A/N: Sookie and Karin travel to the summit, she settles into her security duties for the summit, and she scares someone without meaning to. :) Coming up in the next chapter, Sookie gets called in front of the council for a little chat. Thanks again to all the readers and reviewers!
Disclaimer: everything belongs to Charlaine Harris.
The next morning, I picked up Karin's blood bottles, washed the few dishes that were in the sink, and got the house ready for me to be gone for a while. Michele and Jason were going to come over and check on things for me while I was gone, grab the mail, and just make sure everything looked secure. They were also going to pick as many damn tomatoes as they wanted. I'd made a quick call to Michele last night to make arrangements, and had warned her to absolutely not go into the house if it looked like someone had been in there. She understood, but I could tell she was a little anxious when I told her that the right person to call in that situation - at least until the event actually started - was first Bill, then the police.
My deadly ex was still good for a couple of things, and being at my house quickly when supernatural trouble might need investigating was definitely one of them. I called Bill, too - he'd never met Michele - and of course he took the opportunity to give me a lecture about being careful and his undying love. I glanced over at Karin's travel coffin now and felt glad that she was my travel companion this time, and reflected on how much things had changed since the last time I was getting ready for a summit.
After I brushed my teeth, I packed up the last minute things and stashed my luggage by the front door. Soon after, the Anubis van arrived to transport me and Karin to the airplane. I was a little uncomfortable with the unknown driver, so I tried to stay very alert for any stray thoughts I might pick up. The driver seemed pretty content to ignore me completely. Karin and I would be taking a small plane down to New Orleans; flying was considered more secure than driving coffins a few hours down the highway in daylight.
When we finally arrived at the hangar, my stomach turned. I'd started to get used to flying, but I'd never been on one of these very small planes. The Anubis crew were moving Karin, and I approached the driver as he unloaded my bags. With plenty of tension in my voice, I asked him, "Um, excuse me, how long is this flight?"
Looking at me like I was simple, the driver said, "It's very short, ma'am, and very safe. Don't worry."
That was always so much easier to say than to actually do.
I was greatly relieved to see Mr. Cataliades was the small plane's only other passenger. He and I spent most of the flight discussing my recent arrest, and the likelihood that I would be called as a witness when Steve Newlin went to trial for Arlene's murder. Steve's fingerprints had been found on the postcard, and he had apparently made some rather unhinged and confessional phone calls when I'd been released. Diantha had picked up his trail at my house, so it remained to be seen whether the Reverend Newlin would ever make it to trial.
Mr. C. also let me know that my inheritance from Claudine and Claude, including the money from selling Hooligans, was finally being released to me. That relaxed me a bit, because I still didn't know what the vampires would agree to pay me for my services now. Mr. C. and I talked about that, too, and he gave me some very helpful hints for the negotiation. I let him know about Copley's "devil," and he said he'd look into it.
By the time we'd caught up on everything, and strategized a bit about my meeting with the council, it was time to land in New Orleans. Mr. Cataliades was going to see me to Blood in the Quarter and take his own room there leading up to the conference, although he'd warned me that I might not see him around much.
As our luggage and Karin's shiny travel coffin were unloaded in the hangar, I carefully scanned the area with my special sense. I wanted to watch every step from the hangar to the hotel room; I had them hold Karin's coffin so I could come back and see the process after unloading my things in my room. Karin was still dead for the day, so I didn't think she'd mind the wait.
When she arose that first evening in the room adjoining mine, I had another little talk with her. "Karin, I will not allow any vampire to feed from me voluntarily while we're here. If you sense that from me, come running."
Karin nodded. "And what of sex?" Karin didn't know about my uncle Bartlett, but she knew about Bill. I appreciated that my protector was savvy enough to think of sex as a weapon that might be used against me. I was pretty sure that thought never crossed Bubba's mind, although not many did.
"Um…I don't know about that. I have no specific plans, and I think I'll be too busy and nervous to even think about it. If you get any big time fear from me, even if it's mixed with sex, something's wrong. Maybe I can text you if something fun is up."
Karin nodded. I felt as safe as I thought possible, under the circumstances.
The next several days leading up to the summit were extremely busy but not very exciting to tell about. Karin and I were together all night every night, but I was working and she was guarding me, so there was little time for sightseeing or fun. I scanned every human employee of Blood in the Quarter, for both troublesome thoughts and signs of heavy glamor. I observed the check-in and housekeeping process for vampires and humans, and worked with the management to tighten things up.
I checked out the stable of blood donors being pre-cleared medically and mentally for the summit, a measure I'd suggested. There was no shortage of willing donors in New Orleans, so I was able to be very choosy. Once the donors were cleared, they were basically unable to leave the hotel until the summit was over. I made sure their motives weren't too suspect, that they weren't scheming and didn't seem likely to want to get paid off for something. Anybody with secret death wishes, revenge fantasies, anti-supe issues, or just too much anger or fanaticism of any sort, I sent packing.
Everybody (including donors and staff) got served employee dinner in a closed off ballroom, which gave me a chance to check back a little every day. The first night, I caught at dinner that a mousy-looking little donor had hidden her Fellowship ties. I slipped out, called Quinn, and got him to fire and remove her for some other excuse so she'd never be able to connect it to me. Every staff member would have her photo within minutes. After a check-in later at the fancy hotel bar, and awkwardness over his wanting to buy me a drink, Quinn had mostly stayed out of my way and gotten me whatever I needed to do the job.
Honestly, the last few days had been exhausting, but also a little thrilling. It was more fulfilling than slinging chicken baskets, but I still didn't think I'd enjoy doing it full-time. If things went well, a consulting arrangement with occasional trips like this seemed perfect. I knew I couldn't prevent all possible problems, but it was really satisfying to use my abilities to protect humans and supes from the same hate groups that had targeted me. With limits. On my own.
Tonight, the vampires and their entourages would start arriving. Everyone would be coming through the main entrance directly to the check-in desk, but their humans and readable supes would be shuttled off to a nearby conference room for me to read. None of the extras were allowed to arrive on their own, and would be required to wear a special conference badge at all times (another of my ideas).
I settled into a blue-carpeted room at first dark to start reading, mostly people serving as private donors and day staff, and a few Were guards. Karin stood guard at my shoulder while I sat at a fold-out table covered in one of those pleated tablecloths affixed by Velcro. The first fifty or so went quickly, and presented few real problems. There were more than there normally would be, because of the anticipation for Eric and Freyda's wedding. Blech.
I took a short break after I'd been at it for more than two hours. I poured a glass of water from the sweating metal pitcher and looked at the dwindling line. The very next human had some striking similarities to me, with blond hair at about the same length, same height, similar curves. She was even dressed in something like my usual Merlotte's uniform. I could have taken it as just odd, if I hadn't clearly heard her next thought: "I wonder if Freyda will take me on their honeymoon to make him keep feeding from me?"
Oh, gross. If I was right, Freyda had specifically selected a donor for Eric who resembled me, and was forcing him to feed from her. Bringing the human here was meant to show that Eric just had a preference for my type, not me specifically. Karin and Pam being around would only reinforce that perception. It also meant Freyda was deliberately provoking Eric by reminding him of me.
I signaled the Were gatekeeper my readiness to start reading again, and the woman approached me. I considered blocking her entirely, because I did not want to know everything Eric had done with her. I really didn't want to vividly see it, which I knew could happen when I made myself grab her wrist. I whispered "Thank you, Jesus" when all I got was him feeding from her unenthusiastically, and her own arousal at the bite. I still felt an echo of the rage I'd experienced when I had to watch him feeding from Kim Rowe, but Eric needed to eat. Freyda was apparently making sure that happened, and I reminded myself that it wasn't really my problem any more. I let the woman leave with a final comment: "Take care of your vampires, Amanda."
Only after she walked away a little rattled, and Karin demanded to know what I'd heard, did I realize that my words might sound like a threat.