Chapter Three

Hope sat on the side of Eric's bed, counting down the minutes until sunset. The big Swede's eyes fluttered and she smiled. "Rise and shine, morning glory."

"Helig skit! Vad den fuck er du gör här?" Eric swore as he launched himself at the fool who had dared to intrude upon his resting place. She moved to the side at the last minute, sending him head-first into a cinderblock wall. The wall sustained more damage than Eric.

"This is America, big guy. Speak English."

He shook out the cobwebs and made a second run. This time he was ready for her surprising speed. He anticipated her next move, caught her by the neck with both hands and flung her to the bed. In a fraction of a second he was straddling her and looking down at her with fangs extended. "Aren't you just the sweetest thing, bringing me breakfast in bed."

"You…wish..." She choked out as his hands closed around his throat. She grabbed him by the ears and drove her forehead into his nose. His blood sprayed all over her face and the sheets.

"Ya bok ba doze!"

"What?" Hope growled in agitation and bucked him off of her.

"Ya bok ba doze!" Eric pinched the bridge of his nose to encourage the bones to knit back together faster. The moment they healed, he made a fist and punched her right in the jaw. "You broke my nose, bitch!"

Hope spit out a mouthful of blood, and shoved Eric off the bed. His ass hit the floor with a heavy thud. "Well, what did you expect?" she snarled. She pressed the pad of her thumb against her back molars. "Damn it! Now I've got a loose tooth. Since Godric's dead, I'm going to have to go to a dentist to get it fixed, you asshole." She spat out the word 'dentist' in a tone usually reserved for imps from hell. "And I am NOT going to continue this fight until you put on pants."

"Don't move a muscle." Eric grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled them on without taking his eyes off the intruder (and without putting on any underwear). "How do you know Godric?"

"I belonged to him until…" She heaved a heavy sigh and all of the fight went out of her.

"Yeah. Until." Eric sat heavily on the corner of the bed. "Why are we fighting?"

"You started it. All I did was say good morning…evening…whatever."

"Why are you here?"

"Godric sent me. He told me to expose any deficiencies in your security and give you this." She reached over the side of the bed and rummaged through her knapsack. She pulled out a thick envelope and handed it to Eric. "Then I'm supposed to wait for further instructions from you."

"You certainly performed your first duty admirably," Eric called from the bathroom, where he had gone to wash the blood off his face. "How did you find my resting place and get through my day guards?"

"You're a creature of habit," Hope said with a shrug. "Tracking you was easy. As for the guards, they're human and only effective against humans. They're no match for supes. Oh, and for what it's worth, your home isn't sufficiently fireproof. You wouldn't want to end up barbequed like those three vamps in Bon Temps, would you?"

Eric shuddered at the thought of fire. "What do you suggest?"

"Asbestos. It's dangerous for humans, but lifesaving for vampires. Seal off this room and line it with asbestos. And while you're at it, ditch the bed and sleep in a fireproof steel coffin."

"Bed's aren't just for sleeping in, darling." He gave her a carnivorous smile and tossed her a wet washcloth. As she began wiping his blood off her face he added, "You know, if you take some of that and rub it on your tooth it will heal."

"And then you'll know my mind and be able to track me. You must think I'm incredibly stupid. I'll take my chances with the dentist."

"You can't blame a guy for trying."

"You should check your Blackberry," said Hope, pushing past him to use the bathroom. "I imagine you have about two dozen missed calls."

Eric checked his phone, and sure enough, it had been a busy evening. Just about every vampire who had pledged fealty to him had called or texted. After reading the first few messages it was clear that they had all woken up to find a note on their chest, which read:

I didn't stake you, but I could have.

His phone rang as he was reading, and he pushed the button to answer. "Hello, Bill. How can I help you?...You received a note…I see…You think you know who did it…uh huh…uh huh…Okay, just stop." Eric called into the bathroom to Hope, "It appears you've had a busy day."

He returned to his conversation with Bill, adopting his 'This Is Your Sheriff Speaking' tone of voice. "Bill, that note is from my new Captain of Security. The fact that you received a note from her indicates that you have some serious deficiencies that need to be addressed. She's right here. Would you like to discuss your shortcomings with her?"

Hope took the phone from Eric's hand. "Mr. Compton. How good to speak with you again. How are you this morning?" Bill recognized her voice immediately.

"Angry," he answered, flatly. "How did you know where I sleep?"

"Dust."

"Dust?"

"Um humm. There's no getting away from dust in Louisiana in the summer. If you look closely enough, you can see traffic patterns on the floor where the dust is disturbed. You had four paths through the dust in your foyer: one into your parlor, one into your dining room, one up the stairs, and one directly into a wall. It wasn't difficult from there."

"I see." He followed his statement with an aggressive silence.

"Oh, and I'll tell you the same think I told Eric." She flashed Eric a cheeky grin. "You're entirely too vulnerable to fire. Your electric system is ancient. One bad wire and you'd be a Bill-kabob. I don't know why y'all are getting away from coffins. They're comfortable, light-tight, and can be made fireproof. You should think about investing in one."

"I see. I'll take it under advisement." More aggressive silence.

"Oh dear, you're still angry with me, aren't you."

After a long pause, Bill answered, "You're very good at what you do. You really played me for a fool. Just tell me this, how much of our discussion last night was a lie?"

"I was in your home under false pretenses, and the part about being there to see Sookie to thank her was a lie, but everything else was true. I swear it on Godric's soul."

"Vampires don't have souls," said Bill.

"I don't believe that, Mr. Compton," Hope answered quietly. "Are we still on for tomorrow night? I believe I owe you a story."

Bill took his time answering. Finally, he said, "Tomorrow night, at sunset." He hung up before she could reply.

She turned to return the phone to Eric and found him deeply engrossed in the letter from Godric. His jaw was clenched and his brow was deeply furrowed in thought. "Is everything all right? You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"I do," he answered cryptically. "You have a date with Bill Compton tomorrow night?"

"Not a date. A visit."

"Do not exchange blood with him, or any other vampire. Do you understand?"

"Excuse me?" Hope said, incredulously. "I just met him. What do you take me for?"

"You're human and he can be very persuasive." He took her chin in his hand and turned it to look at where he'd punched her. He dropped his fangs, bit into his wrist and held it to her mouth. "Drink."

"No!" She slapped his wrist away. He grabbed her by the nape of her neck and pushed his bleeding wrist to her lips.

"Did Godric direct you to follow my orders?"

She nodded her head as best she could in his iron grip.

"Then I am ordering you to drink."

She stared aggressively into his eyes as she complied with his wishes. She continued to suck until he pulled his wrist away. "Godric is dead. You belong to me now," Eric said solemnly. She looked from Eric, to the letter, and back to Eric, wondering what Godric had written to prompt Eric's behavior.

Eric tossed his cell phone to her. "Program your number into my phone and put mine in yours, then leave. Tonight I want you to compile a security report for every vampire you visited today and deliver it to them personally. You have my word that none of them will harm you."

"As if they could."

She punched the numbers into the phones and tossed his on the bed and left.