he didn't want to talk in my office…" Eric didn't need to finish Felipe understood precisely where he was going.

"I see." Eric was very sure he did.

"I am having him followed. I will ask my man to take pictures from now on. They have meetings at a warehouse on the outskirts of town." Felipe's eyes widen.

"Thank you, Eric." He said sincerely. The Viking had taken to protecting Felipe even when he wasn't sure he would be believed.

"How about we meet two nights from now when we have more, and we can strategize."

"Yes, that is a good plan." Eric left the room and made his way out the balcony. He flew back to the hotel to find Victor pacing.

"What did he want?" Victor asked before Eric's feet had touched the ground.

"Eric," Sookie called.

"Not now." He dismissed her.

"I believe you have been talking to someone you shouldn't have been talking to," Eric whispered angrily.

"What!" Victor exclaimed.

"He knows," Eric growled.

"That is what I've been trying to tell you," Sookie muttered annoyed.

"What?" This time it was Eric.

"I spent the afternoon with Sebastian. This time he wasn't just thinking about Felipe getting rid of Victor he was happy to tell me all about it." Victor knew if Sebastian was talking then whatever Felipe's plans were they were happening soon.

"How does Felipe know about the plans to get rid of him instead?"

"Just from your attitude," Sookie answered.

Victor sighed. "Yes, I believe I have struggled to contain my anger and what I believe to be his treachery." He admitted.

"That doesn't matter," Eric said with a wave of his hand. "You will meet your true death in three nights time as far as everyone is concerned." He added.