Time frame: Years after "From Dead to Worse"

This is a companion piece following "Family", "Bowling for Vampires" and "Leather Underwear."

Disclaimer: I don't have any claim on any characters in the Sookie Universe. Please don't sue me. The other characters are my own creation and just wanted to play with them for a while.

A/N: Just a little taste of what is to come in the final installment...

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Epilogue

Victor Madden walks into his personal office and sits down at his desk, loosening his tie. It had been a long and interesting evening. Word had trickled down to him that his Area Five sheriff, Eric Northman, was putting together a celebratory gathering for one of his investigators, Bill Compton, that all the vampires in his retinue were required to attend. It was an opportunity he could not pass up and he made it known to Eric that he would just so happen to be in town. The shrewd Viking invited him to attend, even making it seem that it was all his idea.

Even though it has been a few years since Felipe's passing, many of the Shreveport vampires still held a grudge against his regime. The fact that he lead the takeover and had killed their childlike queen, Sophie Ann, did not bolster their confidence in his motives. So he wanted take the opportunity of this joyous occasion to smooth things over. He also had a friendly relationship with Compton and as he was one of the area's more useful vampires, it would only be proper to come and wish him well.

Bill Compton was going to marry a human. It was not surprising that he would choose a human mate. Bill was the epitome of mainstreaming and since he was not ambitious politically it made perfect sense that he would tie himself to a weak human woman. He always liked him though, his quiet straightforward ways and odd perspective was really quite refreshing compared to the slick, double speak he continually had to deal with. Still the idea of a vampire marrying a human seemed so unusual and a little disturbing to his vampire sensibilities. A human's only purpose to a vampire was for sex and for food. Why would you wish to share your life with your dinner? Inconceivable.

Eric Northman had married a human, but she was telepath and held strong alliances with much of the supernatural community. She had been with the Weretiger Quinn and had also been with Compton before she turned her attentions to Eric. She was extremely attractive and fiery and he had no doubt that her considerable charms extended to the bedroom as well. In fact her appeal was so strong Felipe became consumed with the idea of taking her. He had already set things in place to turn her during a Christmas gala. Unfortunately for Felipe he was killed before his plan could be put into play.

Victor turns on his computer and starts going through his files. As he peruses through his emails his thoughts turn back to earlier that evening.

He saw her from across the room. She was beautiful and exotic and sensual. She also seemed oddly familiar to him somehow. Curious, he strode through the crowd to block her as she attempted to reach the other side of the bar. She looked at him without an air of arrogance about her. He took her in bit by bit admiring her curves and petite stature, her raven black hair. But her most fascinating attribute were her eyes. Green as emeralds, they pulsed with power. Now he's sure he's seen her before. She tries to step around him and he blocks her yet again.

"Have we met before?" he had asked causing her to pause and look at his face.

"No, I think I would remember meeting you." she replied after a moment, innocently acknowledging that she thought he was both attractive and held presence. He liked that very much.

"Are you a friend of Bill Compton or Eric Northman?"

"I am familiar with both of them though I wouldn't exactly say we're friends. What is your name, lovely human?" he had asked. He noticed her slight surprise at his description of her. That made her even more appealing in his eyes.

"Allison McCallen. I'm Bill Compton's fiancee."

"How delightful" he replies. So this is Compton's betrothed. He certainly has excellent tastes. He wonders how a politically weak vampire such as Bill could have ever attracted such a creature. He knows that she was about to ask him his identity when Bill shows up and takes her in his arms. Victor takes advantage of the distraction to glide out of view.

He smiles to himself as he finds what he was looking for. He was so proud of himself for retrieving the security disc from Felipe's office. Slowing the screen shot frame by frame he sees it.

Felipe was hovering over his desk when there is a flash of light. She appears before him and before Felipe could react she stakes him and with a small smile she vanishes.

"Gotcha."

He leans back in his chair to plan their next encounter. He's curious about her motivation for killing Felipe and even more curious about her gifts. She seems content with Bill but it will be fun to test her devotion to her vampire. She will soon realize just as Sookie had done that Bill was low man on the totem pole. She will retreat from Bill right into his arms. He grins to himself.

The game has begun.