Chapter 16
We took a private jet from Paris to Nice, and from there were transported by limousine to Monte Carlo. The whole trip took up most of the evening, and I was worried that we wouldn't make it to light-tight space before Eric had to be asleep. I didn't know if Eric knew that he could tolerate weak sunlight or if Meshra was letting me tell him as a surprise, but I didn't want to find out the parameters of what weak meant. As it was, sunlight was beginning to creep up the edge of the mountainous sky, and I wondered how much farther. Bobby pointed out a hillside to our right as we wound our way through a quaint city. The hillside contained Grimaldi palace, the seat of Monagasque power. I would love to visit the palace, as I'd never actually seen a castle, let alone a castle with a sitting monarch. Eric pointed to a yacht that was anchored in a row of impressive yachts. British registries were the most prevalent, as well as a few Saudis thrown in for good measure. This was where high rollers went on vacation, and I knew I was out of my league.
As we climbed out of the limousine, Eric donned dark sunglasses. I didn't think that he knew about Meshra's secret. I couldn't decide if I would tell him at Ravenwood and surprise him at his pear trees, or if I should keep him up, making love on the yacht.
The yacht was large enough to have a crew, and according to Eric was a 200 footer. I snickered as we approached it. The yacht's name was The Glamourous Life, which was absolutely perfect for Marius. We climbed aboard and were greeted by the crew, which Eric promptly dismissed for the evening and told to go home. The sun was rising in earnest and I told Eric that we needed to get to bed. Bobby brought our bags aboard as we went below decks to a light shielded bedroom. I turned on the bedroom and bathroom lights so that we could get ready for bed. I promised Eric that for the week that we spent aboard the yacht, I would try to be on his schedule, since it wasn't possible the other way around. I was utterly exhausted by the emotions of the previous evening and from the travel. I took my overnight bag into the bathroom, marveled that such an awesome bathroom could be aboard a boat and stepped into the shower. Eric came in behind me and we quickly washed off the travel grime. I brushed my teeth and changed into a nightgown while he washed his hair. Eric came over to the sink to brush his teeth. I had been surprised to find that vampires brushed their teeth, but it made perfect sense since old blood smelled awful.
"I swear you wear those to frustrate me."
"I do not. I get chilly in bed, it's not like you're putting out any heat." I swatted him on the bottom and he laughed.
"That's a pretty gown, did you get that in Paris?"
"I did, I bought it yesterday. To replace the one you tore up at the hotel. You've destroyed the last three."
"Are you going to take the hint and sleep naked?" He leered at me from the sink as I hung my robe on the back of the door.
"Fine, but turn up the heat so I can sleep, I'm exhausted. I just want to sleep and sleep and sleep."
"You got pretty drunk last night. I'm kind of surprised you didn't pass out. Except that alcohol is probably going to be harder for you to metabolize with all the blood you've had." He flossed his fangs and I laughed.
"You know that you're cute when you floss?"
"I thought you said I do everything cute. You taking it back already? That's lame."
"I'm not. Come on to bed, Eric. Seriously, the sun is up up, not just sort of up.
"I've got some time yet." He smiled.
"So, Meshra told you?"
"You thought I wouldn't figure out that I was waking up earlier and not quite able to sleep when I did go to bed? I'm pretty excited to get to Ravenwood and have a quick sunrise romp with you."
"If you come to bed, we can do that now before I fall asleep. I'm not kidding, I'm going to fall asleep on you and you'll be frustrated." I climbed into the bed and pulled the sheets and blankets up. The bed was so soft that the feather pad actually came up around me a little. The bed smelled like the lavender soap at Meshra's house and I guessed that Marius had the laundry service use the same detergent as she. I reached over and snapped off the lamp on the bedside table. I laid my head down on the pillow and waited for Eric.
I awoke with the urgent need to pee. I misjudged the bathroom doorway in the dark and stubbed my toe. I fell to the floor and laughed because the pain was so intense that I actually wanted to cry. Eric had not come to bed before I'd fallen asleep and I noticed that my nightgown was intact. I washed my hands and went back into the bedroom tripping over one of Eric's shoes.
"Son of a Bitch."
"What the hell are you doing?" He laughed as he turned the light on.
"I can't see, I'm sorry. I blinded myself in the bathroom." I made it to the bed and climbed in. "What time do you think it is?"
"I don't really know, but it's probably late afternoon. We can stay down here and chat for a little while as the sun goes down."
"You didn't come to bed and I fell asleep, Sorry 'bout that." I had warned him that I was going down for the count.
"You haven't had a single nightmare since we came to France, had you realized that?"
I shook my head. I hadn't actually. I wondered if it was knowing the answer to the question that had plagued me for so long, or if it was because Eric and I were together now and I was secure about our relationship.
"What took you so long to come to bed?" I had hoped that we would celebrate our privacy by christening the ship so to speak, but I'd practically passed out.
"I haven't seen a sunrise in one thousand and 12 years. I went on deck and watched the sun come up for 15 minutes. I could have stayed a little bit longer, but I was afraid. I was genuinely afraid and I thought about waking you just in case, but it was glorious. I stared out over the water and saw things illuminated in a way that I've only been able to see since the invention of television. To see it first hand is breathtaking. My mother truly gave me a gift when she gave me her blood."
"Why couldn't you have had her blood earlier?" I had been meaning to ask him this question for weeks now.
"Because there will be side effects. She said it would change me in ways that I may not be entirely happy about. But I was willing to risk it to be here for you. I didn't want you to have to wait a year for me to get better."
"What sort of side effects?" I should have thought to ask that before he and I shared her blood.
"I really don't know. She wasn't ever specific and I didn't ask. You've seen how she is. She keeps things close to her chest. You wonder where I got the high-handedness as you call it. My mother is the queen of making decisions for others. Besides, I didn't think I would ever need it."
I ran my hand across his stomach and down into his silk boxers. His body took notice and responded immediately. He was right, I didn't want to wait for him any longer, and not being able to make love to him for over a year would have been torture. I slid my nightgown over my head and rolled over onto his chest.
"I hope the side effects aren't something awful, like decreased libido."
"You're pretty aggressive lately, Sookie. I love it." I had to work to get his boxers off because his legs are so long, but I was ready to go. He sat up and began kissing my neck. I put him inside of me, and worked down onto him. He made me so crazy that it didn't take much for me to be ready. I gasped and lifted myself the length of him.
"Lover, slow down. Slow down. You're going to have me." He lifted his hips and I dragged my nails across his back. I growled into his mouth while he kissed me. He flipped me over onto my back and plunged into me. I cried out and felt my head bang into the headboard. I laughed and he picked me up and scooted me down so that I wouldn't bang my head. I arched my back to take him, and he sank his teeth into my neck. He drank for a moment, then put his mouth on mine. We shared my blood, then I bit into him. I let the blood fill my mouth and I kissed him. He swallowed the blood that I gave him and I rolled him over onto his back. I couldn't believe that I was strong enough to move him, but Meshra's blood had made me as close to a vamp as I was comfortable with. He laughed, disbelieving that I'd rolled him over. I became frantic to get his blood. I grabbed his wrist and pulled it to my mouth. I bit in and he winced. I was crazed. I sucked deeply and he groaned out loud. He threw me down onto the bed and bit my breast. I screamed with pleasure. He moved his hips and made me see stars. I nearly blacked out, it was so good. I squeezed down onto him and he cried out, throwing his head back and moaning low and deep in his throat. He collapsed onto me and I pulled his wrist to my mouth. I licked the wound to close it, and I watched as my teeth marks faded. He looked down at my mouth.
"Lover, show me your teeth." I opened my mouth for him and showed him my teeth.
"What are you seeing?" I was worried that my teeth would be sharp enough that I'd start hurting myself.
"I want to try something, okay." He slipped his finger inside me and moved it around. I moaned and he stopped suddenly.
"Wow."
"Wow what? What do you mean by wow?" I had felt something, but I didn't know what the pressure was.
"Your teeth are getting longer when you're aroused. They retracted slightly when I stopped. You're turning, lover. I know you don't want it, but we're going to have to find a way to stop this process or you're going to have to commit to it. I don't know what else to say."
"Meshra said I couldn't be turned by you alone, that it would take three vampires because of the fairy blood. Maybe I'll just end up some weird hybrid. As long as I don't have to drink the blood of strangers or animals, I don't think I mind."
"Sookie, that is the blood talking. You do care, and I want you to stop drinking it for at least a week, okay?" He stood, and I watched him go to the shower.
"Can't stop me." I knew that he could hear me, as I could hear him clearly say that he could and would. I joined him in the shower and we dressed for an evening out.
Eric was in a white linen suit with a blue and white striped shirt and dark blue silk tie. I watched him slick his hair back and wondered if it was weird that my husband had better hair products than I did. I pulled on a purple gown and asked him to zip it up for me. He kissed my neck as he zipped it, and I turned around and hugged him.
"You all right, Lover?"
"I just don't think I've ever been so happy in my whole life. I've always worried that I would be all alone. I'm so grateful to you for all that you've given me. I know it's only been about a month, but you have changed my world so much that I'm not the same woman I was. If you don't mind, and I don't think you will, I don't think I can go back to Merlotte's. I think I'd like to go to college."
'That's wonderful. I wish that you would, you would flourish in college, you would meet other young people and it would expose you to a much broader world. Or, we could sell Fangtasia and I could take you around the world and give you a real education."
"Why don't I start with college first, then we'll see what happens from there. I don't want you selling Fangtasia it makes you happy. You said so yourself."
"What do you think you'll study?"
"Maybe art history? I really enjoyed the exhibit Bobby and I saw at the Louvre a couple of weeks ago. Definitely some languages, I will start with Swedish so you can help me, then French and Italian so that I can talk to Fallon, Marius and Meshra and not feel like a tourist."
"No one holds it against you, darling. You're so very young. But you should start with a few Russian phrases so that you can communicate with Natalia and Anton. She buys all the household stuff, so if there is something that you need, you will have to communicate it to her. I'm so proud of you, you've really matured the last month. And just so you know, I'm not trying to stop you from working at Merlotte's if that's what makes you happy, but I know that now that you've seen something different, you can't go back to that life. It's okay when you think your world is this big, but when you realize just how large the world really is, it's hard to settle for less. Not that Sam's place isn't a great place for the people of Bon Temps, but you're a child of the world now, Angel." He slid a watch on and held up the diamond necklace that Meshra had given me. "Won't you wear this tonight? Meshra is right, it looks amazing on you."
I backed into him and let him fasten the clasp around my neck. I stared at myself in the mirror admiring the necklace and what it meant. I had family again. I had a mother again, and Christmas wouldn't be the sad little affair that it had been last year with Jason and me watching Charlie Brown's Christmas special and remembering what it had been like when my parents were alive. Eric had gone up the stairs to meet Bobby, and I grabbed my evening bag and met them on the deck.
"Mrs. Northman, you look magnificent as usual."
"Thank you, Bobby. How has France been treating you these days? Bobby and I used this little expression every time we saw each other. It was our inside joke about being able to go to nice restaurants and go on tours. Bobby and I had developed a good relationship over the last three weeks, and it made Eric happy that he didn't have to fire his daytime guy.
"I've got to tell you, I met up with a woman that I dated in college. She lives here as a photographer for Italian Vogue, she and I have hooked up, so to speak."
"Bobby, that's awesome." As a newlywed, I wanted everyone to fall in love, and I couldn't help looking over at Eric whenever I could sneak a glance at him. I loved seeing my ring on his finger, as much as I'm sure he enjoyed seeing his on me.
Bobby opened the door to a town car, and we climbed in. Eric had made arrangements for us to attend a cocktail party at Grimaldi Palace as guests of His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco, and then we were going to the Casino de Monte –Carlo to play roulette and baccarat.
We wound our way through the streets of Monaco and up to the Palace. The streets were cobblestone, and they became so narrow, that in some places, nothing larger than a Citroën would fit. Bobby pulled up to the front of the Palace and we stepped out of the car. Two soldiers escorted us into the Palace and Eric put his arm around my waist.
Guillaume Montrachet came across the foyer and kissed me on both cheeks. He got me a glass of champagne and I watched Eric talking with some of his friends. He introduced me to the Prince, and his Princess Consort, and this time when I curtsied, it was totally appropriate. We laughed and danced together as Eric twirled me around in the marble ballroom. Initially, I was concerned about fitting in because there were so many wealthy humans and vampires mixed in, but no one asked me anything personal, and I didn't volunteer any information; the assumption was, if you were there, you were important. Bobby brought the car around at 9 pm and Eric and I went to the casino.
I'd been in exactly two casinos in my life, and each time, I'd won back the money I'd put in, but never a penny more. When we got inside, the doorman checked our IDs and Eric walked us over to the cashier. He got us a marker, and we headed to one of the roulette tables. Eric had me pick the color and he picked the number. We won a little money, but lost a little too. I pointed to the blackjack table, but I felt really bad about playing blackjack because I could hear the dealer planning his next move. Eric told me that he didn't feel too bad about it, considering how many people they ripped off on a daily basis. I helped Eric win back the money that we'd lost at the roulette table, but nothing more.
I went outside to get some air as Eric dined on a willing donor in the back room. Bobby and I played the slot machines and I won one hundred dollars. I gave it to Bobby as a tip, and thanked him for being so flexible as we toured France. He smiled and said that was his job. He'd talked to Pam recently, and she'd said that the bar was running smoothly, but that she needed a break. I could hardly blame her. I'd run Merlotte's for a week and it had nearly driven me batshit crazy.
Eric came out of the backroom and insisted that we leave. I didn't know why he was in such a hurry suddenly, but I saw a black haired female vamp step out of the back room too.
"Anyone you know?"
"Yes, that is Juliette de Cheval. She is bad, bad news so let's get going. Right Now."
"Did you and she used to date?" I sensed that there was a history between them if Eric was trying so hard to get me out of there.
"No, but it's not because she didn't want me to. She's been passed around among powerful vampires for three centuries. It's fortunate that vampires do not get diseases, she is a repository of far too many men. In fact, Marius has turned her down and he almost never refuses anyone."
I saw Juliette approaching and Eric opened the car door for me. I could hear them talking; general stuff about how long it had been since Eric had been in France, Eric sounded impatient and I decided she needed to know that he wasn't available. I slid out of the other side of the car and stood up.
"Honey, are you coming?"
"Oh, how charming. You packed your lunch. Did Eric tell you? I'm Lady Juliette de Cheval. Pleased to meet you." She pressed herself against Eric and I saw her hand slide down the front of his pants. "You are as big as they claim. I'd love to spend the evening with you. Leave your human friend and come out with me, you're better than that."
"Back off, bitch. He's mine." I started to come around the car and Bobby pulled me back. I think he saw the Louisiana rising up in me and thought he'd better step in. I wasn't going to be held back that easily. I shoved past him and towards Juliette. Eric saw me coming and smirked.
"Juliette, with all due respect, you need to take a step back. I won't be able to protect you from my wife and I'm not interested. Have a great evening." He pushed her off of him and slid into the car. I stood my ground for a few moments with Bobby saying "Get in the car," beside me. I slid in beside Eric and Bobby sped us away. We were back on the yacht in fifteen minutes.
"Well, that certainly was interesting." I stared out the window of the living room and Eric took my hand.
"You are badass, my little vampire."
"I'm not putting up with a slut having her hands on you, if that's what you mean."
"She is, what I believe you have called a vampire ho. Do not take her interest in me as mutual. I have never been attracted to desperation." He lifted my chin and I smiled at him. I couldn't be mad at him for someone else's interest in him; he was exceedingly handsome.
"So, tell me about the sunrise. What did you think?" I wanted nothing more than to change the subject.
"I think it was the only thing to rival your beauty that I have ever seen. I felt tingly and warm, then my eyes started to burn a little, so I was afraid that Meshra had been wrong. Gradually, the sun came up and I didn't burn. It was a nice feeling. I now know that I can see the morning with you, or I can spend an early dinner with you. I'm not totally vampire anymore and it's a nice change. After so very long, any change is nice." He poured a glass of Royalty and sipped on it slowly.
I got myself a plate of olives, some pita bread and hummus and sat down in the living room. We had a week together on Marius's yacht. Eric promised me that tomorrow evening, we would go out to sea and swim in the Mediterranean. I thought about our friends back home in Bon Temps, it was nice to not worry that someone was trying to kill us. It was nice to relax on Marius's yacht and just be together.