Chapter dedication for this chapter goes to...JLD2118 it is my adamant belief that joining a party late is better that never. Welcome and thanks for the review!

Eric

Chapter Twenty-Six

The Hunt

There were several problems I was anticipating because we were gathered in such high numbers. The main one was that we would draw attention from the human task force. Copley had set the wheels in motion but as I feared it would take time. There was no way to disperse them abruptly without calling attention to the motives behind it. The only thing for him to do was have their funding for this assignment pulled. That too would take time.

The second problem was less general and more personal. The presence of the fairies had to be explained. It would be less hap hazardous if Dillon was not one of them. During the last was between the Fae and the undead he was a problem. No vampire wondered out in the rain because of Dillon for if you chanced upon him he would be the last face you saw. The only one more lethal than him was his father. Fortunately vampires could be practical especially where their survival was concerned. It was best to have him with us and not against us although no one trusted any of them. It was fine because no one group of vampires trusted the other. We were all forced into this uneasy alliance.

The third night following the death of the pythoness I had an audience with the pack masters whose presence I had requested. The only ones that risked coming were the wolves of Monroe, Shreveport, and Lafayette. They brought with them the panther leader from Hotshot. It was understandable that they all came with their full pack members who had already shifted. There was a low consistent growl from the mutts; their hackles were on end. There were now six royals here bringing the total number of vampires close to a hundred. The bodies were evenly divided amongst each king and queen.

The pack masters regarded all the royals with hostility and distrust.

"Alcide" I said unable to mask my distaste.

"Eric, what's up?" He shifted from one foot to another in an effort to control his urge to shift.

"I know who is behind the troubles of both your kind and mine" This got his immediate attention and even those in their animal form stopped their noise to pay close attention. Heidi came forward with a bag that held the blood of Sophie-Anne. Alcide took it and opened it. He winced but shook his head. I knew it was would not be familiar to him. He passed it around and I knew none of them were familiar with it.

"We will begin the hunt. I assume you want in?" He nodded grimly. He still wanted vengeance for his lost enforcer. The other pack masters also nodded.

"Very good. Follow me"

It was rather crowded as all heads of state some of their people and the pack masters gathered for the debriefing.

"My child will lead the meeting" I nodded to Gideon who moved from behind my seat and towards a wall where he had pinned a map and a black board.

"Why?" John asked clearly offended. I knew he was skilled to have been able to hold onto Texas in the absence of Stan but Gideon was trained in modern warfare. Most of us were outdated myself included "He is an infant" He said. As much as I would love to put him in his place it was not for me to do. In these numbers we all had to mind our decorum. Gideon remained impassive to the insult with effort. I looked to Stan. He raised his hand. John mumbled an apology and silenced himself.

Gideon continued. "She is wounded" He ran strategic scenarios and solutions with all the vampires who had been selected on the hunt earlier in the night. This was their final information session.

"How badly?" One of Bertrand's asked.

"Severely but not fatally I hit her with a silver tipped dagger" He was trying not sound smug but he was brimming with pride. It was well deserved. We all knew Sophie-Anne was old and for that to happen especially at the hands of some as young him it was rather impressive. "That was exactly three days ago" Gideon insisted on a chalk board for his demonstrations. I felt it helped everyone visualize their objective; the weres especially. Pam scowled at the idea and said she hasn't lived a hundred and fifty years for a runt to make her sit in a classroom. "Her last sighting was here" He circled the point on a map where we had been attacked.

This is where we were able to reap the benefits of coming together. If one of us were to undertake this endeavor alone we would be stretched dangerously thin. There wouldn't be enough bodies to protect our borders and we would have been left very vulnerable for an attack. It was the opposite here. There were more than enough bodies combined to keep us safe and perform an extensive search.

We built search parties. Each royal provided six of our best and most suitable to be divided into teams of four. Each team had a person that shared blood with someone on another team. It served as a means to call for help or signal danger at an instant. Gideon explained all this during the meeting.

"Team leaders are as follows: Betty Joe leads team Beta code name Belles" She smiled and nodded her introduction to the room. Yes, it was most unwise to allow leaders to choose their code names. "Jackson leads team Delta; code name Dock" He was the finest on distance missions Bertrand had bragged. He nodded to the room. "Team Sigma is led by Thalia code name Sparrow" She did not nod to introduce herself. Her scowl merely deepened in acknowledgement as her name was mentioned. The only reason she was going was because she hated the crowd that was growing. I could not fault her. She was nesting with Alana, Edgar (and Bubba sometimes by association). She was going to take her chances on the road. "Team Omega is led by Nicolas; code name Orioles" Nicolas was a new comer to Pam's state that she said showed very much potential. He was rising quickly and he was very eager to prove himself.

Each state wanted to keep their people together on the same teams but it would be to our detriment. Some vampires like Russell's Ron could provide healing but in a fight he was almost useless. So he was paired with a stronger team in order to treat the best fighters if the need arose. We found our balance that way. Each team leader held the life of members from other states in their hand but they would have to hunt and fight as one. All that were here were forced into an uneasy truce. It was something that these lands had never seen. It was too early to say but if we survived this it may usher in a new era of peace-unlikely.

They would all be leaving at separate times. They were provided with clean phones and specific times to check in to report their progress of lack thereof. There were safe houses along their route stocked with supplies for both species. No one but the team leader knew what direction any other teams were heading.

Gideon had not finished with his briefing and the room was already beginning to whirr with excitement. The only thing more thrilling than a fight was chasing prey. This was true for both species that were present.

"Your target is smart and resourceful and she knows these lands. Never stop assuming she has the upper hand because we don't know she doesn't. Do not" He stressed those words "under any circumstances travel into these states" He circled Alabama and Tennessee in red chalk. "If your trail leads there call base and wait for reinforcement"

"Why?" Alcide asked.

"It is rumored to be hostile to both our kind"

"I don't understand. If she knows that then that's probably where she'll be why not skip this and go straight there" Two natured were very short sighted I suppose it was the result of having only one life time; they only seemed to think one move at a time. We had discussed that point a dozen times and this was the best we could come up with. I believed Bubba but we had no proof. It was our hope that our search would indeed lead us in that direction. It would give us the causation we needed. In that event we would gather the forces needed. There would be no measure to how hard and how fast we would bring the fight to Eliza's door step.

"Would you rather fight me in my house or yours" Gideon asked calmly. As I looked around I could see that Gideon was earning respect with every word he uttered. Alcide did not answer which was answer enough. "Second if we are wrong and we kick in her front door we will meet vehement opposition. We need to be sure. We need just cause" it was a little more complex than that but Alcide nodded reluctantly.

The weres divided their teams in accordance with our own. Alcide attached himself to team Sigma which was led by Thalia mainly because no one else would. The youngsters of each pack were going to be left behind. The leader of the panthers who had seen too many winters would not be going on the hunt. The distance was too great. He did assign his number to run with Alcide and obey him. The weres also had to mix their packs to accommodate the job.

"Any questions" Gideon asked turning to the room.

"Yes" We looked towards the voice but couldn't see the person it belonged to. "Back here" The were raised his hand and waved. I have seen him before he belonged to Alcide. He was a tiny man child with almost his weight in piercings.

"Shoot" Gideon said.

"Why aren't you coming?" Gideon looked to me. I knew he wanted to partake in the actual hunt. He had done the bulk of the planning and had done almost all the research; as to what routes to take during what time of night. He had us tapped into several police scanners in several states. He showed all the teams how to pack and what to bring to sustain themselves but wouldn't slow them down. I was proud of him. This would have been a good reward. I felt like I was wronging him but his place was here.

"The lad has a good point Eric" Bertrand said. Russell and Stan nodded. I pretended to think about it out of respect for them but ended up shaking my head.

I could feel he was disappointed but it did not show. "I am your contact on base. My place is here" Gideon said repeating the words I had said to him earlier that night, very soon after they left.

There was nothing to do on the matter but wait for word to come from our scouts so I went home to be with Sookie. The last few days had been nothing short of chaotic with the influx of vampires. It was so much so I forgot about my wife's appointment with Doctor Ludwig.

"Why didn't you call me?" she shrugged her shoulders and patted the space on the space next to her. I sat with her back against my chest and my arms around her and our children.

"You were busy" She said. I could feel she was not angry or disappointed but I was.

"I should have been here. I am sorry" I kissed her head. She turned and smiled at me. I kissed her lips. "I am all yours for the night. What would you like to do? We can do anything your heart desires"

"Absolutely nothing" So that was what we did. I lay with her and we watched episodes of "Buffy the vampire slayer" It was absolutely hilarious to me. Buffy would get killed by a real vampire six times before she did one of her trademark spin kicks.

"I want to go for a swim" Sookie said suddenly.

"Any chance of that being a nude excursion"

"Ugh. I don't even want to see me naked" I kissed her as I helped her to her feet.

"You are beautiful"

It was peaceful. She floated lazily in the pool and I waded through the water at her side. She was not a strong swimmer. I was grateful that I was able to keep all that threatened our world far away from her. We did not discuss the meeting I had attended. Neither did we discuss any potential solutions for the houses across the lake. There were no talks of fairies or weres or the hunt that had begun. Our troubles would keep for tomorrow. At the moment it was just us in our own world. We were happy.

The atmosphere in the complex however was tense. The royals were busy remotely controlling their kingdoms. It was difficult. The first phone call had come a week after the search party had set out. Thalia's squad was following a trail of elves they found in Baton Rouge. After converging with the fairies that trail was presumed to be old and would most likely lead to Monroe. Betty Joe had the best luck mainly because Heidi was with her. They had trailed Sophie-Anne half way to Montana. The weres were to find them safe passage during the day as not to attract the attentions of the vampires of that state but also not to lose time while they rested.

In the second week the other two teams were coming up empty. They were advised to merge with the two others. Nicolas was to absolve Thalia's team and Jackson was to absolve Betty Joe's team. Everyday that passed Sophie-Anne was getting stronger we widened our scope. The other team that did not have a trail was given the list of previous residences and safe houses I gathered. It was a slim chance but we hoped luck was with us.

We all returned to our waiting during which time the houses across the lake emptied the solution; asbestos. Apparently it was a substance that was hazardous to humans and made any home that contained that substance inhabitable. Officially those homes had been condemned by the state. It was perfect.

Pam was with her people most nights and Gideon was busy in the main house. When they were together they were constantly at each other. The level of aggression was crowning. There were only a few hours before dawn when they arrived. They found Sookie and I sprawled on towels beside the pool. The late night swim became our way to relax. I had been tuning out their emotions but I could see on their faces that there had been some dispute.

"Goddammit Pam! What the fuck is your problem?" Gideon growled.

"I have no problem runt" Pam retorted coolly. Gideon extended his fangs and slipped into a crouch.

"I have had it. You dumb broad. Call me "runt" one more time" Pam did not change her stance or show fang. She remained ostensibly unaffected by his hostile posturing. Gideon didn't know Pam well enough to see her tells but I did.

"Up you go lover" I lifted Sookie up and brought her into the house. These two were going to have it out. Their animosity could no longer be contained in the house they were now forced to share. From the glass doors of the dining room I watched the confrontation with Sookie tucked safely under my arm.

"Eric do something they're going to fight" She pointed to where they were squaring off. Her prediction came seconds before the first punch was thrown (It came from Gideon). Pam answered in kind. She leapt on him and pinned his arms to the ground with her knees. She was pummeling him with her tiny but very effective fists while calling him a "Runt" repeatedly. I could tell he was tampering with her sight but it did him no good because Pam knew what he could do and she was prepared. He gave up on that tactic and decided to use force. I watched as he lifted both his legs and crossed them around Pam's neck and used the hold to flip her off him. Pam was smart. She refused to break contact with his body otherwise she would be easy pickings. Unfortunately this cost her her advantage in the air.

Tristan came in to join us while those two sorted out their problems.

"It is long overdue" He said. I nodded.

"Do something" Sookie said alarmed by our calm. She could clearly hear both their snarls and growls. I rubbed her arm.

"It will be for the worse trust me. Those two need to fight or fuck otherwise they may actually end each other" Tristan said.

"They will be much easier to live with once they get this out of their system" I reassured her. At the moment Gideon had Pam in a submission hold so multifarious her limbs were barely visible.

"But you're sure Pam won't make him finally dead now?" I nodded. She fell silent. She did not like violence and she cared for them both but they were making it impossible for anyone else to have peace. They fought over everything some things they didn't even have use for; like the can opener. It was to the point where when they were both in a room others left. They no longer referred to each other by name either. It was "Psycho Alice" or "Oliver Twist" It went on and on. The list was quite extensive.

Gideon was in his early years and they are monumental to any immortal. It was what makes the bond between a maker and his child so strong. Pam's presence and her constant berating was an intrusion. He was earning respect but Pam was attributing it all to his ability (which was still a well-kept secret) and his place at my side; one which she had worked to make a position worthy of fear. It was biased for her to say so but I could not comment I had to maintain neutrality above all else in their feud. This is why having another child around was never done under normal circumstances. Sophie-Anne was able to do this because she was gifted with being able to hold people to her. I was not and so my children were handling this the way normal vampires did. They would beat each other senseless then they would share blood and that would be the end; though they may have to repeat the process in a few decades.

The match continued for several minutes and several other vampires came to see what the commotion was. Some had their fangs out and were watching with hungry eyes. No one would mistake this as a division amongst our ranks. Vampires from Pam's kingdom watched in admiration as their queen fought; even Isaiah was gaining new respect for his wife but no one joined in; this was a family affair.

More time passed and their punches lost its potency. The end of the fight came when Gideon head butted Pam. The collision sent him sailing a few feet in the opposite direction but it wasn't enough to break Pam's hold of him. So they both went flying and collided with a stone column. The vampires watching erupted in applauses and loud cheers. They had both fought very well.

It took a few minutes but Pam stood and helped Gideon to his feet. She had her hand around his waist. He had his hand around her shoulders.

Sookie shook her head with a disbelieving smile and muttered "Vampire weirdness" She turned and went into the kitchen. Before I turned and followed after her I thought I caught sight of Dermot but before I could make sure he vanished.

The easier atmosphere in the house seemed to spread to all the vampires here. On any given night vampires from different states could be seen mingling. We were as comfortable as we were ever going to be here. I think we all had confidence in our course of action. That is until we had a visit from the head of AVL herself. Like I anticipated our numbers had drawn attention.

"Nan, to what do I owe the honor?"

"Stop it Eric. I'm busy. What gives?" She was in the business house accompanied by a troop of her vampire police. It was all very overdone. "Do you have any idea how much trouble your vampire summer camp is causing in Washington? I have had government officials up my ass with microscopes"

"I hope they bought you a drink first" Gideon muttered. Pam snickered. I fought a smile. Nan glared thoroughly un-amused.

"No summer camp. I am visiting with my closest friends" I gestured to all the kings and queen.

"Uh-huh and this has nothing to do with the Pythoness?" I shook my head.

"That is very tragic for us all" A few days after the search for the ancient one began it yielded the ashes of her most personal aide. She was presumed to be no more. The nation was on high alert for vampires out for revenge. Terror alert was blue to indicate 'Guarded'. The government had instituted a vampire alert system it was yellow to indicate 'Elevated' It was an underestimation by my estimations. "We have gathered to celebrate a baby shower for my dear wife" I lied with perfect serenity.

"She needs all of you to help her shower?" She was as confused as she was angry. I shook my head and let Pam explain. This had been her proposed solution. She even had an invitation on hand for her.

"Ah yes…I have heard of this" Nan said turning over the invitation in her hands. "But it doesn't explain why they are all here now, and they have been here for almost a month" I looked to the royals to explain.

"I'm on vacation" Stan said loosening his ever present black tie and removing his glasses.

"My house is being renovated" That was Russell

"I am here to fulfill the agreements of our marriage contract" Bertrand said taking Russell's hand.

"I have had a bout with Sino-Aids and I only feel safe here while I heal" Isaiah.

"Eric is my maker and he has called me to serve him" Pam concluded.

Nan glared at all our calm and benign expression and waved her guards out. She turned off her recorder.

"Off the record" I nodded. "How bad is it?" She asked

"On a scale of one to ten" Pam said thoughtfully. Nan nodded.

"Three hundred and fifty eight" Bertrand supplied. She froze.

"Like end of our world stuff" Isaiah added. Nan was so out of touch with vampire politics. Her job was to make sure the main streamers were well represented in the human world. It now dawned on her that it absolutely had to be a threat greater than one or more of us to bring us together like this. Quite honestly we were all capable of killing both humans and weres on our own.

"What can I do to help?"

"Say you have lead on the case; keep them busy and their eyes focused elsewhere" I said. She stood and left.

I was grateful that Nan came when she did because the next day Nevada, Oregon, and Washington fell. I woke to a television station covering the news but I did not stay to watch. I had to meet with the other royals.

"Their coffins were left open in very public places all throughout their states. No one with any ranking remains and everyone else is evacuating" Stan said in a somber voice. I was left reeling as to the kind of power such a thing would require. That territory was not weak; those kingdoms were not weak. "The fellowship is claiming responsibility. They have video tapes. The other kings and queens won't even know what hit them"

Silence fell. We were too late. She had healed and her plans had begun to come into fruition. It could be the fellowship truthfully we hoped it was them. There was no way the assassination though. It was too précises and had no human casualties. It also took care of three out of four kingdoms in the Narayana territories. California was the last on remaining state.

Gideon's phone rang. It was the one he has specifically for those who were away.

"This is Belles and Dock we saw her. She is entering the California as we speak. We are following" Gideon had put the call on speaker. I looked at the others to make their call. Their people as well as mine may pay with their lives if we did not decide well. The other team was far away. If they followed her they risked being seen that knowledge put us all in agreement.

"Do not engage" Gideon said. We heard what sounded like an explosion that set a silence more profound than death on all of us.

"Shit" There was a lot of noise and wind whirling in the background on their end. We listened intently. "What the fuck was that?" I thought that was Betty Joe.

"Dock" Gideon called.

"Pull them back" Stan ordered. I agreed. Whatever information they had about numbers and fighting force would be of more value than their fighting force at the moment.

"Get out of there and into the next state. Get to an airport I'll get you in the air" Gideon ordered.

"We can aid the vampire here. She is in our line of sight" He argued.

"Dock pull back right now that's a direct order from all heads of state"

"On our way" The line went dead.

"What about the others?" Isaiah asked. Their next check point was over a week away even if they traveled all night.

"I think they should return" We all nodded in agreement to that. The situation had changed drastically. Instead of hunting a wounded vampire that was protected by elves we were now after someone that was able to wreak this magnitude of devastation. Gideon left to prepare the arrangements to bring the scouts home.

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I know you guys are very eager for a few things to happen and take my word for it...it's a coming!

Hey JLD1218...Totally being nosy but I;m mighty curious in the origins of your screen name! care to share? If not I will go stick my nose in someone else's business.. :D