A/N - A chapter from Pam's POV, which is always fun to write! This is Pam's 'punishment' - being made to visit Fangtasia for the first tme since Eric's disappearance. It's now run by the new Sheriff, Franklin, and Pam is not amused... Hope you enjoy, and thanks again for reading!

Chapter 13

Techno. Fucking Techno? So, Franklin had turned Fangtasia into a teenage rave bar. Pam shuddered and pursed her lips in rage and screaming despair as she and Bill handed their coats to the cloak room attendant. Franklin had gutted the place, she noticed, as they walked through into the main bar area through a small vestibule where two vamps in baggy shorts and 'Ibiza Rules' T shirts (I mean, Jesus fucking Christ, have some standards! Pam winced) were arguing about whose turn it was to get the cab home. Very little of Eric's original decor remained except for a couple of posters behind the bar depicting various human celebrities with photo-shopped fangs about to rip into other human celebrities. She'd always liked the one of Jerry Seinfeld about to have a go at Mel Gibson, glad to see that still up there. Memories started to flood back, and Pam drew herself up and snarled inwardly. It would not do for her to lose it here. That was probably what Bill was hoping for, part of the reason he'd brought her along, no doubt. She jostled her way through the crowd of young human and vampire ravers and tried with all her will not to turn and look at the only other remaining feature of the old Fangtasia: the elaborate, gaudy throne on which Eric had been wont to sit whilst being ogled and sighed over by starry-eyed blood bags who'd paid good money just to get a photo with the local celebrity vamp. She knew who'd be on that throne now. She looked at Bill's back as he walked to the bar and gestured for a Tru Blood. If she staked him on the way home, would that be OK? Was there any scenario in which that might not turn out to be an almighty clusterfuck? Bill turned and smiled smoothly. 'Franklin's worked wonders with this sad old Goth joint. Ha, just look at him! I think it kinda suits him, don't you? He pointed behind her and bored his eyes into hers, pretty much ordering her to turn the fuck around and behold the new king of Fangtasia. Pam gritted her teeth and slowly rotated, trying to keep her eyes on the ceiling. But simple curiosity finally got the better of her and she lowered her gaze. What a holy mother-fucking disgrace. She almost laughed. Franklin's skinny framed was dwarfed entirely by a throne made for a 6 foot 5 inch tall vampire whose biceps were wider than the new sheriff's neck. His shifty eyes were scanning the room nervously, his mouth pulled into a sulky pout. He looked like a weasel licking piss off the bathroom floor. Pam set her mouth into a bright smile and turned back to Bill.

'Yes, it's quite a spectacle, isn't it? Good for Sheriff Mott! And there was I thinking he might look like a total fucking twat!'

Bill finally caught Franklin's eye and beckoned him over; the sheriff looked mightily relieved to have an excuse to leave the throne.

'Your majesty! And Pam! What an unexpected delight! I don't think I've had the pleasure of your company, Pamela, since I took over the bar. Do you like what I've done with it?'

He gestured around elaborately and beamed with pride as if he'd transformed a Shreveport vamp bar into fucking Disneyland. Pam nearly punched his fangs down his throat.

'What can I do for you, sir?' He bowed. He actually bowed.

'We have some business to discuss, Franklin. Can we talk in private please?'

The three of them made their way behind the bar to the office where Franklin sat behind the desk in a green leather swivel chair far more suited to his height.

'Have you heard anything about a certain ...incident recently, just off the Shreveport road out of Bon Temps?' Franklin shrugged and shook his head. 'OK, Pam, would you like tell Franklin how you have managed, so spectacularly, to potentially shatter the peace in Louisiana Areas 2 and 5?'

Franklin raised his eyebrows and leaned forward. Pam sighed and delivered in a monotone the Compton-approved version of her violent antics: there'd been a fracas at Merlotte's involving the New Orleans weres; as instructed, Pam played down Bill's involvement transforming him from a unstable, jealous thug into a peaceful diplomat who'd intervened chivalrously to defend a persecuted female; she had been sent by Bill to fetch Sookie back to Bon Temps when she'd driven off, shaking and upset, into a storm; she'd found the girl on the verge of being eaten by the wolves, things had maybe gotten a little out of hand, blah de blah de blah de fucking blah.

'So what do you want me to do?'

'Well, I anticipate that the New Orleans pack will come back at us over this. They are pretty notorious for taking justice into their own hands. Or paws. Ha ha!' Nobody laughed. 'So I wish to conduct a damage limitation exercise. I intend to go to Russell Edgington with a peace plan. He can control that pack, he'll stay their hand. Then we go to Marcus, eat humble pie, offer them a pay-off, whatever it takes to keep the peace, within reason obviously. Tomorrow, you'll come with us to the sheriff. Just us three, I don't want over-kill.'

'But why me?' Franklin whined. 'There must be some other vampire you can take. Someone with a bit more clout than me. Someone from the Authority? Maybe Nan?'

Bill rolled his eyes. 'I'm keeping the Authority well out of this, Franklin, which reminds me: do not go blabbing your mouth off. And of course you have to fucking come! This happened just outside Bon Temps, it is obviously a matter of concern to the sheriff of Area 5. Guess what, Franklin, that happens to be you! In this vicinity you are second in command only to me so I suggest you start living up to your job. Also, I have another favour to ask you. Well, it's a command, I'm just trying to be polite. My PR manager tells me it oils the wheels of power,' he beamed at Pam. 'We need to stay here tonight. It isn't safe for us to be passing up and down the Shreveport road twice in a night and then back again tomorrow,' Bill pretended not to hear Pam's snide murmur that it was such a shame his majesty couldn't fly. 'So, fluff out your spare coffins, Franklin, you've got guests! Now, fuck off both of you whilst I ring Edgington.'

'Hello? Your majesty? Hello! Mmmm. No, I have heard nothing. Mmmmm. How very sensible. Yes, of course! I would be delighted! About 8, yes. Not at all, it's my pleasure to be of service sir, as always. Yes. Ciao!'

Russell's lips curled slightly into the faintest ghost of a smile.

'Talbot! Talbot, come here. We have an unexpected VIP guest tomorrow, clean out the spare room.'

He ran his fingers over the photograph of his dead Queen and his smile broadened. Well, this was unexpected. But time waits for no-one, you had to seize the day. It was time to move.