And here's the second of today's chapters.
Opening Moves
Once Oskar finished checking us in, the Louisiana party left the lobby. Jephson and Oskar escorted the luggage, Goro and Neb escorted me.
In the elevator I could feel Neb's eyes on me, but I didn't look up from my phone. I was replaying my brief exchange with Sookie, and cursing myself for a fool. Had I capitalized on her unexpected and very welcome gratitude? No. I saw the tiger's ring on her hand and reacted to that.
Insulting her pride was not going to win me any favours. The way her eyes flashed though...
I was smirking when we arrived on the fifth floor.
The hotel had a small light-tight wing to the rear. Self-contained with its own key-activated elevator, and rooms with reinforced walls and doors. Bombproof, the hotel claimed. Very secure, but not where we were, sadly. I was last in line and those rooms went long before I became king. Vampires, as with all things, planned ahead for summits. Rumour had it that Illinois and several other monarchs had booked whole floors of that wing – more square-footage than we had, for a fuck of a lot more dollars.
Of course, Felipe had cancelled his booking rather than transfer it to me. I imagined losing his deposit stung like a bitch, a thought that pleased me until I found out someone had snapped up the cancellation before I could.
At least I was saving money, stuck in the main wing. Here, only about half the rooms were light-tight, mostly the ones that didn't face the street. They were minimally adapted – reinforced doors with coded locks, windows with internal steel shutters – a compromise between our safety and preserving the building's character.
The elevators and main staircase were situated in the corner of the L-shaped wing. By paying a little extra I had wangled the last of the larger suites, with four bedrooms and a lounge, at the end of the longer corridor. So no through traffic.
A little safer than rooms on the shorter corridor, which ended in a quieter back staircase – perfect for someone sneaking between floors. But still not as secure as the light-tight wing.
That was why we brought our own day guards.
Jephson and his team were in three adjacent rooms on the 'sunny side' of the corridor. The other vampires who made up our party – two guards from Baton Rouge here as extra muscle – were bunking with them in steel coffins.
The perils of being at the bottom of the food chain: rising to the smell of wolf.
I gave the suite a cursory once over, and found it acceptable. Oskar, Neb and I took a room each, and Goro shared the last with Salvatore. I unpacked at vampire speed and came out into the lounge to find Goro had let some of Poppy's toys loose.
Bug-eaters, the witch called them. Fascinated, I watched them search the place. They skittered over the walls and furniture in a search pattern, looking very much like strange metallic spiders. Efficient spiders. Five minutes later, the last returned to the desk, spitting out a tiny electronic bug. The Bug-eater folded its legs underneath its metallic body and hunkered down, going dormant like its brothers. Goro swept the pile of listening devices into his palm and took them into his room.
Jephson, who had been watching too, shook his head. "Those things give me the creeps."
"Scared of spiders, wolf?" Oskar sneered, coming out of his room.
"No. Scared of unnatural witch shit."
I chuckled. "You'll be wearing it round your neck tomorrow."
He huffed. "It better work."
Apparently the wolf did not like the idea of Sookie rooting around in his tiny mind.
Neither did Goro, not when the wolves were responsible for us during the day, and he had already called Pam. Five of Poppy's necklaces were being expressed overnight for Jephson's team. None of us had expected to find a telepath here, much less Sookie.
I certainly hadn't been prepared to run into her.
Focus, I told myself. Later.
I was hitting the ground running tonight: two important meetings and the opening ceremony. The shapeshifters from the Caucus were first, early so we didn't keep them up past their bedtimes. Neb had volunteered to come along when Oskar was less than enthusiastic. He did so hate the smell of wet fur.
Quinn was waiting in the corridor downstairs. Marvellous.
"Your majesty." The tiger's lips puckered as he said it.
Good. I hoped my title choked him. I gestured for him to continue, expecting some nonsense about my accession ceremony.
"I need a word. In private." He indicated a nearby bathroom.
Neb and I exchanged looks: mine irritated, his wary. Neb checked the stalls then stationed himself outside. I leaned against the sinks and gestured impatiently for the tiger to get on with it.
"Stay away from Sookie," Quinn said, glowering. "She's mine, she's happy, and she's wearing my ring."
I regarded him coolly, noting his defiant stance. "You seemed threatened, tiger. Why is that?"
He growled, a low challenging rumble. "I'm not the shifter. One fucking whiff of your blood anywhere near her and I'll cry foul to Brigant. Stay away from her."
I smirked at him. "Better keep her safe then. I only give Sookie blood when she needs it."
If 'need' was interpreted very, very loosely. Like I gave a fuck about being honest with the kitty.
I blurred out of the room, leaving him posturing at thin air. Neb stepped into place beside me, and I put thoughts of wringing the tiger's neck aside as we entered the meeting room.
The delegation from the Caucus was waiting, as was Mithradates and a few other lawyers. I counted six monarchs, including me. Not a great turn out. Disappointing, in fact. I noted Illinois had sent an underling, not his second, boding ill for support from that quarter.
Bartlett was there though, and I was pleased to see Iowa. Minnesota was a given – the Great Lakes region had a large two-natured population and Maude would do well out of a deal, given her own subjects were thinner on the ground. The same went for Michigan, although I suspected he was here mainly to impress Maude. Kentucky, obliged to attend as host, seemed lukewarm.
I outlined the arrangements Stan had been instrumental in setting up in Zeus. Bartlett and Iowa both spoke in support. The Caucus reps listened attentively. They were interested, especially the brisk, matter-of-fact shifter from Detroit, Elaine Randall. She asked some pointed questions, and Mithradates clarified a few legal matters, as did Bartlett's lawyer.
Ms Randall was helpfully forthright about potential roadblocks. Ohio was a sticking point for them: he had alienated the packs in his state early in his rule, perhaps taking Jake Purifoy's betrayal to heart after his predecessor's final death. Wisconsin was a bigger problem; he had a long running feud with several of his local packs. The Caucus reps also had doubts about Tennessee and Missouri. And they were wary of Alabama, simply because she was new. I assumed my track record in Oklahoma stood for something with them.
We agreed some minimum requirements on both sides: justice for vampire crimes against their kind, and vice versa; mutual support in the face of physical attacks. Bartlett and Iowa thought we could get whole clan agreement on at least that much. Sharing information and joint action on fundamentalists, public relations, and government initiatives were wish-list items. If we couldn't get unanimous agreement on those, the Caucus would support state-by-state arrangements. That was the best we could hope for with Amun as discordant as it was.
When the meeting broke up, Maude gave Michigan an enigmatic smile and turned to me.
"Eric, walk with me?"
I nodded and fell into step beside her. Neb and her lieutenant followed a few paces behind.
"How is Pamela?" she asked, loud enough for Michigan to hear.
"Well."
She smiled. "So I hear. She was a good sheriff under de Castro. She is outstanding under you."
I allowed myself a small smile. "She is."
Once we were out of earshot I asked, "Using me to spur Michigan on?"
She gave me a genuine smile. "Of course."
"Will he support the initiative with the Caucus?"
"Yes. He is sensible, on this at least. But others..."
"Ah. Your husband, Wisconsin."
She grimaced, and lowered her voice. "Is a stubborn fool, ruled by the past. We need this. The wolves out-number us all in the north. He is blind to our vulnerability."
"You hope to encourage him through his rivalry with Michigan." Maude had always been shrewd beneath her damsel-in-distress act.
"Exactement." We were coming to the lobby. "Congratulations on your throne, Eric. I will look forward to future summits now. You are so much prettier than Felipe."
Winking, she glided away before I could reply.
…
As the newest regime we were seated towards the back of the ballroom for the opening. Sadly, Kentucky was still audible.
I was more interested in the audience than his speech. Yasmin had wormed her way to a seat at Bardulf's right hand. Promising. Across the room, Russell seemed relaxed. Bartlett was further away, at the front. Alabama was sitting nearby, and when our eyes met I nodded to her. Zola was as green as I was at this, and I wasn't averse to some mutual assistance. Especially as I was in a position of relative strength: my allies were here, hers weren't. Virginia, her blood sibling, and Georgia were in Moshup.
It was no shock to see Thalia sitting at Zola's table. Sookie was here. Hiding in plain sight wasn't Thalia's usual tactic, but the summit didn't leave her many options. I was speculating what cover story Thalia had used with Zola when my cell vibrated in my pocket. I slid it out surreptitiously, pleased to have a diversion.
A text from Rory: How is it?
Dull as the dead, I sent back, typing one-handed under the table.
: ) Sebastian told me Sookie is there.
Straight to the point. I debated my reply for a moment, staring at the stage as if I was actually listening to Kentucky's drone.
Yes. In this very ballroom. As I was all too aware.
She replied with: Want an excuse to speak to her?
I debated that for longer. The tiger's posturing, the way Sookie hadn't met my eyes earlier after I congratulated her... I was too curious for my own damn good.
Perhaps, I sent after a pause.
Rory sent me the excuse, leaving it up to me whether to use it.
When Kentucky finally shut up, I banished thoughts of Sookie and concentrated on watching everyone's opening moves. Red Rita's eyes went straight to Missouri, who ignored her. They had a dispute to settle. Ohio, who was still wet behind the ears, glanced at Kentucky. Interesting. Wisconsin was glaring at his ball and chain, but Maude was cutting him dead. I smiled internally at the pun.
Smiling for real was out. I did my duty and got up to mingle, Goro and Salvatore shadowing me silently, Neb never far away. Oskar was off doing some mingling on his own and I envied him his freedom.
Missouri button-holed me first, welcoming me to the Amun fold and waffling on about mutual interests without actually saying anything. Except for a veiled comment about my speedy recovery the previous year. His slow healing after Rhodes had cost him, but if he was bitter he hid it well.
His star was falling and I knew what he wanted: allies. I had that covered. No need to tie myself to the weakest link. I made a polite excuse and moved on.
I schmoozed my way towards the front, where the big players were, careful to avoid Tennessee – Yasmin was on his arm, and I didn't want a confrontation to jeopardize her cover. I was a dozen feet from the stage when Quinn made a show of jumping down from it. He walked past with a sneer on his face. I ignored him. He was heading towards Sookie and I had no desire to see them together.
Illinois indicated he wanted a word with a nod of his head. I could hardly refuse: I was the new boy and he had ruled for as long as Russell. We had a short exchange, mostly pleasantries but he mentioned my investments in Oklahoma. Genuine interest? Doubtful. Feeling out my ties to Isabel, and thus Stan? Definitely.
It was gratifying that our cabal was attracting his interest, even if he considered us a threat to be broken up. The idea he was sounding me out as the weakest of the group was less flattering. Illinois was suspicious by nature and didn't suffer fools. It paid to stay on his good side, so I was charming.
Ohio came to feel me out next. He was an arrogant prick. He hadn't earned the respect he seemed to think he deserved from me: he'd barely been king four years, and he was only seven centuries old. Irritating, but again it paid to play nice as his state was rich and populous.
Equally irritating was hearing my name and Quinn's repeated around me in the crowd and having to ignore it. Fuck, I hated politics.
Bartlett came to join us, making the murmurs easier to ignore. Ohio, who was Dutch originally, prattled on about his brilliant investments in alternative energy. Something about wind farms.
"Interesting," Bartlett said when Ohio ran out of steam. The glint in Bartlett's eye heralded mischief. "Perhaps your enthusiasm harks back to the windmills of your homeland. What next, Ohio, tulip farming?"
Ohio wasn't impressed. No sense of humour. "Your wit is beneath a king, Indiana. Besides, you too are investing in alternative energy sources."
He stalked off towards Kentucky and Bartlett chuckled. "Ah, but I don't bore everybody stiff as death with it. Honestly, Eric, did you not find him a touch evangelical?"
I smirked. "Recent converts are always the worst."
Neb appeared besides me. "Ohio?"
"He makes tilting at windmills worth it," Bartlett deadpanned. "I see you waited for him to leave before you joined us, Neb."
Neb smiled. "I have seen enough bandwagons and idiots riding them."
"Haven't we all?" I said. Part of my attention was on Tennessee, who had just joined Kentucky and Ohio. Bartlett followed my look and a slight frown flitted across his forehead.
Neb said, "I hear the Europeans are most interest in green energy."
"Yes," Bartlett answered, and they began chatting about mutual acquaintances. Commenting where I could, I watched them interact, but saw nothing untoward. My instincts said Neb was not working for Bartlett. In fact, I got the sense that Bartlett deferred to him, if anything.
I took note when Bartlett mentioned Teresa's maker, who was going by the name Donatello these nights, but we weren't here to socialise and Bartlett soon excused himself. Deciding I'd had enough manoeuvring for now, Neb and I began moving back towards our table. Several vampires stopped us to congratulate us on our new positions, with varying degrees of sincerity.
And then we ran into Tennessee. With his second, Clarabel.
"Northman. Sheriff," Bardulf greeted. "Enjoying the summit so far?"
"It is bigger than the last one I attended," Neb said, sparing me from giving an answer.
"Oh, yes. The hotel is full. I hear Maude was unhappy with her rooms. Mine are grand, I must say." He paused, a smirk beginning to curl his lips. "I have a floor to myself. In the rear wing. And yours?"
"They are sufficient," I said coolly. Bastard. He was the one who snapped up Felipe's cancellation, I'd bet my right fang on it.
"Yes, Kentucky has done us proud this year. Securing the telepath, too. A feather in his cap."
"Oh, but that was your doing," Clarabel pipped up. "Without your influence, she would never have agreed."
"Oh, one doesn't like to boast," he said, smirking fully at me. "Duty calls. Excuse us."
Outwardly, I was unmoved. Internally I was repeating Sookie's words: I am no-one's asset. And telling myself Niall would never let Bardulf get his hands on her.
If she gave Niall a chance to protect her, that is. And it sounded like she was here against his wishes.
Stubborn, foolish woman.
Out of my hands. Nothing I could do.
Oskar was waiting at the Louisiana table. He'd been making the rounds, chatting to various council members. I saw him with Iowa earlier, who held her state's seat. Unusual to hold both roles, but she was well-respected.
"Are you as weary of this as I am?" he asked as I joined him.
"Ready to poke my eyes out with a silver fork," I said quietly.
Various vampires came over to pay their respects. After a while, I announced I needed to speak to Russell. The timing was nothing to do with Sookie, who was picking her way through the crowd in that direction.
Neb glanced towards the Mississippi table. "He's free now."
"No time like the present," I said, getting up. Signalling Goro to follow me, I made my way over, stopping a few times to speak to sheriffs I knew. It paid to be pleasant to the little people too. More politics.
Russell greeted me with a wide smile. He and I did have business: the Deepwater oil spill. Going by past experience, we both knew the damage would take years to fix. It wasn't just the fisheries. The clean-up efforts were distorting the local economies, as would the inevitable compensation schemes. And the law suits against the oil company would have knock-on effects for the whole industry. Those Oklahoma refineries I had invested in, for instance.
Russell was looking to the future, betting on oil-eating bacteria that could mop up spills, something Bartlett had the capability to push for with his investments in biotechnology. Long term – and any vampire worth his fangs planned long term – we all knew oil was on the way out.
Half-listening, I used our conversation to watch Sookie covertly, debating whether it was wise to speak to her as she drew closer. She was only feet away when Russell and I wound things up.
Here was my chance.
There was no way I could pass it up. Curiosity was too strong a mistress.
