A/N: Hello everybody. I was overjoyed at the response that the last chapter garnered and so I'm back to write another. Thank you all for pointing out the holes in my plot. They're actually there for a reason. The one I can clear up now is that Eric won't explain his side until he gets Sookie to explain hers. They're both stubborn and he's using her silence as an excuse. The other holes will be filled in as we go. I promise. Enjoy!

Eric's POV:

I was angry with myself that I had let her sink into this pit of self-loathing. I should have been able to sense it and snap her out of it. The only emotion she expressed nowadays was fear and hatred. She found comfort only in "le petite morte." She would lose herself in the feeling of orgasm and never want it to stop. She once commented after a night of love-making that sex helped her clear her mind.

I thought that meant that she wanted me to fuck her until all the memories just faded away, and I honestly had no problem with that at the time. It was clearly just wishful thinking. Our bouts of rough sex continued for months and every time I tried to talk to her she just closed down and told me to shut up. She would stare into my eyes and make the same demand. "Fuck me 'til I'm dead."

It was funny at the time, but I've realized that Sookie was turning into a suicide risk. That worried me more than anything. She wanted death and I think that's the only reason that she still had any interest in me.

I laid on the bed a bit longer before getting up from my musings. I needed a clear head tonight when dealing with de Castro and his minions. Tonight was apparently a monthly bit of debachery, a game that the King enjoyed dearly. It reminded me of a scavenger hunt except the goal was collect humans in place of useless knick-knacks. Some would say there's no difference.

About ten of us would split up after sunset and troll the Vegas strip for loners. Usually these people were the ones not old enough to go drinking with their friends and stupid enough to wander by themselves. Since all their friends were most likely inebriated ,and participating in some activity like dancing or gambling, they wouldn't notice that person's disappearance until probably the morning or afternoon afterwards.

The goal was to collect as many as we could and the winner would be awarded a prize. I didn't know what it could possibly be, but my curiosity and competitive spirit made me positively giddy. I showered and dressed quickly so that I would not be late for the festivities.

We met down in the lobby of the hotel. De Castro wore a burgandy button-up and slacks while Victor wore a forest green form fitting tee shirt that would have shown off some muscle if he had any. Bill stepped out of the elevator with a determined look in his eye. I was surprised at his attendance since he always has had a soft spot for humans. Six others trickled into the lobby right as the clock struck eight.

"Good evening gentlemen." A shorter vampiress in ridiculously high pumps cleared her throat in consternation. "and lady. Thank you for joining us tonight for one of my favorite amusements. We have changed the game a little in honor of our guests from Louisiana. A limo will be provided to each of you to hold anything of interest that you find. You must be back here with your catch at one o'clock sharp. Instead of the usual rules, this time we thought we might play a friendly game of poker to see who would win the whole lot." A hushed whisper of excitement echoed through the brood of vampires.

"On your mark, get set, go!"

I couldn't stop fidgeting on the plane. I was finally going to talk face to face with Eric and sort everything out. If he didn't want me anymore, then I would leave and never bother him again. If he gave me a second chance, then I would try to make up for the shit I had put him through. He could have hundreds of women at his beck and call and he chose me. The pessimistic side of me knew that it was probably because we were bonded to one another. He was stuck with me. How could he possibly still love me after all my tantrums and stubborness?

Pam snapped her fingers in front of my face to bring me out of my musings.

"We're about to land Miss Stackhouse. I can't get a hold of Eric so it sounds like we'll just have to find him. Ooh. I know. How about we play a little dress up?"

I was mildly concerned by the light that shone in Pam's eyes. If there was any reason to give somebody a makeover, Pam would do it.

"You know I've always wondered what you would look like as a redhead."

"Pam I'm not dying my hair unless Eric wants me to." She sighed in exasperation while rolling her eyes.

"Fine then, you can wear a wig, but I get to pick out everything else." As an alternative to getting my hair dyed, I nodded my consent.

"Alright, we can go a medium dark red with curls, for makeup I think we'll darken your eyebrows, give you a pouty lip and some smoky eyes. We could even do colored contact lenses. Hazel would suit I think."

"Pam I'm not changing my eye color for this." I crossed my arms in front of me and glared.

"Then I get to dye your hair." She smirked knowingly.

"Goddamn it Pam! Fine you can put contacts in too. What else did you have in mind?"

"Well for an outfit, I'm thinking we'll do some little black dress, not too slutty, but still sexy and sophisticated. Las Vegas has plenty of stores that we can go shopping in to find the right one. Better get some sexy lingerie while we're at it."

"Pam why do I need to do all this? Do we even have time?"

"Of course we have time. I just called his hotel and somebody said he just left. We'll find him on the strip and surprise him. As to why we're doing this, don't you want to show that you're making an effort to look nice for him? This is supposed to be a reconciliation and you need to look your best to soften him up a little. On second thought, when I get through with you, there won't be a soft part on him."

By twelve o'clock I had a limo full of gorgeous men and women. Almost all of them were blondes though a couple had their roots showing. After depositing another catch into the vehicle, I smiled at them all and told them to enjoy themselves.

"Don't start anything without me." I teased. One of my first catches responded back.

"We wouldn't dream of it. I assume you want the first taste?" She started to open up the champagne bottle.

"No, but I hope you enjoy it. Have a great evening and I will see you later for a little gambling, my treat."

I shut the door before anybody else could talk. I tapped on the passenger side window at the front and the driver rolled the window down.

"Take them to the hotel and send me another limousine please. I think I might be able to find a few more before one o'clock rolls around.

"You've already filled two sir, I think his majesty will be most pleased that you found so many people to attend his party. Why don't you go back to the hotel as well?" This chauffeur obviously was not clued into the plan. De Castro probably only used a person once for these outings and then brought on new drivers so that a pattern couldn't be discerned. That's what I would have done.

"Please send me another limousine."

"Yes sir right away. Do you want me to wait with you, sir?"

"That won't be necessary." This man was starting to get on my nerves.

"Very well sir, another limo should be here within ten minutes. Enjoy your evening."

I stood on the street corner for a few minutes when I was run into by a possibly drunk young woman.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there. I'm such a clutz. I hope I didn't spill any on your suit."She had the accent of a valley girl that made me wish for the dulcet tones of my Sookie.

I looked down at the stain on my brand new blazer and sighed. "Well I'm afraid you did."

"Oh my god I'm so sorry. I wish I could say that I would buy you a new one, but I don't think I could afford it. Is there some other way I can repay you?" I took a few seconds to look her over. She was about five nine with coppery red hair and hazel eyes. She was appetizing in a black strapless cocktail dress with a side sash that made her look like a present. I figured I might as well bring some diversity to my catch and this seemed to be the girl to do it. She was already drunk so it wouldn't take much to glamour her.

"Well actually yes there is. I'm going to be attending a party and my date canceled on me at the last minute. Would you mind escorting me? That is if you don't have any other plans?"

"I'd be delighted to." The limousine pulled up and I offered her my hand to step into the vehicle.

"I never caught your name."

"Oh how rude of me. My name's Stephanie." The limo started moving from the curb as I shut the door.

"Stephanie, would you care for some champagne?"

"I probably shouldn't, but what the heck, I'm on vacation."

She got even more tipsy and started sliding closer towards me. Her small hand brushed my thigh and for some reason I became as hard as a rock. There had only been one woman who made me react like that.

"Sookie?"

"How did you know it was me?" She pouted since I had ruined her fun.

"That awful accent was offending to my ears. I much prefer your Southern accent. How did you get here? I thought you wanted nothing to do with me."

She froze and started to bite her bottom lip nervously. "Pam told me about what you were going to do."

"Oh and what did she say I was going to do?"

"Don't you play innocent. She said you were thinking about greeting the sun, Eric! I'm so sorry I hurt you and I really want to make it up to you."

I was very amused by the lie that my childe had told her mistress. Who knew that it would take the fear of losing me to whip my sullen Southern Belle into shape?

"I'm ready to talk." Before I could respond, the car screeched to a halt and the door was opened by none other than Victor himself.

"Where have you been Northman? Everybody got back here hours ago." He pulled Sookie by the arm roughly. "Oh now no need to get agitated. I'm just trying to help. Right this way Miss..."

"Stephanie." I mentally slapped my palm to my face. Sookie was still continuing the ruse.

"Well Miss Stephanie do you enjoy poker?"

"Oh yes I do."

"Well we're all about to start a game. Would you care to join us?"

"Well I'd love to, but I'm afraid I have nothing to gamble."

"Oh thanks to Mr. Northman there will be plenty of chips for everyone."

A/N: Yay, I managed to write a longer chapter than usual. You think that either Pam or Eric would actually get that emotional? Pam was doing what she knows best. Sadly she didn't know what trouble it would get Sookie into. The idea for this chapter was partially inspired by the movies Taken and Dinner For Schmucks. Let me know what you think. I had a great time writing this chapter and I can't wait to hear your feedback. Love, PIP.