V.

Sookie's house had become a base of operations. Sam had gotten Tray and Terry to run the bar for the night. Pam was on her way to get further instructions. Claude and Claudine were trying to gather information from various contacts. Amelia had contacted Octavia, who was rushing back from New Orleans in the middle of the night. Niall's chief concern was that even if they could locate Sookie, the vampires might be unable to recover her because of the magic wielded by whatever Fae faction had her. The risks of his people working directly with vampires was obvious. Even the question of exactly who had her was complex issue. There were a number of potential groups with a bone to pick against Niall.

The Fae were a highly secretive race. Older than vampires, they were the only supernatural race with power comparable to the vampires. With often similar physical strength, their magic had frequently tipped the balance in their favor in numerous battles against the vampires over many centuries. Yet, though they were widely disseminated across North America, Europe and Asia, with little encroachment on territory, the battles within various Fae factions were deep and bitter. Their numbers had dwindled steadily, partly due to losses in battle, partly due to losses because of infighting, and because of intermarriage with the part-fae offspring that lived among them. Dilution of Fae bloodstock, like the attrition which was steadily occurring among the were/Were populations, was reducing the magical abilities of the Fae, diminishing their advantage and supremacy over the vampires.

Niall's position as a Prince was bitterly opposed by several factions. The single most common point used to assail his position was his involvement as a principal in a Japanese pharmaceutical company. While the Fae numbers dwindled, vampire numbers were on the rise, especially after the Great Revelation. And the Japanese company with which Niall was involved was none other than the one that had begun producing True Blood some seven and a half years before. This fact had led to a steady increase in dissident voices among the Fae, who found their Prince's involvement in the production of a foodstuff that allowed vampires unprecedented openness and freedom to be unconscionable. While True Blood had assured that vampires could live openly among humans, they still posed a grave threat to the Fae in many eyes. No synthetic product capable of matching the intoxicating power of Fae blood had been isolated. Thus the risk to the Fae, of vampires living openly, was perhaps greater than at any point in the history of the two races. Fear of discovery by humans had always been a factor limiting the vampires' boldness, constraining their battles with the Fae to remote or rural regions. Now it would seem that anything was possible because the vampires were out in the open and gaining acceptance, while the Fae were still a hidden race.

The real question that needed an immediate answer was with whom had Dermot aligned himself this time, against his own father? For it was not the first time that he had sought to fight his father, with whom he had had a tenuous relationship at best. Dermot and Fintan had resented their more limited power, and the perception that they were weak, troublemakers, and second-class citizens because of their half-Fae heritage. Dermot in particular had a black reputation in Europe among both the Fae and vampires, for many centuries. He was the unpredictable element in all things that included Niall Brigant. He had been a thorn in Niall's side for centuries.

Niall had resisted doing anything violent to Eric because he realized Eric was the best chance of getting his great-granddaughter back without having to engage in an all out war with her captor. There were things he suspected about where she was, but he was cautious about discussing them while he mulled over his options. He had struggled to contain his rage, to focus on the opportunity. Played right, he could have his great-grandchild back and eliminate one of his oldest enemies in one fell swoop. All with minimal involvement. In misfortune, he would find gain. Eric and his group could do the work of it all for him, he thought shrewdly. He looked at Eric coldly, while assessing the fact that the mutual attachment between his great-granddaughter and the vampire appeared, in fact, to be much stronger than he had realized. Perhaps he had caught them at some peculiar arc in their relationship when he had first seen them together. Because certainly, the vampire's attachment to her was highly peculiar among his kind. Even the fact that they were bonded, in these times, and in this seeming manner, was peculiar. He had discerned that she was not easily controlled or glamoured. So there could be only one conclusion as to the nature of their bond. It was odd, but provided the advantage that would serve the situation well. He wished the child safe and his enemy dead. Eric would most certainly be the means to achieving both ends. He had proven reliable in the past, and dead or not, he had the sense of honor required by the task. He had been born and turned to fight, and fight he would. He would fight to get her back, and in the process defeat one of his, and Niall's, greatest foes. This was a plan the fairy could not only live with, but enjoy. He would have to orchestrate things carefully.


Calmer now, by 2 am in the morning, Eric finally sat down at the kitchen table, across from Niall. They had achieved a kind of tentative truce. He spread out his hands flat on the surface and then began to drum his fingers on the tabletop as he looked over at Niall. Bill paced in the living room, while Sam leaned against the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room.

"Any ideas, Niall? Do share." Eric asked coldly with an eyebrow raised.

Niall was cautious. There were many present who he did not think needed to be present within earshot of this conversation.

"The thought of using a hostage, to attempt to coerce me, would be more in Dieter's style," he said to Eric carefully, in a low tone of voice.

Eric nodded thoughtfully. "Dieter… It would be like Dieter. He loves to have someone to torment his opponent with. But what would Dieter be doing here in the States?"

Niall gestured sweepingly with his hands "I am here… There are many of my family here."

"If Dieter wanted to move against you on his own, he would do it from his own base. He would not come here to yours. It would be too hard to marshal adequate forces from Europe here. There has to be more to it than that, Niall. You know more and you are not keeping your word. You are not frank. Why would Dieter come here to fight you? If Dieter is here, it is for some other purpose."

"I know only of rumors, Eric. We need to be very sure of what we know before we make any attempt to recover her. We must wait for Claude and Claudine to tell us what they have learned."

At that moment, they were surprised by an arrival at the house. Calvin Norris knocked and was ushered in to the living room by Bill Compton.

After nodding politely to Bill, he said "Is Sam Merlotte here? Tray Dawson told me he was here."

Sam walked out of the kitchen and was followed by Eric. Niall lingered behind in the kitchen, wishing to remain unseen.

"Sam, Mr. Northman," Calvin nodded to Eric and then to Sam. He took in the situation and measured his words with care.

"Sam, I came to tell you that earlier tonight I was approached by a were about joining a cause which I find I cannot support. But in talking to him, I have heard that Sookie is somehow involved. And I have concerns about her welfare."

Eric pressed forward to tower over Calvin. "What cause, and how is Sookie involved?"

Calvin weighed things further. He was not comfortable with telling the vampire. But in his mind, clearly right was right. Perhaps it was the only route to helping her. "A werelynx out of Magnolia, Arkansas came here recruiting fighters for a war. A war that would combine forces between the Fae and the were/Were population. I declined participation of my pack's panthers, claiming our low numbers. But he happened to mention to me that 'that telepath' I knew from Bon Temps was there in a compound, in Magnolia. That she was with them."

Eric stiffened and his eyes seemed to burn into Calvin's as he asked "What war? What is the object of this war?" He could already foresee the answer. Fucking Niall, not telling it straight…

"I am assuming that my group will be exempt from any retribution? We have refused participation. We must have impunity if I discuss this with you further," said Calvin firmly.

"Granted. No one from Area 5 will act against you or yours as a result of the information you provide. The grant of your protection will be conveyed to others."

"Well," said Calvin slowly, "my understanding is that there is a force of Fae and shifters of all kinds amassing in Arkansas to fight vampires. It is an action in Louisiana and Arkansas and that it is linked to some celebration of the vampire king in his home base in Nevada in a week's time. While that goes on, the battle will be waged here, and then further battles are to be waged on the basis of the gains here."

Sam looked at Calvin and said, "Did you get a name of the organizer, Calvin?"

Calvin shook his head. "No, the lynx just told me he was some German fairy."

Eric closed his eyes and looked up toward the ceiling shaking his head, then looked down at Calvin. "Magnolia, you said?"

Calvin nodded.

"And the lynx knew Sookie was there? For certain, she was there?" Eric asked.

Calvin nodded again and looked sober. "That was what made me come look for you Sam. He said he'd seen Sookie. He said she was…" he hesitated here, looking up at Eric as if finally starting to grasp something he had previously missed, "he said she was kind of banged up… She was bruised. The lynx mentioned it because he knew she was a friend of my pack and I think he mistakenly thought that she had come by the misadventure because of … excuse me for saying it, vampires. But I knew that was unlikely because it was my understanding from Sam that she is under your protection here in this Area." Here he nodded at Eric. "Which made me think it was the other way around. That maybe the Fae or the Weres had got after her for being too close to the vampire camp."

"Thank you, Calvin," said Sam. "Thank you for coming to look for me. We've been very worried about her. I think, if you don't mind my meddling with your business, that you might want to lie low for a while. Maybe go visiting that cousin of yours over in Mississippi?"

Calvin looked from Sam, to Eric and over to Bill. "So she's really in trouble then?"

Sam just frowned and nodded soberly.

"Well, I'll send all the girls over to stay with Martin, but if you want help, you call me. I'll lie low until you're ready. Does Jason know about this?"

Eric leaned forward and said, "Thank you but, no. And do not discuss this with Jason. Your entire pack should leave the area immediately. Sam's advice is good advice. I would strongly suggest that you leave tonight, especially in case you have been followed here. Tell your entire pack that they should clear out for a while. Mississippi or Texas. Not Louisiana or Arkansas."

Calvin nodded solemnly and said good night, then quickly left.

So Niall had known that Dieter was planning a war against vampires, Eric thought to himself. Had Sookie not been taken, he wondered, what Niall would have done about it? Clearly she had been snatched to assure Niall's cooperation, or even his participation. The twisted word of a fairy, he said to himself…

Eric turned toward the kitchen. Niall was now in the doorway. Before Eric could even make a move toward him, Niall said,

"So then the rumors are true. It is Dieter, and he is here to start a war with the help of the Weres and weres. I had not believed he would be so bold as to move in such a fashion. Before you even start again, I agree that he must be stopped."

Eric said, "They will have had her for 36 hours by tomorrow night, Niall. And they are already mistreating her. This will not be your operation. It will be mine. She is under our protection, under the protection of my King, and they plan an attack on our State. You can cooperate, but they will be ours. And I am sure this is exactly what you wanted out of the situation, right?"

Niall nodded silently. This was an ideal solution, to be sure.

"Don't think this means my plans have changed from what I told you before. If they harm her…"

Niall put up his hands and nodded, as if to say that he remembered quite clearly what Eric's plans were in the event Sookie came to grave harm.

At that moment, Pam strode into the house with Clancy, Maxwell and Thalia. Eric gestured to them that they were to stand back from Niall, then looked at her companions and said,

"Who the hell is left closing the club, Pam?"

"Felicia and Indira are closing. We have come to see what you know and what the plan is."

Eric briefly went through the information they had just received from Calvin. Thalia shook her head with distaste, murmuring curses under her breath. He looked at her with some surprise.

"Do you know him, Thalia?" Eric asked, surprised.

"Of course. How could we have lived in Europe and be our age and not know Dieter, Eric? Everyone knows Dieter. It is with great pleasure that I will help you kill him to recover Sookie and stop a war. Whatever you plan, I am in. I want to see the light drain from his eyes. I will avenge the death of my child, whom he claimed in the battle of 1720 outside the walls of Prague."

Pam looked incredulous. Thalia never wanted to do anything. She hated everything. But evidently, she hated Dieter more. This was the most alacrity any of them had ever seen her show for anything.

Eric said, "I can see you're as fond of him as I am, Thalia. Good. The thing we have to decide is how much we reveal to the Felipe's people right now. If we inform them, we will have delays. If we do not, and things go badly, it may appear as if we went rogue and started a war over a human. For this reason, we will go with a limited group. Everyone volunteering needs to be clear as to the personal and political risk. The rest of you will remain here, working at the club, as if you knew nothing."

Bill said quickly, "I'm in, of course."

Maxwell chimed in "I haven't had a good fight in far too long."

Eric nodded to Bill, Maxwell and Thalia, then said, "I can see if Rasul will come. He's in Baton Rouge and has helped me before. He's always liked Sookie and he loves a good adventure. I have several contacts in Arkansas. Depending on what Niall finds out about their numbers, at least half a dozen of us will go."

Pam interjected, "Well, Indira, Felicia and I are all going, too. We decided earlier. Since Clancy is still recovering his full strength from Hallow's crew's draining him he's staying and covering the club, to answer any questions later." Clancy nodded to confirm this point.

Eric looked at Pam. "No, you're staying at the club. You and the others."

Pam looked at him and said coolly, in a low and non-confrontational voice, "I swore to protect her too, Eric. We all did. I have already told you that if she comes to harm, I'll quit. So if I have to quit to fight, I will. And so will Felicia and Indira." In a clearer tone she said firmly, "We're in. The greater our number the more likely we are to have success. But we need to know from you and Thalia exactly how they fight and what to expect. Most of us have never seen the Fae fight. We know they are strong, but what do they do?" At this Eric and Thalia turned to each other soberly. Dieter was not likely to have untrained amateurs on his side.

Amelia had been listening off in the shadows to the whole thing, while lying on the couch. Now she sat up and said, brightly,

"I have an idea. An idea to level the field." She looked over at Niall, who looked old, tired, and whose cheek had not healed much since earlier in the evening. He already stood listening to vampires make their plans for the undoing of some of his kind. He probably would not like this idea one bit she thought to herself. But it was a way to increase their chances of averting an all out war.