A/N- True Blood and SVM characters belong to Mrs. Harris, Alan Ball and HBO. Original Characters and story line are mine. A warm welcome to the new readers joining us and a big thank you to everyone for their feedback.

Chapter 24

Scene 1 - SPOV - Bolted

When I woke up the next morning I was starving, probably from the amount of blood Eric had taken the night before. I rolled away from his arms reluctantly and headed into the shower. I could not but help to replay the battle in my mind and thanked God for Eric still being at my side.

When I walked into the living area of our two bedroom suite I found Eric's trench coat and my discarded heels just inside the door. Pam must have had someone retrieve them.

I grabbed up the heels and coat and took them back into our room where I packed them back away. A quick shower and jeans and t-shirt later I was devouring a steak with all the fixings and a large glass of orange juice.

I checked the clock to see I still had several hours before the other two would be up so I pulled out a mystery novel and curled up in the loveseat to sink into someone else's world, unfortunately it wasn't a book to hold your attention. I sighed and figured a few stretches and the forms Thalia had taught me wouldn't hurt so I worked out a bit and ordered some more food when my belly grumbled.

When there was a knock on the door I checked the mind on the other side to make sure it was room service, grabbed my food and then dove into the hot roast beef sandwich. I chased the last bit of gravy with regret.

There was some other practice I should be doing so I settled down in the middle of the living area floor, closed my eyes and centered myself. In the recesses of my mind there were hallways and doors stretching everywhere now and I doubted a lifetime would be enough to explore the possibilities I had at my fingertips. I made way to my favorite mental room and made myself comfortable next to the bond with Eric then tossed out my mental net to see if anything interesting was going on in our hotel.

I found nothing but normal boring human activity so I decided to see how far and how much I could read and filter now. I extended further and further until I felt like saran wrap stretched over half the city. The further I stretched the more minds I could read but the less I could filter. The tighter my radius the more detail I could pick up. There were some shifters mixed up with the human minds and I was happy to find they were almost as easy to read. I was about to experiment some more when I felt Eric rise.

I had another little activity I had wanted to try for awhile and this seemed like the perfect moment. I leaned into the emotional pipeline which was Eric and blew against it with pursed lips, and then I took my fingers and lightly played over the bond as if I was fingering a piano. The bond deepened in color so I changed up and started to stroke like I was petting a cat, when the color shifted again I ran my hands over the bond as if I was gathering it to me and kneaded it like bread dough. The light grew exceedingly bright and then imploded before settling back into its normal rhythms.

I stretched and smiled; feeling extremely satisfied then opened my eyes to find Pam sitting across from me, staring with a look of utter fascination.

"What?" I asked pushing some loose hair back out of my eyes.

"Did you just mind fuck Eric?"

I blushed and lowered my eyes, "umm maybe?"

"I rose to him bellowing your name," she informed me, "yet here you are all alone posing like a little Buddha."

I didn't answer her as I rose to my feet and hurried over to the room Eric and I shared. Sure enough I found him splayed on his back taking up most of the bed appearing totally satiated. I perched on what little space he left me and gave him a sweet kiss. His eyes opened and I found myself drowning in the most delectable color of blue. His arm snaked out and I was hauled over against his chest.

"While I just experienced the most delicious sensations ever," he rumbled into my hair. "I much prefer the feel of you in my arms." He then proceeded to show me just how much I was appreciated.

When Eric was finished with his version of dinner we cleaned up and met Pam in the living area where she was dismissing her room service.

"Nice shade of red," I commented when the girl had scurried out the door.

Pam smirked at me, "Yes everywhere."

Eric settled into the largest chair and pulled me into his lap.

"Sookie what do you think of Tara's story?" Eric asked as he stroked my hair.

"I think she was manipulated into the position she is in now."

"You believe she was turned against her will?"

"No I believe she did not wish to die and took what was offered. I do think she fell into their hands in Vegas and was taken advantage of. I do not consider for a moment Tara would willingly remain with a vampire, not after Franklin. I do not care how good looking or rich he is."

Pam sat down across from us. "Her relationship with Franklin was as staged as yours with Bill. He was using her to find information about you," she said as she pulled out a nail file.

"So who did he really work for, Mississippi or Nevada?" I asked trying to understand the maze of politics.

Eric squeezed my shoulder. "He worked for everyone. His job was intelligence and recognizance. He would investigate whatever fell on his radar as valuable and then sell it to the highest bidder."

"Ok so he is killed, Tara freaks out and then makes someone's life easier by running right into their arms. Are you telling me he glamoured her into running to Nevada?" I wiggled around on Eric until I could also see Pam easily.

Eric shifted his hips so I could appreciate what my maneuvers were doing to him before replying. "It would not surprise me if he did so. Russell may have been out bid by de Castro."

His fingers were trailing up and down my arm lightly causing me to shiver. "So obviously this King already had plenty of information on me, possibly already knew about my telepathy so why butter up Tara, or even turn her?"

"A message, to let us know he is aware of your weaknesses, your family, your friends. How easy it is to lure them away from protection and harm them. Or he started out using her and honestly found a physical attraction that he acted upon to maintain."

"Kind of like me and you then," I said dryly then winced when his hand squeezed my arm in punishment. There was anger zinging through him and I regretted my words immediately. "Eric I ..." I tried to apologize but he stood and dropped me into the chair before moving to the other side of the room.

Pam watched the two of us and rolled her eyes.

"I spoke to Ocella before dawn this morning and he is calling the other Sheriff's back tonight. We will be the only representatives of Louisiana at the trial," he said leaning against the far wall.

I poured regret through the bond only to see his face harden and the bond close down. If he was going to ignore my apology then the only other thing I could do was continue the discussion. "Why is Nevada even here?"

Pam answered me, "If Sophie-Anne is found guilty of Threadgill's murder then Jennifer Carter, his second, becomes Queen of Arkansas. She's been chasing Felipe for centuries. I am sure there is a potential marriage alliance hanging over this."

"If Sophie-Anne is innocent does she get Arkansas? What about Mississippi and Louisiana then?"

"She will get Arkansas and be in worse shape than she was with Louisiana, but Andre will still hold Mississippi and Ocella Louisiana because the Authority has already decreed it so," Eric responded.

"All right last question then. Do you think Nevada is or will try to invade Louisiana? Is that what all this spying has been about?" I inquired hoping they would be honest with me.

Eric walked over to crouch in front of me and took my hands. At least his face was a bit softer now. He played with my fingers while he spoke. "Felipe is ambitious, always has been and always will be. Yes he was scouting for a takeover that was obvious. Sophie-Anne was ignoring the reports of his vampires in her territory. I believe he assisted her with the sale of 'v' in the pits as his clubs are usually masks for such. As Nan stated, the Authority does not wish to risk some lucky human getting a takeover on camera. They are usually extremely bloody."

Pam piped up, "Rarely are any vampires from an old regime allowed to live who wield any type of authority."

My mouth went dry, "So Eric and you and Thalia, all the other Sheriffs would be executed?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Appius and Andre as Kings will stop this?"

Eric shook his head, "No but they will slow it down until Felipe gathers the intelligence on the new regimes and concocts new plans."

"So months, maybe a year or two and until then he does under hand sneaky things to make your lives miserable."

"Exactly," Eric said then glanced over his shoulder to Pam. "Pam leave us, I need to speak to Sookie."

She left without comment, closing the door of her bedroom behind her.

I started speaking right away, "Eric I am sorry for earlier. I didn't mean it. It just popped out and it was rude and inconsiderate."

His eyes were remote though his fingers were still stroking the back of my hands. "If I were de Castro you would be a vampire thrall right now and your brother would be a permanent visitor in my dungeon to assist in keeping you in line. Though it would be more for my pleasure in seeing you suffer then any need to use him as control, but I am not de Castro" He stood up and walked toward the suites door. "Go change. The trial begins soon. Wear the pant suit," and then he was gone.

I dressed in record time. Normally I hate pant suits because of my curves and my short stature I end up looking like a stuffed sausage. This outfit on the other hand was tailored to within an inch of its life. My curves were emphasized but not on blatant display. The look was casual business and easy to move around in a bonus in the company I was keeping. The suit was navy blue linen with a green silk shell and black flats. Heels would really rock the outfit but Pam told me to go for mobility. Where my outfit was tailored, hers was loose and flowing in a deep rose color. Of course with her added inches she could pull it off.

Eric changed while I was talking to Pam and when he joined us in the foyer he was in charcoal slacks with a very dark green dress shirt. No weapons allowed this time which actually made me feel a bit naked. We slipped into our coats, left the hotel, climbed into the black armored beast with Pam riding shotgun and made our way to the trial.

I sensed in relief Eric was no longer blocking the bond and the casual touching had returned. I needed to learn to edit my mouth around vampires. In their world words are just as much a weapon as a wooden stake. You would never hear one of them apologize for something they claim they didn't mean, for every word spoken is uttered with deliberate intent.

We pulled into the parking lot of what appeared to be an old abandoned high school. Eric followed a service drive out back until we arrived at an overgrown combo track and football field with decrepit stadium seating. There was a platform created from old wooden pallets in front of the stands and a couple of the v-feds were talking on it. In the stands sat a few dozen vampires and a handful of heavily glamoured humans.

Eric sat me one bleacher behind and to the right of him and Pam to his left. This actually put us close to the same height seated.

I leaned over and whispered to Eric, "Why is the trial here and not some fancy hotel or something?"

"Too many humans, not all vampires wish to be so visual especially when it comes to our laws." I caught his smirk as he continued, "Bill was tried in a junk yard. The vampires on the local police force will make sure nobody disturbs us this evening."

I was glad Eric had insisted we take jackets tonight for the temperature was hovering about forty eight degrees and while the vampires wouldn't care; I would be blue in an hour or so without it.

I slipped my shields and read nothing unusual for the time being but to be safe I threw out a mental net to monitor during the trial. Shortly thereafter Victor strode to the make shift stage and announced the trial would be commencing.

Sophie-Anne was led out and seated on the stage followed soon after by Jennifer Carter. During the commotion I noticed a good looking Latino take a seat with a small group of vampires near us.

I nudged Pam and pointed out the strange vamp. He was the only one I didn't recognize from the night before. "Who's that," I asked as softly as I could.

Her eyes flicked to the side and then she mouthed back to me, "Felipe."

I casually glanced around again but I did not see Tara anywhere. I noted the seating arrangements; apparently Arkansas got the center area with Nevada to the left of them. To the right of Arkansas was us as Louisiana and then Andre and his group to our right for Mississippi.

Then the trial commenced, there were no lawyers it was Sophie-Anne's word versus Jennifer Carters and whatever investigative material the Authority had gathered.

I was fascinated by the vampire soap opera playing out before me. Our Queen had approached Arkansas for a marriage alliance because she was still short on cash and the King, Peter Threadgill, had agreed to pay all her tax debts in return for her hand in marriage. Arkansas would get a piece of the casino action and tourist attractions in the other two states along with hopefully a better selection of vampire immigrants. Arkansas agreed to the marriage, the two Monarchs had signed the appropriate paperwork and then took their vows in front of the vampire equivalent to a Justice of the Peace. A few hours after the vows were spoken; Jennifer had found the remnants of her King in his favorite chair.

Sophie-Anne tearfully claimed she didn't do it. She said after the vows were spoken she and Peter had consummated their marriage as required and then she had retired to her personal rooms where Hadley was waiting for her. Hadley was asked to testify and she did, her mind echoing the sincerity of her words but I could tell her declaration was falling on deaf ears. She was human, what she said was of no consequence. Andre then testified he had taken a call from the Queen around the time Arkansas had apparently been killed but again his words were of little value for he was the Queens child and she could command him to say whatever she wished.

Then it was Jennifer's chance to speak. She told of meetings where her King and Sophie-Anne had spent hours arguing over the tiniest details. Sophie-Anne was adamant the marriage contracts had to have certain stipulations pertaining to the Kings death or disabilities and wouldn't budge on any of them. Jennifer also opened the can of worms about the sale of vampire blood, how Sophie-Anne had tried to get Peter to market it in their state.

I felt Eric's disbelief through the bond and agreed with him, how could Sophie-Anne be so stupid? She might as well have stood there with her hands out asking to be bound in silver before her new husband even became ash.

It was Sophie-Anne's chance to rebut Jennifer's accusations and she started right away with her reasoning on the marriage contracts. Of course arguing her experience with losing Russell and the uproar it left the two states in didn't help her cause at all. It only pointed out the fact she had already lost one husband in suspicious circumstances. I was getting the solid feeling Sophie-Anne was damned if she did and damned if she didn't in this trial no matter what.

It was Eric's turn to serve as witness and he stood to move toward the stage. He had taken one step when my mental radar began to scream and I tracked two humans just behind us, when I touched their thoughts I just reacted.

"Stake!" I screamed and lunged. My response placed me just behind Eric and in the path of the crossbow bolts meant for his heart. Our differences in height had the first bolt striking and tearing through my left shoulder to fly out at an angle which missed Eric, the second bolt to hit me lodged in bone, the tip protruding over the first exit wound.

Eric caught me as I fell and I answered the question in his eyes, "I couldn't lose you." I saw his mouth open but I didn't have a chance to register his words for I lost the battle against unconsciousness.

I don't know how long I was under when ripping pain had me swimming back to the surface. I opened my eyes to see a strange vampire staring down at me grimly. I caught the sight of Eric just behind him. Both of their lips moved but I heard nothing there was only the swirling red of pain washing over me. Someone was poking and pulling at my arm and I tried to scream. I could feel the strange vampire try to glamour me but Eric shoved him out of the way and leaned over to whisper in my ear.

"Lover we still have to get the second bolt out. I need you to trust me in this please." He leaned back and caught my eyes with his then I felt soothing through the bond and his whisper to let him in, to let go. I let myself sink into the blue depths of his eyes and dropped all the shields between us. When I gave my will over to him I felt his flash of triumph and love and then I was cradled in peace without pain.

The next time my eyes opened I was in the back seat of the mobile tank with my head in Eric's lap and his bleeding wrist at my mouth. I instinctively latched on and swallowed a few mouthfuls before his wrist closed.

I was still sore but even that was fading. I tilted my head back and smiled at him. "Thank you," I whispered.

"Always," he rumbled in return as he stroked my hair. "Do you want to sit up?"

I grinned, "Not really you make a great pillow." I turned my face to place a kiss right above his belt buckle. He was seated in the corner of the back seat while I was laid out across it. "Pam's driving?" I had just registered the fact if Eric was with me someone else was in control of the vehicle. I don't remember Eric ever letting someone else drive.

"Glad to see you are back with us Sookie," Pam uttered from the driver's seat.

"Me too," I said fervently. "So tell me what happened when the lights all went out."

His left hand was gently tracing the shell of my ear while his right hand swept back and forth under the t-shirt I was now wearing, just brushing underneath my bare breasts.

"After you took the strike meant for me and I caught you, four more volleys followed. Sophie-Anne is dead, Arkansas lost two vampires trying to protect Jennifer and Nevada lost one protecting Felipe. The humans were killed before they could be questioned. The Magister is stating it was an attack by the Fellowship of the Sun."

"Do you believe that?" I asked him biting back the need to purr under his petting hands.

"Did you read anything in their heads before they struck to confirm it?"

"No," I admitted. "They didn't have the usual religious fanaticism boiling through their brains that the Fellowship uses as an excuse for their actions. These men were entirely focused on their job."

"Only one faction remained unharmed," Pam explained. "No attempt was made against Andre and his people. The guilty finger points logically to him."

"So he gets away with murder," I growled in disgust. Appius would not have been so quick to claim Fellowship involvement.

"Why did you do it Sookie," Eric asked me and I knew he was speaking about using my body as a human shield.

"I knew no matter what happened I would be opening my eyes again." I reached to place my fingers on his lips. "You on the other hand would be ash and gone."

Pam gasped from the driver's seat, "You will allow...?" Her eyes burned into mine through the mirror.

"She has given permission," Eric confirmed to Pam. His voice was stern as he addressed me, "But I will not have you playing vampire body guard just because you think you might walk away from it."

"And I will not lose you to the True Death if it is in my power to stop it." My voice was just as firm in response.

"Now that the two of you have confirmed you are equally hard headed," Pam said sarcastically. "I am pleased to hear Sookie will be my sister some evening in the future."

"Ya well, I am counting on you as back up Pam, if Eric isn't available." Both vampires went perfectly still. Oops, there goes my mouth again. "Well, uh unless you... well I ... um never mind," I stuttered.

"Unless Eric objects," Pam simply stated. "I would be honored."

I was watching Eric with apprehension. His hand was back stroking my hair but the bond was silent.

"I do not object if something happens and I cannot be there but Pam is." He flashed a wicked smile and I relaxed. "Just remember with Pam as your Maker you may find her compulsion to get you into her bed a bit more forceful."

"True," Pam confirmed with a smile.

I was feeling much better so I sat up and crawled into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. "You are my choice Eric, when the time comes. Only you," I whispered in his ear, feeling his need for reaffirmation. Barring an emergency, when I reached the point where I felt comfortable turning my back on the sun, Eric was and always will be my choice as Maker.

I decided to change the subject. "Since Sophie-Anne is dead does this mean the trial is null and void? What happens to Arkansas now?"

"Victor gave the crown to Jennifer," Eric responded. "She was already talking with Felipe when we left with you. Probably negotiating an Alliance. Andre high tailed it out of there before we got you out."

I remembered the strange vampire. "Who was the guy leaning over me when I woke up the first time?"

"A vampire from Arkansas with medical experience. I could not give you blood until we had the bolt out and it was lodged in bone. I was afraid to just yank it out. He helped with the extraction while I took care of you." He was talking about glamouring the pain away. "When he was finished I gave you blood for the first time and then we moved you."

"How much blood did I need?"

"I opened my wrist three times tonight."

I winced, "So where are we going?"

"Our business is done in Arkansas. We stopped at the hotel and grabbed our things and now are on the way to New Orleans to stay at the Palace. Ocella is expecting us for his coronation tomorrow night. Then we can go home."

"Home, that sounds real good." I was already weary of vampire politics.

"Yes it does," He agreed and then I was lying on the seat again using him as a pillow.

"Go to sleep Sookie," he coaxed. "Your body needs to finish healing. We still have several hours before we are at our destination. All will be well when you next awake."

Pam tuned into some classical music which along with the hum of tires and the murmur of voices as Eric and Pam conversed soon had me slipping into sweet dreams featuring my Viking.