We landed a couple hundred feet away from the gate that lead up to this magnificent mansion. Eric put me down and looked at the mansion gloomily.
"Now you listen to me… Don't say a word when we get in there." Eric said hastily.
"How about I just go with the flow. I'm not going to be one of these little fang-banging floozies Eric, you put my life in danger, you trust me to make rational decisions now since you haven't seem to thus far." I spat angrily back in his face. I wasn't letting Eric walk all over me now. "Obviously they are going to think something because you're bringing a human with you."
Eric thought for a moment. "You will be my consort." He said smoothly.
I agreed and we began walking toward the gate. I kept my arm linked through his. I was nervous, but I tried to tap into what was left of our bond. I needed some of Eric's reserve right now. A few minutes later we found ourselves, well I found myself, being manhandled.
We were quite literally dragged up to the mansion. One man was holding on to me while 3 held on to Eric and 4 more were behind him. I definitely didn't see this happening. I felt like we were captured already and we were bound to be killed. Eric somehow remained perfectly calm. Once we walked in the front door, a dark-haired vampire came to greet us.
"I'm Eric Northman sheriff of Area 5 in Louisiana. This is my consort Emelie. We were here to talk to the king, Russell Edgington. If you would be so kind…" Eric said referring to the men that were holding us.
"Leave us you baboons! I am Talbot." The man said staring intently at Eric, waving the men off. He made no notice of me, which made me wonder. He had a thick accent; I'd assumed he was some sort of Spanish, Hispanic or Latin.
As the men let us go one of them grabbed at me and I let out a small growl. I had definitely been around Eric too long. He turned around and pushed me behind him "If you ever so much as look at her again, I will kill you." Eric's fangs had slid out and had the sound of death in his voice. I was just happy that I wasn't on the receiving end of that threat
"Unnecessary, Ill have Russell punish them all for their outburst on guests." He said smiling at Eric as he turned around. He waited for the front door to close then he walked over to the winding stairs and called for Russell. Obviously he and Russell had something going on. I figured him to be the feminine one of the two. Eric's fangs slid back into place and he turned around like nothing had happened.
"I have not seen the rest of your magnificent house…" I started. Eric gave me a glance then looked back to Talbot. "But from what I can tell, you have outstanding taste in décor. It seems you have thought about every detail of the home from the marble flooring to the beautiful wood furnishing. You have to tell me your secret." I gushed to him. He seemed more than thrilled. Suddenly I was happy that I had taken that Historical Studies class that focused on artwork throughout history.
"Well I'm glad someone appreciates my taste." He said smiling from ear to ear, standing next to me.
"Yes, Talbot always says I don't appreciate it. But I do love your excellent taste." An older looking vampire said coming down the winding white staircase. I saw Eric bow so I did a small curtsy and lowered my head. "Mr. Northman!" He said finally making it all the way down the stairs.
"Your majesty." Eric said sounding almost in awe. That sounded like overkill.
"And who is this? She does look good enough to eat." He said, coming a little closer to me. "And she smells divine!" He said grabbing my hand and kissing it.
"This is my consort Emelie Soderberg." Eric said plainly. "It seems we were on our honeymoon, if you will, when I caught wind of a problem in my area. We are so sorry to bother you." Eric was really laying it on thick. He never apologized to anyone.
The vampire I assumed was Russell waved it off. "Nonsense!" He drew out the word fiercely. "Lets go in the drawing room to talk. Talbot why don't you take your new friend around the mansion and show off your talent."
"I would love to." Talbot said grabbing my arm gently. Eric gave me a quick look then followed Russell into the next room. I turned and smiled at Talbot.
He showed me every inch of this forsaken mansion. My feet were killing me and I was hungrier than all hell. These heels had to go! We finally made it to the room where Eric and Russell were sitting. To my surprise I saw Bill on the couch by them. I quickly turned my attention back to the chic looking Talbot and listened to him explain the casing of crowns that Russell. I looked over my shoulder again, and found Eric's eyes. He seemed highly engrossed in what Talbot was saying. The three of them were way to quiet for my liking.
"Well dear," Russell said getting up from the couch walking over to us. "My understanding of the reason why you and Mr. Northman are here is because of the magister." Russell said speaking to me and putting his arm around Talbot's waist. Well that confirmed all of my suspicions.
I wasn't sure what Eric had told him so I didn't want to say anything. Instead I simply gave a small embarrassed smile.
"Ah the magister is such an old stiff." Talbot said reassuringly. "Ruins all the good fun." He didn't realize that he was digging me out of the ditch Russell had put me in.
"That's true. I however just wanted to make sure that you would be honest with me. Are you really Mr. Northman's consort?" he asked flatly.
I wasn't sure what Eric would have told him. But frankly knowing Eric I could only assume that he would have said we were. If Bill had told them that we weren't of course Eric would try to make Bill look bad. He hated him. "Why of course." I said walking over towards Eric. "Sometimes he gets modest because he doesn't want to be perceived as weak. Having relations with a human could easily be seen as weakness. We are below vampires after all." I said smiling. I had to cover all the bases. I wasn't sure if Eric had said we weren't. I sat on Eric's lap and he put his arms around my waist. That seemed like a good sign to me.
"Good Good!" Russell said. "Eric had said you were but after his little tale when he first came in here I had to make sure. I am sure he plans on turning you though. It would be a definite weakness on his part if he didn't."
I the smile dropped from my mouth immediately after Russell said that. Apparently I was playing this role a little bit too well. Russell probably thought I wanted to be turned. In all honesty I never even gave that any thought. I just wanted to try and control
"Of course your majesty." Eric responded quickly. "It was all planned during our honeymoon, before the magister became involved."
"Understandable. He does like to stick his fangs where they don't belong." Russell nodded. "Well you sleep here for the day. We will go give the magister a visit soon I promise. Talbot and I will retire for the day."
"Choose any of the rooms you like best." Talbot said winking at me. I gave him a sweet smile and mouthed 'thanks'. Then they left. Which left Bill, Eric and I. They waited a few minutes then began talking.
"Eric are you out of your mind, trying to pin that V on me! And then both of you acting like she is your consort. We all know that is false. What are you trying to pull Eric?" Bill said clearly upset.
"Obviously I was trying to save myself and my queen but my motives are my own and not yours to question Compton." He said I stood up then Eric followed suit. "Don't question your sheriff." He said flatly.
"If you were my sheriff I would not question you." Bill said with more attitude. "I have pledged my allegiance with Russell."
"So you and Sookie..." Eric started with a smile. I was over Eric's little fetish with Sookie. Point blank I was pissed off that he even asked.
"Sookie is no longer mine, yes." Bill said through gritted teeth. "But seeing as though you are asking about her, you don't seem too worried about your consort." He said that word like he knew Eric and I were lying.
I grabbed Eric's hand before things had a chance to get out of control and started walking towards the door. "It seems like we are all trying to save our own hides. Goodnight Bill."
Eric and I walked up the long stairs and down the narrow hall to a bedroom that Talbot had showed me earlier. It was actually the most simplistic room but I found it very haunting and satisfying in a way. The walls were wallpapered a deep red, crimson in fact, with a dark gold trim. The wallpaper itself had a black and gold design on it. The bed was high of the ground (I pretty much had to jump to get on it), but it was a dark wooded canopy, which made it have a slight feminine touch. There was a small dark wood dresser but that was pretty much it besides the bathroom off to the side. I closed and locked the door since it was made of silver, then happily kicked off my shoes.
"You did exceedingly well tonight." Eric said sitting on the bed
"Fuck you." I said plainly. I really didn't like cursing but I was so tired and fed up with Eric's antics I went to the opposite side of the bed and looked in my purse for the clothes that Eric had brought me. Of course he hadn't thought to grab any nightclothes, so I stripped off the tiny dress. I was glad I had put on some new panties and bra's that I had bought with Pam the other day. I just happened to be wearing a black lace bra and panty set. Without hesitation I jumped into the bed. It was so soft! I got under the covers and by the time my head hit the pillow Eric's cool body was right next to me pulling me next to him.
"I would gladly take you up on your offer." He said seductively in my ear, and then he kissed my neck.
"Eric get off me. I'm too tired and too hungry to play these games with you. How can you even want sex with everything that's going on right now?" I asked frustrated. I sat up pulling the comforter around me and looked at him. "Actually you need to tell me what all this is about. I'm tired of being clueless."
Eric sat back against the headboard of the bed and looked out in front of him. "I thought Godric informed you of what was going on."
"He did but we found Bill. Why aren't we going back, to tell the magister that the queen made you sell the V so he can go after her?"
"IF it was that simple obviously it would be done already." He said suddenly "Something else is going on here Emelie. Use that pretty little head of yours and think. Obviously the magister is trying to make life difficult for me because of this V if I get punished you die. Frankly we need the King now." He sat silent for a minute then continued with his train of thought. "Plus you have unearthed something very interesting. We wont be here too long I promise you."
I laid back in the plush bed. I was done trying to understand why Bill was here, why Eric and I needed the King to get out of this mess with the magister and what apparently I unearthed that has Eric interested. I was done with vampire politics and this crazy lifestyle I was dragged into. Godric and I should have been looking at houses now. I let out an angry sigh, then my stomach growled loudly.
"This is a vampire nest Emelie. There is no human food here. All I can do is offer my blood. It should keep you tied over. Our time here is crucial and I do not need you loosing consciousness due to your hunger. It would probably be more helpful if our bond were stronger any way." He said.
"Later Eric." I rolled over and slowly went into a dreamless sleep.