Disclaimer: The Sookie Stackhouse Series is the creation of Charlaine Harris. Don't sue me Charlaine! I love your books.
Understanding
XI.
Pythia awoke shortly before 8 pm. After her handmaidens had dressed her, she came out into the living area and sat down next to me. Her color looked markedly improved. Zelda brought her a bottle of Royalty Blended, but she waved it aside for the time being.
Quite delicious and memorable. I sympathize with the Viking over not wanting a cheap imitation in the form of regular human blood. I notice he is in your bed. Have things improved?
Are you always going to be this nosy?
About you, yes. You are a vast amount of trouble, so I have to be this nosy. But you avoid my question. Are things better for you, with respect to him?
If you're an Oracle, shouldn't you be the one telling me?
Oh, you fresh-mouthed creature! If I didn't like you, you'd be punished for your insolence!
I'm not trying to be insolent. And you'd have a very hard time punishing me, Pythia. I really don't know how I feel or if anything is better. He just slept in the bed. Nothing more.
You were the one that said that you had shackled yourself to the man because you couldn't see your life without him, were you not?
I don't believe that 'shackle' was my choice of words, Pythia.
Have you spoken to Eithne?
No. She refuses to speak to me when we are apart unless I scry. I won't scry and so we are not in contact. She only wished me well last night at the inception of my work with you.
Are you afraid of a silver bowl and some water now?
You can be assured that I am. It is not a practice that I am suited for at present, and not a practice I'm interested in pursuing. I have enough of a time dealing with my present reality.
And why then, would she be asking you to do it if you're not suited to it? It is in your blood to scry. You continue to reject your heritage, to refuse to use your abilities.
I continue to believe in my right to choice, Pythia. That, to me, is the ultimate take home message from the Morrígan's life. It is my right to be mistress of my own life, as much as possible. And I realize how fortunate I am to live in the present times, which support that right. I thought of Sophie-Anne, of Thalia, and even of Pythia herself. They had not had that choice.
What will you do with the Viking?
Do with him? I don't know what you mean. I don't know what to do. I don't know what is possible. I'm only focused on getting through the next few days. Then I'll have two weeks before going back to Eithne. I'll think about it all later.
He stirs. Do you wish to go to him?
No. I will stay with you.
She was silent for a time. Someday I will tell you of my life.
I paused. I know some of it, Pythia. In spite of what my resistance may make you think, I am honored by your kindness to me.
Eric left the room. I could feel him leave. As he walked away I felt as if cords from my heart went with him. It hurt me. She sensed my pain in his departure.
You underestimate him. And you are far stronger than you realize. Eithne is right. You are such a harsh mistress of yourself.
She rose and snapped her fingers for her blood. She turned back to me and waved me off. I was dismissed.
I left her suite to walk to my door only to find Victor arguing with one of the demons, who evidently had been unable to convince him that I was not in my room. I was surprised to see he had come on his own. A risk, if his present situation was precarious. Perhaps he felt safe because he would be with me. I wondered how much Niall had revealed to him.
I quickly realized I could not have Victor in my room. Eric's scent would be everywhere. Then again I didn't want anyone thinking I was entertaining Victor Madden in my room, either. Vampires are such dreadful gossips, I reminded myself.
"Victor, is there a reason you would be arguing with my guards?"
"Well, good evening! As agreed, I am back to visit with you," he said with a broad grin. I could tell he was simply dying to have me compliment him on the fact that he had overthrown Russell Edgington, taken control of Mississippi and managed to do it all with Felipe's resources and his own cunning.
"Victor," I looped my arm through his and started walking back toward the elevator. "Congratulations, cousin, on your success." I nodded to my patient guards, who followed. "I really hope that it has been worth it, because I really get the feeling that in a lot of minds you have overstepped. Felipe is so popular, Victor. I hope that you haven't miscalculated. I hope you can regain his friendship or at least gain his acceptance."
He looked crestfallen at my rebuke. "I kept Betty Jo," he stated, as if looking for praise on that issue. "She's very efficient and I don't think she really liked Russell very much. Once we had everyone and I spoke to her privately, I think she didn't really want to fight for a lost cause. I told her that I was preserving her from harm because of you, Sookie. But you know, she seems to be afraid of you. After seeing you yesterday, I think maybe we're all a bit afraid of you," he said with a nervous laugh.
I thought to myself that if that scared them, they really shouldn't be around me when I'm mad.
We rode down to the lobby and I told Victor that sadly, I'd need to keep my distance because it wouldn't be appropriate to be too cordial with him in public. A complaint about the takeover was to be heard by Pythia the following night. That part he understood. I hugged him briefly and wished him well. In spite of everything he had involved himself in, I could not stop myself from liking something in Victor. It was more than his just being family. I just did not feel he had a bad heart.
Once downstairs, I decided to eat a light dinner. I was tired of eating in the room. The demons stood by as I ate at a table with a view of the garden, which was lit prettily at night.
While I was waiting for my meal, Eric appeared and sat down across from me.
"Bad idea." I said.
He was looking expansive, leaning back in the chair, leg crossed, with a smile on his face that didn't waver with my comment.
"Good evening to you too, my Love." His eyes appeared to drink me in.
I sighed. I leaned forward to get my sweet tea and said in a low voice. "Go away and leave me alone. For your own good. It's not safe for you."
He signaled to the waiter and ordered a bottle of O neg.
"Eric!" I practically growled. "It's really not in your best interest to be seen with me right now."
"Am I really supposed to feel unsafe with two demons, you and my own set of skills?"
"Three of us won't be with you all the time."
"A risk I'm willing to take."
"A risk that you'd take for both of us, then," I said sourly, staring at him with genuine frustration. Even saying this felt ironic coming from me. He completely ignored the statement.
I saw him glance at my wrist, still bothered by the cut. Eric had always been very meticulous in making sure I did not have marks or scars.
"Who did you give blood to?" he asked in a low voice, leaning forward.
"It's none of your business. I already pointed that out. Is your memory impaired?"
"Why would someone allow you to leave with a mark like that? I want to fix it."
"I'd consider letting you if you leave the table. Take the blood and leave. Now."
"I'll come to your room when you're done for the night," he said with poorly concealed happiness.
I slammed my hand on the table. "WOULD YOU GET AWAY FROM MY TABLE? LEAVE ME!" I motioned to one of the demons and he stood next to Eric with his sword drawn as a clear indication that he was to leave at once.
Eric stood up and nodded to me soberly. And then he winked. He turned and walked away, quite light-footed.
As I finished my meal, Pam came and sat down. I signaled for the check.
"Sookie, what's going on?"
"What do you mean, Pam?" I tried to sound disinterested.
She leaned forward, eyes wide, and said "Did you just have a fight with Eric in public?"
"He sat at my table without permission, ordered something and was obnoxious. I had him removed, yes," I said in loud and firm voice.
She leaned closer and said "Why were you in the room?"
"What room?" I said quietly. I thought to myself that Pam was really entirely too observant at times.
"You were in our room. I could smell you. And Eric's things smelled like you. I don't think he came back last night. Was he with you? And then why were you in our room?"
"Pam, I sure you have heard how unpopular the Pythoness's decision about my role has been in some quarters?" I asked in a low voice.
"People enjoyed the fireworks, though," she said with a smile.
"But they don't enjoy the thought they might be on the receiving end of that, especially at the hands of someone relatively human, now do they? Some would certainly prefer that I be unable to continue in that role."
Connect the dots, Pam, I said to myself. Think about it.
Recognition flashed over her face.
"I am sorry you are upset for your Master, Pam," I said in a louder tone of voice. "But frankly, there's little I can do to help you with that. For his safety, help keep him away from me. Far away."
She nodded silently. I signed my bill and rose to leave without saying goodbye to her.
At 2 am sharp I entered the hearing room to a sea of faces. Every seat was taken and everyone stood as I entered. There was little standing room. I swiftly scanned the room. It seemed like a relatively safe group. Victor was on one side of the room with Betty Jo Pickard and Jonathan, the little Thai vampire who I guess was now hailing from Mississippi these days. Felipe, who had a beautiful floral arrangement delivered to my room earlier in the day, was on the other side of the room with a small contingent from Nevada. I was glad that none of the Louisiana vampires were present. I actually felt safer thinking they were off somewhere together, being watchful for each other. Although I'd talked to Eric and Pam, I'd yet to talk to Bill at all, I thought wistfully. Maybe it's safer for him that way, I thought sadly. I would much prefer someone go after me directly rather than after one of my friends or loved ones. I had the strongest sense that the resistance to my position was growing, making things more and more unsafe.
Mr. Nikolaidis called the first cases and we proceeded in short order through complaints about Weres from Vampires and vice versa, and worked our way toward the curious case, of the human who was suing the vampire for personal injury. The majority of the complaints really could be resolved by proper mediation, but the way it stood, I had to try to think like a mediator and decree like Pythia. I was able to make reasonable work of it.
Finally, Howard Teas, an accountant from Lexington, took up his position as petitioner. He was a pleasant enough looking person. Selma Townsend, the vampire he was suing, worked in the retinue of Isaiah, the King of Kentucky. She had been vampire a little over 75 years, having been made so at age 20. She was attractive and worked running some of Isaiah's most successful businesses, according to Mr. N.'s research into the matter with Bill's database. She looked very competent both on paper and in person, and I couldn't begin to imagine how she could have failed to turn someone if they wanted to be turned, or why she would have risked turning someone who didn't want to be turned, especially if they were both involved with her King's business ventures.
I listened to Teas' complaint and immediately got the real story. Not from what he said, but rather from what he was thinking. Howard Teas was an embezzler. He had successfully embezzled about half a million dollars from Isaiah over the past five years and had been undetected until Selma started noticing anomalies in the rectification of Isaiah's accounts. Selma was one sharp woman. The problem was, as I could tell from Selma, that she still had a great fondness for Howard. They had been involved romantically and she simply couldn't bring herself to turn him over to Isaiah in a fashion that meant certain death. Hence her plan to turn him vampire, and force him, as his sire, to give the money back. This would both keep him safe, and she would keep her King's goodwill for having returned his money and leaving him the accountant already familiar with his business. The fact that Howard didn't want to be turned was not part of her plan and his loud complaints brought interruption and frustration on her part. Selma had been punished, but not severely so, by Isaiah, who knew of their prior relationship. And now the human was suing her for his injury. It was rather laughable on his part.
I listened completely without sympathy to Mr. Teas. I could see this was not the first time he had embezzled from a client. He was quite adept. He really needed to go to jail, I thought to myself. What a fool to have brought the case before a vampire centered court. Jail was probably not going to be in his future. I could only guarantee his safety while he was in this room. Selma's plan, while not ideal, would have been better than what I knew would likely be his fate. Everything about Teas was wrong. I frowned just listening to him.
I listened to the vampire Selma as she tried to defend herself by not saying anything meaningful, since there was no way she could complain about Teas without telling the truth about why she was trying to turn him.
I asked Mr. Nikolaidis to call for the King of Kentucky. He looked edgy about it, but signaled to one of his colleagues to do so. Mr. N. doesn't like Isaiah, I thought to myself. That's a mark against the King in my book because I really like Mr. N. I hadn't been too happy with the idea that the King wasn't even here to support Selma. I couldn't see Sophie-Anne, or Felipe or Victor doing something like that if one of their retinue was being sued in a court such as this.
"Ms. Townsend, I presume you never considered simply glamouring him to resolve your concerns?" I was really amazed at the risks she had taken. Her heart had been in the right place, both with respect to her King and to her former lover. But to turn a criminal? Bad move, since she'd be responsible for him.
Selma Townsend looked beyond edgy. She simply shook her head in a 'no'. I didn't recall having seen her in the room the previous night but I was guessing from the way she looked on the verge of panic from just looking at me, that my newly minted reputation had been made known to her. She now knew I knew what she had been planning and was quite alarmed. Would she be in even more trouble with her King? Would I lead him to believe that she had been involved in embezzling the funds?
Isaiah walked in and was not a happy man. He issued forth with bitter complaints that I had no business summoning him in any way or for any reason. That I was far beyond my jurisdiction.
I smiled and tried to be cordial.
"Thank you for your attendance. We have discovered that you have been the victim of wrongdoing. Mr. Teas here needs to return some money to you. You will however have to seek legal remedy through the conventional Court so that Teas will be held accountable. Mr. Teas, your case is dismissed. Ms. Townsend has been found innocent on all points in the suit against her. She was trying to rectify an injustice. She is not subject to any manner of further correction on this issue by specific decree of this Court." Selma Townsend looked thrilled. I had specifically ruled out her involvement.
I started to rise and Isaiah held up his hand, looking at me irritably.
"What money?"
I back sank into the throne. "That would be the money that Selma Townsend was trying, in a slightly misguided fashion, to recover for you, sir."
He looked from Teas to Selma Townsend with suspicion.
"Ms. Townsend was seeking to correct the situation to your benefit. As I said before, the suit against Ms. Townsend has been dismissed." I shifted my gaze to her. "Although, I would suggest that she rethink her plan of making vampire anyone with criminal tendency, as she might find herself on the receiving end of the Court's displeasure for the actions of her child."
Mr. Teas was, throughout this brief discussion, being held in my grip, while moaning in fear. I finally had had enough, glared at him and silenced him. I would do what I could to keep him alive as long as possible. Perhaps the money would suffice. But I doubted it.
I looked at Isaiah intently. I did not like the way things were going with him. I reminded him again. "You must seek remedy through the proper legal channels available to you in the state of Kentucky. Then this Court will release the account information for the money he owes you."
Isaiah looked at me skeptically. "How much money are we talking about?"
I examined Mr. Teas' mind with care. He was a good, if thieving, accountant.
"Five hundred and twenty-four thousand seven hundred dollars over the past five years, give or take, is what I get from Mr Teas. Is that correct Mr. Teas?" There were audible gasps in from the gallery. Not a small amount to have stolen.
Isaiah lunged at Teas and I stopped him in midair and put him down gently, as if in slow motion.
"I really don't think that that was the solution I described. I realize you must be quite upset. I think I was clear that if you wish to recover your funds, you will need to seek legal remedy through proper channels." I meanwhile thought to myself that the man had to be an idiot to be attacking a human in a room packed with witnesses, a number of whom I could now see did not particularly like him.
Isaiah looked at me through narrow eyes. In spite of trying to help him recover his money, I really did not think I had made any friend in him. It seemed he felt uncomfortable with the fact his operation had been breached and that this was now publically known. Two years ago he had had trouble with the Fellowship of the Sun infiltrating his operation. Now it had taken the human jurist to uncover embezzlement. Appearances were important to him and this did not paint a flattering picture of his operations. Publically, however, he nodded curtly, then turned and left the room. He left a trail of cold anger as he went.
I rose to leave the room, all rose with me. Unlike the previous night, there was a flood of buzzing voices.
I sighed. It was 4:20 am and I was fairly tired even though there had been only minimal energy put into the evening compared to the previous night. My plan was to go upstairs, order room service and meditate. Then I could eat and read until I fell asleep.
Eric was waiting in the lobby area and as I walked toward the elevators he started to walk ahead of me, as if to get to the elevator first, to justify his riding up in it I suppose, and avoid being excluded by my guards for entering after me.
The stake flew from behind us and I stopped it less than an inch from Eric's back. The cocoon of energy I put around him stopped him in his tracks but he could easily turn around within it. The stake hovered frozen in midair, level with the center of his chest. His eyes were wide as he looked from it to me. Now, at last, he understood. The threat was real. And I understood that on some subtle level, I had foreseen it. I turned to look behind us and caught in my gaze the thrower of the stake with little effort. The trail of energy from the stake back to its thrower made it obvious in my eyes.
With mounting rage, I drew the vampire to me and gazed down on him, with a fierceness that put fear into his very bones, as he cowered before me. He would not give me the name of the person who charged him with the task and I began flood his brain with my mine, literally ripping through his, to the point that he started shrieking in fear and in pain. People turned and came from all over the lobby, walked down the curving stairs from the mezzanine or looked over the mezzanine balcony wall.
With Eric still bound in a now visibly violet shield of energy and the thrown stake still hovering in midair I determined that the vampire who threw the stake was from…. Kentucky. My anger radiated through the lower levels of the hotel in the form of thunder as I used Word to summon Isaiah, King of Kentucky to my presence. My rage was epic, even for me, and my skin began to turn almost black like the Morrígan's crows, the power that ran through me brightly illuminating the patterns on my skin, glowing bright like sunlight. Isaiah was inexorably drawn from the mezzanine to my presence. Pythia's bracelet burned into my wrist as if it would cut completely through it. No peace and calm were to be found in my mind.
I stood eye to eye with Isaiah, looking at him intensely with my well-focused rage before I spoke. His eyes were wide with fear.
"Is he yours?" I said thunderously pointing to the crumpled, moaning form on the lobby floor.
He started to reply and then I could see him remembering that I was, first and foremost, a telepath. He swallowed hard and did not respond. I already knew, and now he knew that I knew.
I drew power on the anger that I felt and soon it was as if a swirling maelstrom of darkness surrounded me and this man who had sought Eric's death and ultimately mine. I stared at him and simply roared my fury, like the Morrígan in battle, until he finally collapsed onto his knees. The very walls of the hotel vibrated around us, tremors radiated across the floor from our epicenter. And then I envisioned the loom and switching to the second shed. Eithne would be proud. I did not let it take me. I controlled that dark power. I owned it and could let it pass. It was like switching to a different place in my mind, that switch in the warp as I changed the weave of energy. Suddenly all the energy died down and I could breathe more normally. He stared up at me open mouthed as I turned and walked away. I would let him live in his disgrace, at the hands of a relatively human woman.
I grabbed the stake from the air, and threw it to the ground near Isaiah, releasing the protective energy around Eric.
Then I moved on toward the elevator with my guards, and with Eric. As the elevator doors closed I could see Isaiah, King of Kentucky, still on his knees, now looking downward. No one in the lobby moved to aid him.
Eric was totally quiet as we rode to the 15th floor. My color was returning to normal but I was still breathing heavily. That had been unsettlingly close, I thought. Having to do any reversals would have caused problems and required explanations I was not prepared to give. I had been lucky to catch it in time. The guards hung their heads in shame. They had not even seen the threat. When we got off on my floor and walked toward my door, I saw that Pythia's was wide open and Zelda was waiting in the doorway for me. I handed Eric my room keycard and gestured that he was to wait in my room. Then I entered Pythia's suite.