Chapter Two
First Meeting
I woke at first dark as I always do. Stretching I rolled to look at the clock, a move that I haven't been able to get rid of from my human days. I reach over and grab my phone dialing down to the donors. When I was first turned I refused to feed until Andre used his maker command. I have come to enjoy my feedings and apparently this makes me a 'good and natural vampire' whatever that means. Frederick knocked on my door smiling after I opened it.
"Good morning Sookie."
I manage a smile gesturing for him to come in. In my early days I was what you would call uninhibited with my feedings. I lost count of the number of fang bangers I drained or killed fucking them to death simply because Andre didn't care about the human's life. Now that I'm older I do it much less often and I've been feeding from Frederick for the past month. Showering quickly I swept my hair up into a towel, wrapping another around my waist. Walking back into the bedroom I smiled at Frederick. Sitting down on his lap I tilted his head and kissed up his neck, licking the artery so that it rose to the surface. My fangs clicked into place just before I bit, one swallow, two swallow and I retracted my fangs licking the bite to close it.
"Thank you Frederick." I said gently and patting his cheek to bring him out of the daze he always fell into.
Frederick nodded his head, adjusting his pants so that the wet spot wouldn't show as much. Once the door closed behind him I giggled to myself. I always felt a little silly after feeding; pulling the towel off my hair I walked into my closet. Tonight, I was to be making Hunter, my little baby cousin, so something completely sexy was out of the question. Pulling out a matching pair of black lace panties and garters and stockings I quickly dressed in a purple wrap dress. Sexy but not too enticing, at least hopefully. Going back into the bathroom I pulled my blow dryer and flat iron out, setting the flat iron down so that it was on, I quickly dried my hair then straightened it. Glancing at the clock I realized I was going to be late.
Tonight was the summit, the first one I've been to since Rhodes and I was going as part of the Queen's party so I was supposed to look 'as lovely as a flower in spring' according to Andre. Purple and white were the Queens colors so I fit perfectly. After I was turned my natural coloring had changed slightly, I've been out of the sun for so long that my already blonde hair has faded to a white blond. Attaching diamonds to my ears and a white gold necklace I was ready. Slipping on a fair of six inch white pumps and I looked like I could walk down any runway.
Opening the door to my hotel room I quickly scanned the minds on my level. Seven voids and as many humans and weres. The weres were probably security but it was always better to check. Scooping through the thoughts I confirmed my suspicion, everyone was enjoying themselves it seemed. Smirking I shook my head, I fidgeted while waiting for the elevator to arrive, a were passed me, checking out my ass when he thought I wasn't looking and he thought it was a shame that I was a vamp. Well join the club buddy, no matter that I would be forty by now and a lot less pretty probably.
Stepping into the elevator finally I leaned back against the mirror that was the elevators walls, crossing my arms underneath my breast. Tonight wasn't going to be fun, not only had I never met Hunter but most maker child relationships were sexual from what I gathered. Hell even I had been attracted to Andre the first decade, he had thankfully deflected my urges onto other vampires that had been approved by the Queen, but it was still disconcerting to think about how much it had saddened me at the start before I became thankful and was in my right mind. Something similar would have to happen with Hunter I supposed.
Stepping out onto the seventeenth floor I scanned this one as well, three humans and fifteen vampires. I had asked to be placed as low to the ground as I was able and still have a light tight room. Hell if anything like Rhodes happened again I figure the closer I am to the ground the less likely I'll be to die, but most everyone still liked being high up. Whatever not my problem. Tapping lightly on Andre's room I stepped inside and looked around. A small dark hair girl was still getting dressed and started blushing as I stared at her, it wasn't that I cared, it was that Andre had knew I would be coming at this time.
'Thank god my shields are in place.' I thought as I took a seat smoothing my skirt under me. Staring at the wall I went into downtime. I had brought an extra coffin for Hunter, where I would stay with him for the three nights it would take him to rise; I still didn't understand why we were doing this at the summit as it was usually a private occasion. I didn't want to turn Hunter but I knew I would be the best one to do it. I hadn't been able to squeeze much information about his life from Andre or Sophie-Anne so I had no idea whether or not this was what he wanted, hopefully it was. I couldn't imagine going through what Andre had went through with me. I felt nothing but an odd detachment to him, it bothered me but it was ignorable.
I would need at least three donors the night he rose; I would try to keep him from draining any of them and then leave him to fuel his desire to fuck. I would try to make it as an enjoyable experience as I could, but he wouldn't be able to be alone with them, he would have to be coached on how to control his strength. He would need a new wardrobe, which I could order once I saw him but I still didn't know what his tastes in clothing were. Well there was nothing else I could do until I met him.
Blinking I glanced at the clock and frowned, it had been a half an hour since I arrived. Where was Andre? Standing up I went to the bedroom, pushing the door open I looked in. The bed was unmade and Andre's dry scent was still in the air so he had been here recently. Dropping my shields I scanned the room, no one was here but me. The girl had left before I went into downtime, and I would have heard if Andre had left. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I dialed Sophie-Anne.
"Your majesty, is Andre with you?" I asked once the phone was picked up.
"Sookie, where have you been? Yes Andre arrived at eight as scheduled; we have been waiting for you." Sophie-Anne was not pleased, she still sounded pleasant to anyone who didn't know her but I did and I could hear the anger in her voice.
"I arrived at Andre's room at quarter to eight your majesty, there was a donor here and I assumed Andre was in his room preparing for us to go meet you. The woman was getting dressed so after she left I just went into downtime, why would there be a donor in Andre's suite if he wasn't here?"
Quiet, that's all I heard and then a shift as if Sophie has turned to better look at Andre." Sookie I have no idea why there would be a donor in his room he never ordered one and never intended to meet you before coming here. Come to my room and we will discuss this further."
The call disconnected and I looked around the room once more, taking a deep breath and instilling the scent in my mind. If I found that donor again I would be having a nice long look inside her head. Leaving the room I made sure the lock engaged before moving down two doors to Sophie-Anne's room, walking in instead of knocking I shut the door behind me and bowed, just a dip of the head really, and moved to my queen and Andre's side.
"Sit down please." Sophie-Anne said gesturing to the sofa opposite them.
I sat and waited, and waited. Time was slipping by as they spoke to one another telepathically and it was nothing but irritating. I looked at my nails then at the wall and then once again at my nails, contemplating whether or not I should get a manicure.
"Sookie, we will be meeting Hunter at the beginning of the night. I'm sure you're wondering why Hunter is being made vampire, but those questions will have to wait as we are running short of time. Now as you know you have been secluded in the palace, no one from your old life knows that you are now –"
"No one?" I questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"No one. We didn't believe it was in your best interest to be surrounded by people from your past, now that I have deemed you acceptable for company you may wish to renew old relationships, I believe that your brother is still alive and has several small humans along with a mate. However, there are some people here for the summit that I wish for you to be cautious of, Eric Northman and Pamela Ravenscroft will be here and I know that you used to have affection for him, but I warn you, he has changed and grown and will not be the same my dear. Neither will Pamela, so you shouldn't expect the homecoming that you might have envisioned."
I sucked in a breath nodding my head before looking down at my lap. Him, the person, no, being I hadn't let myself think of for twenty years. This more than anything had been what scared me when I thought of the summit. I had assumed him and Pam had known about my being made vampire, I had assumed he just hadn't cared as much as he had always declared he did. It seemed my assumptions had done nothing but make an ass of me. Nodding once again I looked up to see Andre and the queen once again silently discussing something, probably me.
"You know I can hear you humming away, it's rude you know." I snapped before I could stop myself. Like I said I have a temper, sometimes it gets the better of me and I blurt out things better left unsaid, like the fact that I could hear the Queen and her children were communicating, something I had never dared to share before. Personally I was happy that Andre had apparently not inherited the trait from the Queen.
"You can? I'm sorry, I didn't realize, why haven't you said something before?" Sophie-Anne asked an edge of steel in her voice.
"It wasn't my place my queen. I am sorry if I've upset you."
"No, it is good to know. Now your duties at the summit will be much the same as they are at home. You will be reading donors and pets from ten until three and then you will have free time. If you are not reading the humans you will be part of our party and expected to socialize throughout the night. Do you have any questions?"
"At what time will I be meeting Hunter, and how will I be attending my duties while he is dead?" I knew from snooping in the library that it was customary for the maker to stay with the child before they rose.
Sophie-Anne threw her head back and laughed, startling me so badly that I jumped slightly, earning me a smirk from my maker.
"Child, you do not need to stay with him, you will be free to move around as you normally would, and he will just stay in his coffin. Now anymore questions?"
"Okay, so who will be escorting me? Or will I be allowed to roam as I would at the palace?"
"You will be with me or Andre when in public places but otherwise your time is your own."
I nodded my head and looked at my finger nails again. I didn't want to be a brat but I had to ask. "My Queen, is it Hunters choice to be brought over? I'm only asking because I remember how difficult it was for Andre with me, of course now I'm thankful." I looked down at my lap again avoiding eye contact. I was thankful, thankful that I hadn't just died in the explosion, but I still resented the fact that I was made a vampire against my will and made to be a tool.
"All you need to know is that Hunter has chosen this Sookie. He has known about you for a couple years and is interested in getting to know you." Andre answered me which was a surprise as he rarely ever interacted with me in the presence of Sophie-Anne.
"What about Hadley? Why didn't she want to make him a vampire?" I knew why I wouldn't want to be made by Hadley, but Hunter was her son after all.
"Hadley was deemed inappropriate for the task. Are you having second thoughts about being the boys maker?" Andre asked.
"No, I understand I'm the best one to do it, I just can't help worrying that I'm going to mess up or something."
"It's normal to feel fear of failure Sookie, but we have no time for your doubts. Since your first month you have shown yourself to be impressive, and haven't you had an easier time with your abilities since you were turned? Would it be so hard to understand someone wanting that?" Andre's voice was gentle but firm, so much so that it startled me into looking up and seeing him looking serious while Sophie-Anne simply nodded her head.
"Of course I understand the appeal, I'm sorry for being such a bother." Not really, but they didn't need to know that.
"Of course, now we must go down and gather Hunter then socialize. Come."
Sophie-Anne stood up, Andre rising with her and me a second behind both of them. We rode down to the main floor in the elevator completely silent except for the buzzing in the background. I tried not to grind my teeth, now that they knew I could hear the fact that they were speaking it was almost impossible to not call them on it but I resisted long enough for the elevator to ding open and then I was out among actual talking people.
Scanning the crowd quickly I nodded my head at Sophie-Anne that no one was up to anything horrible, and that there wasn't anyone there that shouldn't be. Looking around again with both my eyes and my mind I spotted him. I had been given a picture, just a face shot really but it still stunned me to see someone that looked so much like my brother except for having brown hair. I sucked an unnecessary breath into my lungs and started over before remembering that I was supposed to be attending my Queen.
"May I be excused to collect Hunter your majesty?"
"Yes go ahead, introduce yourself and then come back with him."
I nodded my head and darted over, stopping just a foot away from him and walking towards him at a human speed that he would easily be able to see. I smiled when I got to him and tilted my head.
"If not for having brown hair and being a couple years younger I would have thought you were my brother from twenty years ago." I said from just behind him.
He jumped and whirled, obviously not having heard my approach. "I suppose you're my aunt then?"
I nodded my head. "Can I have a hug? I haven't seen any of my family except for Hadley in years." I asked.
He grinned and stepped forward wrapping me with his arms while mine when around his back. He smelt like home, like sunshine and buttercups, and something sweet that I had been told I smell like. I had to shut my eyes before they rimmed with red. The hug probably went on to long because when I opened them again there was vampires staring but I couldn't care at the moment.
"It's so good to meet you." I said stepping back but keeping hold of his hand. I smiled a real smile, for what felt like the first time in a long time.
"You look different than what I assumed you would, your much smaller than I thought you would be too."
I grinned shaking my head. "Sophie-Anne loves beautiful people. Come I'll introduce you to the Queen and Andre, maybe later they'll let us sneak away so that we could get to know one another better."
He simply nodded his head and followed me as I wove through the crowd that had gathered around my Queen and maker. I nodded my head at several vampires I had met that came to the palace frequently and were allowed to see me. It wasn't that I was hidden; it was that I simply wasn't fit for the public before two years ago. All the fears I had had about being turned, turned out to be true, it might have been different if I had had a maker that cared about the morals I had held while I was human but as it was I had simply succumbed to my vampire nature for a very long time before I had regained any moral compass. I'm certainly different now, much less prudish, and completely OK with some torture when it was called for but I tried not to think about how I would have reacted before I was turned because it just upsets me.
"Your majesty, I'd like to present my nephew Hunter Savoy to you." I spoke quietly and hoped that Hunter kept his mouth shut.
"Wonderful, wonderful. Where did you ever find him my dear?" Sometimes Sophie-Anne's public persona makes me want to laugh until I pass out. 'My dear'? She wouldn't be caught dead saying that in private.
"I noticed him in the lobby and introduced myself. I hope that's not a problem." I smiled as I said it.
"Of course not, let him join us for the evening." I nodded, more of a bow really.
Turning to look at Hunter I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. I would have someone to speak to while Sophie-Anne got her minions to kiss her feet all night.
Can you hear me? I sent.
Loud and clear. I suppose I'm supposed to be the toady human being indulged by my aunt tonight?
Afraid so kiddo. Don't worry though, at least we can talk like this.
Better than nothing I guess. Hey do you think there'll be food around?
Probably not, but later I can ask Sophie-Anne if I can bring you to the restaurant. I hear that the food is good.
Oh you hear do you?
I could hear him laughing at me in his head so I smiled and once again quickly scanned the crowd surrounding the queen. I caught Andre's eye and nodded again letting him know everything was OK. We had moved into an elegant ballroom done with white and gold. There was a blood fountain and about a dozen donors lined up against the wall. Everyone in the room seemed be enjoying themselves and none of the staff sounded or looked shifty to me.
Sorry, working. Can you tell when I shift my focus?
Now that I met him I was starting to like the idea that he'd be around. He seemed laid back, and there was also the fact that he looked so much like Jason.
No, what were you doing?
Scanning the crowd to see whether or not anyone was here to kill my Queen or anyone else. There's always someone with a grudge.
Makes sense. I don't really do that scanning thing; whenever I tried I ended up on the floor convulsing.
Those made me turn my head to look at him. I raised an eyebrow at him hoping he would explain before I had to ask. Hunter gave me a sheepish smile.
They didn't tell you? I shook my head. My ability is different than yours I suppose. I don't know why I'm not getting anything from you though, so maybe it doesn't work on other telepaths.
What doesn't work on other telepaths? I wondered if the irritation I was feeling came through in my voice in his head.
Usually when I read someone I can only read them once. Then I just see the future they could possibly have, their ideal future. I sometimes get a hint at the things they have to do to achieve that future but that's sporadic at best really. I haven't gotten a hint of your future though.
I felt my face lock down while I casually scanned the crowd. No wonder they wanted him. Hopefully what they had told me was true and this was actually something that Hunter wanted. The ability to see the future after reading someone's mind was extraordinary. I had only heard about one other instance of that and she wasn't a mind reader, never mind the fact that she was ancient as dirt.
Can you read vampires?
Yes, but it's mostly just a blur until their future shows up. After that everything and everyone is a complete blank unless I purposely look forward again, let me say that that is a major blessing though.
A blessing? I asked
Yea, I had no idea what the fuck was happening to me until I was about fifteen. That's when I met my mom by the way, school was hell the first day, I had no shields to speak of and was bombarded with minds and then all the possible futures. My dad had to pick me up and didn't understand what was happening. I ended up in the hospital hooked up to an IV because I wasn't able to communicate while the visions were coming in. After that I made sure to always go to those greeting days and I learned how to get myself to somewhere secluded before the visions set in.
My god, I'm so sorry.
I had to look down because I couldn't imagine being a little kid and being ransacked by visions of people I never met. Having to sit in a desk day after day hearing the kid's thoughts around me was horrible, but at least it didn't almost kill me.
I would have come for you, you know.
I know. When I found out about you from my mother I hated you. I thought you had just ignored me completely and didn't give a shit that there was someone else like you out there. My mom didn't help change my opinion either ya know? It sucked.
I'm so sorry. Hadley has never thought of anyone but herself, but I have to ask, why become a vampire?
When I met my mother she accidentally let it slip about you, Andre wasn't pleased of course but I made sure I was listening, and then I just demanded answers about why I'd never met you.
Ok….
Just wait, let me explain. Andre was reluctant to let me meet you, but he found someone to give me lessons, I was fifteen and had been dealing without them my entire life so I was excited. I still wouldn't shut up about you though and it pissed my mom off so much she didn't come back more than twice. Andre did though. He eventually told me how becoming a vampire had helped you out, how your shields had gotten stronger, how you could do more now, etc.
I didn't choose to be this Hunter. You probably weren't allowed to meet me because I wasn't a very good person in my first years.
I get that. But I need something to change. My shields are shitty at best and I had no range, no control. When I meet new people I automatically have to read them, it's like a compulsion, I'm hoping it gets better or you at least can help me with my shields.
Okay, then. I just wanted to make sure that this was actually what you wanted; I didn't want you to be forced.
I had been scanning the crowd sporadically throughout our conversation, keeping an eye on the Queen and looking out for the mystery donor. I hadn't seen anything amiss and nor hair nor hide of the donor yet. Glancing at the clock I grimaced slightly and looked over at Hunter. I figured since I'd already publicly claimed him as my nephew that it wouldn't be horribly amiss to speak to him out loud, it had just been the stuff we were talking about that I had wanted to keep private.
"I have to read some donors and pets, do you want to tag along? If not I'll see if you can go up to my room or to the restaurant."
I could tell he was thinking about it, his mind although shielded was spinning in slow lazy circles, I had never noticed the way thoughts moved through Barry's brain so this was a new experience.
"If you don't mind I'd like to go with you, it will give me an idea of how things work you know?"
I nodded my head and tugged on his hand slightly moving closer to the Queen again. I hadn't realized I hadn't let go of his hand. Half the vampires in the room probably thought he was my new pet, never mind the fact that I had announced that he was related to me loudly enough for the whole lobby to hear, well at least anyone with good hearing.
"Your majesty, I'm leaving to go deal with some business would it be OK if my nephew accompanied me?"
Sophie-Anne turned to look at me, dismissing the vampire she had been talking to. "Yes go ahead, you know when to be back."
I nodded my head and then bowed from the waist, taking Hunter with me. In public it was important that I showed that I acknowledged her standing, in private I could get away with a head bow, Andre had had great fun teaching me the etiquette required in public.
As we left the room I thought I glimpsed Pam but I pushed it to the back of my brain because now was not the time for meeting up with her. If she was around there was no doubt in my mind that he wouldn't be far behind.