AN- All characters are the property of Charlaine Harris.
Pam arrived at Eric's with an armload of items that she laid out on the kitchen island. She could hear that Eric and Sookie were still enjoying a shower and chose to leave them alone. She hadn't had time fix her hair and make-up yet and she went to the upstairs bathroom to see to it. She didn't want to see the Queen but she was honored that Eric wanted her at his side. He usually just went by himself. She wondered at his true reason though.
The style of dresses she had chosen where identical, the only variation was in the color. Her dress was a rich shade of purple and it clung to her wonderfully. It had cut out sides and straps that crisscrossed her back. The trim was embellished in silver. The fabric was gathered in a way that created horizontal ripples down its length until just above the knees. Past that it flowed to the ground in a fabric that was almost see through. She had paired up both dresses with simple silver pumps with incredible heals. She decided to leave their hair free with full bodied curls throughout. This was not a hard effect for Sookie and it wouldn't take Pam long to fix.
Eric left Sookie drying her hair standing in the new bathrobe he had bought her. It was a beautiful silky thing that he just wanted to rub himself on. Snapping back to task at hand, he went to retrieve the items that Pam had left for them. As he re-entered the bathroom, he hung Sookie's dress up on the back of the door. He set her shoes down on the counter and from under his suit that he had draped over his arm he pulled out another bag. "This one is from me," he grinned wickedly and handed it to Sookie.
Sookie peeked inside the bag and blushed. She had never actually worn garters before. He had matched them up with some lacy panties and stockings. She looked over to see him eying her expectantly, "Would you like to help me put them on?"
His eyes widened, "Let's start with the stockings." He quickly lifted her up on the counter. He slowly kissed her leg as he pulled the stocking up. Goose bumps sprang up in the wake of his fingers as her arousal echoed his. Her fingers ran through his hair as he moved to the other leg. When he was finished with the stockings, he smashed his lips into hers and reached into the bag for the garter belt. Without leaving her lips he gently put his hands around her waist and attached the belt. Trailing his hands across her butt, he found the first strap and brought it down her leg. He broke their kiss to attach the stockings and he heard her sigh in frustration. He then took out the underwear and gazed into her eyes as he ran them up her legs. When he reached the counter, he lifted her back to the floor gently. He knelt before her and kissed her naval as he adjusted her panties up the rest of the way.
"This will be fun to play with later," he said with a wicked smile. "I should go get dressed," Eric announced as he stood and picked up the suit he had discarded on the counter.
"Tease," she called as he retreated. She could hear him laughing.
As Sookie put the dress on she noticed that it hugged every curve of her body. Pam must have sized her up easily. She guessed that maybe it was a simple thing for a vampire to do. The dress was royal blue and she loved it. Despite the fact that it showed off far more of her body than she was used to. When she had her shoes on she heard a knock at the door. She opened the door and Pam was standing there in the same dress except hers was purple.
"I hope I look as good as you do," Sookie observed.
Pam smiled, "Of course dear, I don't dress people poorly. Now let's fix that hair." She pulled a curling iron out of a bag that she had been carrying and went to work.
Sookie was grateful that she had gotten up early to eat, she suspected that she wouldn't get another chance for awhile. At least not until after they had their meeting with the queen. She was nervous about the meeting.
"What do I need to know about tonight Pam?" She chose to use Eric's language since she had promised that she would help Pam with her accent.
"I would say that the main thing is to be respectful. You should not speak unless spoken to," Pam warned.
"Eric told me that as well so it must be important," Sookie smirked.
"You are a human Sookie. Vampires have used and abused humans for ages. You piece it together."
"Is that why you don't like me?"
Pam looked shocked, "I never said that I didn't like you."
"I may not be able to read your thoughts Pam, but I can tell when someone doesn't like me."
"I merely worry about my maker Sookie. You forget, I have his blood too, I can feel all of these emotions that you bring up in him. For a vampire such things are dangerous. He will eventually do something stupid to save your life."
"What if I don't let him?"
"I doubt that you will have much say in the matter," Pam said dispassionately. "He is not likely to give up something he only just recovered after one thousand years."
"I would let him turn me," Sookie stated with conviction.
Pam raised her eyebrow, "Yes, well that would be ideal. Then we could be sisters." She almost sounded excited.
"I did not know you wanted a sister Pam," Eric said casually as he leaned against the door jam.
"I guess it never came up," Pam replied.
"We will talk about this later. We need to get going. You both look terrific," he smiled and bowed to them.
Eric was in a light charcoal suit with a white shirt and a striped tie that had incorporated the colors of their dresses. The suit outlined him perfectly. When he turned around, his coat opened up enough for Sookie to see that the pants hugged his ass delightfully. She let out a whistle of appreciation like a construction worker jeering at a woman.
"I am just a piece of meat to you aren't I?," he asked whimsically as he headed for the door.
"Beautiful, dead, meat. Yes," she nodded.
"I guess I will just have to 'live' with that," he laughed at his own jest.
Instead of leaving through the garage, he led them out the front door. In his driveway a limousine waited for them. The chauffeur stood by the car door and as they approached he opened it for them. Sookie had never been in a limo before, it was quite fun for her. Pam sat in the front with her back to the driver and Sookie sat with Eric in the back. After she had thoroughly explored the entire limo, Sookie curled up next to Eric and took a nap for the rest of the trip to New Orleans.
"Is she worth all this?," Pam asked Eric when she was sure that Sookie was asleep.
"The Queen sent Bill Compton to Bon Temps to procure Sookie."
"Well he sure did a piss-poor job of it," Pam laughed.
"He probably would have succeeded if he had not brought her to Fangtasia. He was still trying last night to get an invitation to her house. He probably would have gotten it if I had not intervened once again." Eric laughed loudly, "I am certainly not his best friend right now."
"Why did you make her humiliate herself in front of everyone at Fangtasia?"
"I could give you reasons. Like I wanted to shove it in Bill's face, which I did. But honestly," he leaned forward with an evil look Pam had seldom seen, "I enjoyed it. I enjoyed watching all those stupid fang-bangers watch what they would never get. I enjoyed watching the vampires stare with lust. And I enjoyed watching my beautiful Sookie do whatever I asked without question."
Pam slapped Eric right in his smug face. "Don't ever treat her like that again," she warned.
"Well look at that, the great Pam has feelings after all," he replied as he wiped away the blood with a napkin. "You really do want a sister don't you?"
"First you almost kill her, and then you degrade her. If I hadn't felt the feelings that you had for her through the bond, I would have thought that you didn't appreciate her at all." Pam turned away from him to watch the landscape speed by, she couldn't look at him anymore.
"I have been a vampire for a long time Pam. I find it hard to be compassionate. Lust, hunger, anger, greed...Those are much easier for me to express. I am having to relearn love." He stroked Sookie's hair gently, "It is very confusing to me that I do not have to hide my ruthlessness from her. It makes me think that I will not have to hide anything. That I can simply be myself..."
Eric stared down at Sookie, both Bill and Pam had warned him now. Sookie had placed her trust so completely in him and he had been intoxicated by it. "I see that I am wrong." He extended his long arm and placed his hand on Pam's knee, "Forgive me, my child, I have not set a good example to you as a maker."
"I am not the one you should be asking forgiveness from," she folded her arms across her chest.
"You surprise me Pam. I did not think you liked Sookie at all."
"She is growing on me."
Sookie felt a gentle nudge at her shoulder that brought her out of her sleep. "We are here lover," Eric whispered.
"Did I mess up my hair?," Sookie asked Pam.
Pam quickly adjusted a few stray strands, "You look beautiful Sookie."
The driver stopped in front of a large office building that was surrounded by what first appeared to be a type of market. There were lines of stalls where vendors where hawking a wide variety of vampire merchandise. Sookie could see that there was even a tour bus parked across the street, full of people snapping pictures.
"And here I thought Fangtasia was bad," Sookie stammered.
"You will be fine Sookie," Eric sent her a calming wave through the bond and watched her visibly relax.
The door opened and Eric stepped out to frantic camera flashes. He reached into the car and extended his hand first to Pam. She exited smoothly to the delight of the crowd. He felt her satisfaction as she basked in the attention. He did not let her get far as he put his arm around her waist. He gently turned Pam away from the car and reached his other hand to Sookie. The crowd murmured again as Sookie joined Eric. He put his other arm around her waist and they made their way to the gate.
Sookie was happy to see that the vampires where matching her steps, she did not think she could concentrate on matching theirs. She was too busy blocking out the roaring voices of the crowd. With great effort she remembered to paste on her fake smile. She felt Eric squeeze her gently to reassure her. In the minds of everyone that witnessed the group she could see how stunning they appeared. Powerful and deadly. Just as Eric had intended.
The guards at the gate clearly meant business. They carried guns and they were decked out in bullet proof vests. Eric stopped in front of one that held a clipboard and stared down at him. "Is the queen expecting you?," the guard asked.
"Doubtful," Eric replied simply.
The guard motioned and a messenger appeared from no where. "Inform the Queen that Eric Northman requests an audience." The messenger nodded and quickly ran off. "Melanie here will escort you to the waiting room," the guard indicated a female guard that had been standing by the door.
They followed the guard silently through the building to a round room that had a small fountain in the middle. There were couches lining the wall and Eric led them to one and sat down. He indicated for them to follow. As they sat to either side of him he draped an arm around each of them. He was delighted to see them each place a hand on his knees. It was completely at odds with Pam's normal behavior but she could act when called upon.
Eric glared at the guard as they waited. He knew that Sophie-Anne's guards always reported everything they heard and saw. No matter how little. He wanted it to be understood that he valued Sookie as much as his own child. And that they were, in fact, his left and right hands. Something unheard of for a human, but Sookie was no ordinary human and the Queen knew that. They were his family, and he would hold them closely.
As he expected, the guard was relieved by another and ran off to report to the Queen. Making them wait longer. After a few moments, the messenger came back and announced that the Queen would see them now. The guard motioned for them to follow. Eric stood and helped each lovely lady up simultaneously. He wrapped his arms around them again and they proceeded.
The door was guarded by two large and intimidating vampires riddled with scares and bedecked with weapons. They said nothing as Eric led his group through. They entered a room that appeared to be a fairly simple office. Sophie-Anne sat at a round table and looked up from the papers she had been apparently examining. Behind her stood a short man with broad shoulders, a child's face, and a large sword attached to his back. And of course the Queen had brought in Hadley who sat in a chair against the wall next to the man.
As soon as Hadley saw Sookie, she brightened and waved. Sookie did not acknowledge her cousin, she instead concentrated on curtseying with Pam as Eric bowed. The Queen had a very youthful appearance and was dressed in a pinstriped business suit that would have looked odd normally but somehow looked tasteful on this small vampire.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit Sheriff?," the Queen asked coolly.
"I thought it only polite to introduce you to the newest addition to my retinue, my Queen." Eric drew Sookie forward, "This is Sookie Stackhouse, my bonded telepath. She will be assisting me in all matters involving humans." Sookie bowed again for good measure.
The Queen raised an eyebrow, "Bonded you say? My, my, Mr. Northman. Have you gone soft on me? I don't remember you ever bonding with a human before."
"Well Sookie is unique," he smiled.
"That she is," her gaze fell on Sookie. "My Hadley has told me much about you Sookie."
Sookie nodded.
"Aren't you happy to see your cousin dear?"
"Yes majesty, it is good to see that she is being cared for," Sookie said cautiously.
Sophie-Anne smiled, "You could stay here with her if you wished."
Sookie felt Eric's flash of anger. "Thank you for the invitation ma'am, but my place is with Eric." Eric's anger turned to pride.
The Queen's eyes narrowed, "I'm sure Hadley is sad to hear that Sookie. She was so looking forward to chatting with you."
Sookie had to resist the urge to be rude, "I am positive that could be arranged some time. I would have to check with Eric."
"Very well," the Queen said. Sookie could tell that she was being dismissed and she found her way back to Eric's side. He replaced is arm around her waist.
The Queen's gaze fell once again on Eric, "I should like to hire your Sookie on occasion, should the need arise."
It was not a question. "That is why I presented her to you, your majesty," he nodded his head.
"You, of course, will accompany her as you are bonded."
"My Queen is most gracious."
"We are through here," Sophie-Anne turned back to her paperwork.