Chapter 11
Pam's car turned out to be the mint-condition burgundy 1965 Mustang convertible that I'd seen in the Fangtasia parking lot a couple of times. She drove well above the speed limit all the way to the outskirts of New Orleans, when we were slowed by traffic from a minor accident. Eventually she navigated the car to the edge of the French Quarter, and pulled up to a guard station at the end of a long gated driveway.
We were waved through, and a valet met us under a porte-cochère. "Scratch it, and you die," she said to him as she handed over the keys. A vampire guard in a black suit greeted us, and spoke into a little microphone at his cuff.
He escorted Pam and me through the entry foyer and into a long hall. Sophie-Anne's mansion, or palace, was a massive confection of woodwork, crystal and marble, a grand estate. Far ahead of us, from around the corner, Eric appeared, walking fast. As he headed towards us, he said something in French to the guard, who left quickly. Eric wore a tuxedo, looking very dapper, the black tie undone around his neck.
I felt Eric's happiness, and my own sense of comfort, just from being near each other. But he was tense, too, and only gave me a small smile and a brush of his thumb across my hand as a greeting. He turned to Pam. "Pam," he said evenly, and she bowed her head briefly.
"We're going to make this as short as possible," Eric said quietly, "and then you take Sookie straight to St. Claude." He gestured to his tie and Pam stepped closer to him and tied it effortlessly. I wouldn't have known where to start with it. "You both look lovely, by the way," he added, as Pam gave his tie one last adjustment.
"What's her mood?" Pam asked, in a low voice.
"Better than usual, actually… it's her birthday. We should go, since we're already late."
Pam's eyes opened wide. "We didn't bring any presents –"
Eric tugged on one of his cuffs and said, "No problem. Stewart took care of it for us."
"What did we get her?"
"Hey guys," I said, "can we talk about what I'm supposed to say?"
Eric leaned down a bit towards me, so his eyes were almost level with mine. "You'll be fine, Sookie. Just keep calm, stay polite. Remember that she thinks you're just an employee of mine, nothing more. If she wants your telepathic services and you're willing, then look to me for permission, and I'll say yes. Okay?"
I nodded, and felt my nerves kick up into high gear when Eric said, "Let's go, then."
The queen turned out to be a tiny, delicate-looking thing, and clearly vampire. Her eyes were wild, like she anticipated either exciting danger or a hilarious joke. She was dressed elegantly, though her formal dress (black, to suggest mourning, I guessed) seemed like it was in style many decades ago. She sat in an oversized, ornate chair on a little platform.
"Sookie Stackhouse. Good of you to visit us." Her voice was light, girlish. She was smiling, but her fangs were showing, which might have been an unwelcome compliment.
"I heard that you wanted to meet me," I said, trying to keep the shakiness out of my voice. "And here I am."
I was standing about ten feet in front of her, which was closer than I was comfortable with. Eric sat down in a chair to her left. A male vampire with long, wavy black hair was already seated on her right side. He wore an ornate military costume from another era, with shining brass buttons all over. His tall leather riding boots gleamed.
Two guards stood in front of this trio, to the sides – a hulking bald man who was vampire, and a strong-looking human woman with short, spiky blonde hair. A dozen beautiful vampires stood around the room; maybe these were her closest associates. Pam stood just behind me, as my back-up, I hoped.
The queen looked me over. "I thought you might look like my Hadley, but I see very little resemblance, unfortunately. Except for the hair, perhaps…" She glanced at General Big Boots and he gave her a sympathetic smile.
I felt off-track already. But a small new thought started to bloom in my head.
"What can I do for you, your majesty?" Very polite.
"My sources say that you're a telepath," the queen said. "That's a neat trick." She suddenly closed her eyes and her face became absolutely serene. "Read my mind."
"I can't read vampire minds," I said quickly, "Only human." She opened her eyes, the serenity gone. She looked disappointed, annoyed.
"Well, that's a shame. It must get very dull, reading human minds."
"Very dull," I agreed, nodding.
"Is it true that you're part Fairy?"
Every vampire in the room suddenly seemed more alert, which was scary. Eric's eyes flashed at me, and I felt his worry.
"Yes, but just a very small part," I said, like it was no big thing.
She appraised me. "I'll bet you're delicious," she mused. "Sweet enough to keep Compton hooked..." She turned suddenly to Eric. "Have you tasted her yet, Eric? What's she like? Better than Hadley?"
I felt a little ill that Eric had apparently fed on Hadley, but there must be some explanation. I certainly wouldn't be asking for one right now, though.
"The taste isn't unusual," Eric said coldly, and shrugged. But the queen kept her eyes on him for an uncomfortably long moment.
"Do you miss Hadley very much?" I asked, empathetically. I was desperate to change the subject to something other than my blood. Suddenly I had the queen's full attention, and Eric frowned. I realized then that he hadn't known of Hadley's vanishing act. But it didn't surprise me - once she'd delivered his message to me, why would he care about her? And I hadn't mentioned anything about Hadley to him because I didn't want anyone, even Eric, to know about Hadley's son.
"She left without even saying goodbye," the queen pouted. "Do you know where she is?"
I wasn't about to hand over Hadley to the queen, and I only had a general idea of Hadley's location anyway. But I knew how to reach her, and maybe…
"Would you like to talk with her?" I asked.
She raised her delicate eyebrows. "Very much so, Miss Stackhouse."
"If I arrange for a phone call with Hadley, will you do something for me?" I saw a tiny smile creep across Eric's mouth before he could shift back into neutral.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Will you give me your promise of protection? I'm getting pretty tired of being… harmed."
"Will Hadley come back to me?" She was smiling, but I heard her wistful hope.
"I can't say, your majesty. That's up to you and her to figure out. But I can arrange for her to contact you." Hadley owed me that, at least.
The queen leaned back in her chair… throne, whatever. She thought for a moment. "Set up the call, Miss Stackhouse. And you will be safe in Louisiana."
"Thank you, your majesty," I said, and tried out a little curtsy/head-bob move.
The queen turned to Big Boots. "I have some gifts to open, yes?"
"Certainly. And your guests are in the dining room," he answered. I felt Pam's hand on my arm, gently pulling me toward the exit. I glanced at Eric and he gave me a very slight nod, then stood as the queen rose from her chair.
When we were clear of the reception hall, Pam headed quickly for the porte-cochère and I hurried to keep up with her. In the distance, I heard music starting up, a big band playing music from the 1930's. These were Gran's kind of tunes.
Pam sent the valet running to bring her car. Outside, the air smelled clean and fresh, and I didn't mind the nighttime chill as we waited. Eric appeared at the same time as Pam's car did. Eric nodded to Pam and she got into the driver's seat without a word.
Eric kept a respectable distance from me, his hands in his pockets. He looked almost relaxed, and I caught his emotions… pride, relief, and more typical: lust. He tilted his head at me, but met my eyes. "Well done, Sookie. You surprised even me." His voice was full of amused admiration.
"I'll be okay now, I think. Safe, right? And you're okay?" Adrenaline was running through me, a delayed effect from the meeting with the queen. Eric nodded and gave me a smoldering look. I wanted to throw myself at him.
"You'd better go, Sookie, before I make an inappropriate advance on an employee."
The valet was still standing there, and he opened my car door as I neared it. I slid in next to Pam and looked back at Eric, but he was already gone.