Chapter 5

I do not own any of these characters; they all belong to Charlaine Harris. =]

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The thing about huge beds is that when you wake up without anyone sleeping next to you it makes you feel very alone. Can you believe it? I was missing Eric. I thought about how wonderful it would be to spend an entire month together. The two of us talking and loving. He knew how to satisfy me. I ran my hands up my sides remembering his touch. The door flew open.

I shrieked and pulled the sheets up over myself. Raul just stared, wide eyed at me. He was holding a tray of breakfast in both of his hands.

"Shit, sorry Sookie." he said blushing. Wow that was embarrassing. "Um, here's your breakfast." He said and put the tray down at the edge of my bed. Raul went to the windows and pulled up the curtains. Sunlight streamed through making me squint.

"What time is it?" I asked him. The sun looked too bright for it to be still morning.

"Amelia and I decided to let you sleep in. It's almost noon." Raul was turning to leave but then he stopped. I decided then to listen in.

"I'm beginning to understand why this Eric is so overprotective. Elle est belle." Raul smiled at me and then said something completely different.

"Amelia and I have been coming up with plans. When you're finished we can all discuss what to do." I inspected my food when he had closed the door. There wasn't a lot of it, but that wasn't a big deal. I mean, I had been on a weird eating schedule lately. Eating only reminded me of Eric. I hoped that he hadn't broken his promise to me. He had told me that he would be a one-woman man. I was seriously doubting if Eric could handle just True Blood for any extended amount of time. I hoped I was wrong. Even if it was meaningless to him I still hated cheaters. He knew that.

I couldn't help but wonder what would happen. I knew he would eventually find me. He would yell at me, but then what. I couldn't see him being so mad to just leave me. We were bonded too, and he couldn't undo that. But then I started to worry. I rushed down stairs to discuss a plan.

"Amelia," I said when I saw her and Raul sitting down at the long table in the dining room "We need a fool proof plan." She nodded.

"Okay this is what we need to factor in. One, every supe and every vampire probably knows by now what I look like and is probably going to be looking for me. Two, this has to work out in a certain time frame, enough time for us to enjoy our selves a little and enough time for Eric to cool down a little. Three, I'm gonna have to give myself up." I paused, "Well the last one is a little more like how the plan will end up."

"Alright," Amelia said, "well this is what Raul and I came up with." She proceeded to explain their plan. We would drive into Paris tonight and check into a completely humans only hotel. Come out only during the day, and stick to a strict, low profile. See some sights, maybe visit a day spa but be home each day before sunset. We added in the last part. When I felt the time was right, I would go find Eric.

"You know, we could beat him at his game." Raul said. Amelia and I both looked at him.

"Sure they have the super senses, but we have technology. We could keep an eye on what ever they do, where they go, who they talk to. I mean, I am a butler I have some high tech equipment that we could use." Amelia and I both looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"Raul," Amelia said, "you sure have been busy here. Taking care of the house and all." She shook her head and laughed.

"Well are you gonna show us the goods?" She asked. I laughed, thinking about Raul going into the library and pulling one of the books out so that a secret door would open.

Raul grinned. "Follow me." He said. Amelia and I followed him to his room. Too bad, I was hoping we would have gone into the library.

I was cracking up. Raul had pulled a book out from is shelf. Amelia and Raul waited for me to stop.

"Sorry," I choked, "It's just hilarious!"

"Sookie, its not in my room. I just keep the key to the door in the books." I kind of sobered up after that.

"Oh," I said deflated "I was imagining a door would open or something." Amelia and Raul rolled their eyes at me. I felt a little foolish.

Raul led us down the hall. At the end there was a door that kind of blended into the wall. I hadn't noticed it before. Raul put the key in and opened it up. It definitely wasn't what I imagined. The room was small but well lit. The walls were white. There was a desk with a large silver computer and tiny one of the same color next to it. There wasn't a hint of hidden agenda anywhere. Except for a tall file drawer up against the back wall. Which Raul didn't go into at all. Instead he went the large computer and hooked it up to the small one. I bet Raul could teach Bill a thing or two about computers.

"What are you doing?" Amelia asked. She leaned over Raul and looked at the two screens.

"I'm transferring a program from this computer to the other one." Raul explained.

"What does the program do?" I asked. I leaned over Raul as well, curious to see what was going on."

"Well, it will help us keep track of the Viking." Raul said "We charge Sookie to listen in to find out if anyone has seen him. Then we put the sightings into the computer and we see where he hangs out. We might be able to find out where he's staying just by asking, but this should help to find out what he's doing at night." 
"I might have a hard time finding people who have seen Eric if we are trying to stay away from anyone who would know he's looking for me." I reminded Raul.

"Hmm," he said, "your right. Well maybe I can call in a few favors. We could ask people to snoop for us if that would work out better."

"Wow you guys." Amelia said, "We are out witting the vampires. This is so exciting!" I rolled my eyes and laughed even though I was a little excited myself.

"Okay," Raul said, he stood holding the small laptop " split, Sookie and Amelia you two start packing. I'll call in those favors and make a reservation at the hotel. " Raul motioned for us to leave the room.

I packed and watched the sun set through the high arching windows in my bedroom. There were a lot of windows in this house. It was bright and open and it felt good. I was sad that I was to be leaving so soon, but I was sure that Eric would be here as soon as he could. I didn't blame Vianne and Charles. In fact I felt kind of bad for deceiving them. They had been real nice. I bet they had been raised properly.

Raul came in to haul away my luggage. He shoved it into the trunk of a Porsche. It was sleek and black and I was thanking God that Eric would never have his hands on a car like this because only the Lord knows how fast he would be going. Amelia was waiting by the car. She opened the door and we both slid in. Raul locked the house up before getting into the car.

"Alright ladies," he said, "lets ditch this joint." He revved the engine.

"Raul your such a fake." Amelia and I giggled. "You would just love to star in a James Bond movie wouldn't you?"

"Yes," Raul sighed, "yes I would." And then we were off. It was just becoming dusk. Eric would be up, and on his way.

"Raul you should stay off the main road if you can." I told him.

"Yeah, I'm going to take the scenic route. It's longer but it's beautiful." He veered away from the main road. A thin forest of trees began to grow between the two roads. I stared out the window and in the purplish fading light I saw a flash of red through the trees. I knew it was him.

"Step on it." I ordered. Raul sped up and I tightened my seat belt. I tried to calculate how long it would take for Eric to reach the house and find that we were gone. My phone rang before I could come up with a time. It was Eric. I didn't answer. I knew he would be able to hear that we were in a car. He would try and follow. I had no doubt he would be able to catch up.

My voicemail beeped. A message couldn't hurt right? I deliberated a little bit, but then resolved that I had talked to him last night anyways. I played it, feeling somewhat desperate to hear his voice.

"Where are you lover?" Eric said in his most sexy voice. My hear rate had started to climb, so I hung up without listening to any more of the message. He could leave as many damned messages as he wanted to. I was going to enjoy my vacation.

Raul made it to Paris in record time. We checked in and ordered room service. It was dark out so we couldn't be too careful. I knew it wouldn't be dark out soon, so I closed my eyes tight and waited for sleep to take me.