A/N Another fairly short chapter followed by a few longer ones I've got in the pipeline which will intensify the Sookie-Eric angst! Thanks for reading and for your lovely comments, it's really, really appreciated.

Chapter 7

The entire New Orleans pack, or what remained of it, was assembled in Marcus' basement. He tilted his chair back against the wall and surveyed them with a complacent smile. Debbie bit her lip and tried to keep her hands from shaking. This was not good.

'Let me state, for the record, that I do not hold Clay responsible for this fiasco. I sent seven weres to Bon Temps and only four came back. The error was mine. I did not realise what we were up against. I must also explain to all of you why I sent seven of our number into what turns out to have been a very clever little trap. I apologise for not telling you sooner, I meant no disrespect.'

There was a murmur of general assent, a few angry hisses and growls.

'The fewer people who knew about this the better, or so I thought. Not everyone would accept my reasoning; better to try to justify it to y'all once we knew the lie of the land. This uneasy peace is not good for us. It's volatile. Sheriff Edgington is restless and he still wants the crown. It's only a matter of time before he makes a move against Compton. We backed the wrong vamp last time and we were lucky to survive. Compton was weak, in fact, to let us live even if we did throw him a scapegoat. I think he knows this. He will not make the same mistake again. So, considering our position in this district right now, I figured a meaningful truce with Compton was the best option – not a pledge of allegiance, but something more than this frail cease-fire. Why wouldn't he want that? He might hold us in contempt, but we're better with him than against him. And, after all, as far as Compton's concerned the threat to his throne has gone. He still – and I admit I find this frankly fucking astonishing - he still does not suspect Edgington of anything more than bad judgement. Then again, sometimes we all need to believe the lie, I guess. I sent Clay's party to check out the ambience in Bon Temps, no more than that. Compton clearly got wind of us coming – I don't know how and if I find it was leak from in here... well, you don't need me to tell you. Looks like Compton used the Stackhouse girl as bait and the female vampire as executioner. It was a very clear message, no? Question is, what do we do?'

Marcus glanced around the room expectantly.

'It's obvious.' Clay's voice was cold, sarcastic even, from the back of the room. 'Go to Edgington. He owes us. And he's looking for an excuse to move.'

'I was expecting this, thank you Clay. But no. That would be the single most stupid fucking thing we could do. The sheriff of Area Two has no loyalty to us, he does not understand the concept; he has no reason whatever to fight our battle. If he did, it would be out of pure self interest which might not be too bad if recent history hadn't taught us that even for a vampire he's a fucking lunatic. No. We're on own here. We fight our own fight. And we take it right back to Compton.'

A babble of excited chatter broke out. Marcus raised his hand and shushed the pack.

'We make it look like we want justice, that's all. And we act independently. The Sheriff will respect that and it will serve his interests for Bill to be weakened. If war breaks out again – which it will – then we side with Edgington, of course. But we don't want be in Edgington's debt, which we will be if we run to him now to sort out our squabble over three dead weres. If Edgington wins – which he almost certainly will with the support of every Sheriff in the state apart that puppet who took over Area Five - it would be disastrous for us to owe him anything once he's taken Louisiana. You with me?'

Murmurs and growls of agreement.

'Now, it strikes me that Sookie Stackhouse is Compton's weak link. I don't know how much of a shit he gives about her now he ain't fucking her, but she's invaluable to him. A telepathic human who is apparently immune to glamour! I'm surprised he lets her out of his fucking sight. Nobody's wasting that girl away at a shifter's bar, she's working for the monarchy, no doubt. So the first move is on her.'

'Kill her?'

'Noooo, Clay. I think you already tried that? Didn't go too well, did it? We take her and leave Compton in no doubt of the outcome if he doesn't give us recompense. And our recompense will be Pam.'

Debbie finally plucked up the courage to speak. 'Pam? Marcus, you do remember who her maker is, right? And don't you think we might have pissed him off enough already? This is the one thing, the only fucking thing, that would bring Northman out of exile.'

Marcus smiled like it was Christmas morning and he was four years old.

'Oh, yes! And that's when it gets interesting.'