The plot thickens. I can't wait to see what you all think about this chapter.

Chapter 40: How We Operate

Sookie

As the dark beauty glided away from them with Pam, Sookie shot Eric a look whose gaze was practically plastered to the pair of female vampires. Sookie felt stabs of jealously and insecurity racing through her veins. Why was Eric acting so strangely? As they entered the ballroom, Bill stopped them and said.

"Sookie, we need to go over what I expect of you for this assignment. I need you to focus on the humans and not the former women Eric has fucked. I also need you to remain close to a few particular vampires in here tonight to see if you can pick anything in particular from their humans. I have briefly discussed this with Eric and the other sheriffs and he will guide you to these vampires."

Eric shot Bill a look of annoyance and anger, but Bill ignored him and stalked off into the crowd, looking for his seat.

Sookie grit her teeth and nodded. Eric was still sweeping the room with his eyes and led Sookie to a set of chairs. She sat down and when Eric tried to hold her hand she pulled it away, clasping them in her lap. She needed the silence to focus on anything unusual. And, if she was being honest with herself, she didn't like how Eric had handled the whole Nora situation at all. He hadn't even introduced her. When she was as agitated as she was she didn't like to be touched.

Sookie glanced around and focused on the humans thoughts looking for something of interest. Her eyes then met a pair of distinct purple eyes that made her paralyze with fear. Sookie began to shake as he held her gaze and Sookie felt Eric stiffen and look around the room for what had caused her to shake.

He spotted Quinn and growled low. "I thought he might be here, but he was warned against approaching you. I will kill him for even looking at you."

"Why is he even here?" Sookie asked, noticing the quiver in her voice.

"He works for the events company that orchestrates this event," Eric replied.

Sookie nodded, remembering her conversation with Quinn that day in the cemetery. Sookie noticed that Quinn's expression was full of shame and apology, but she didn't even give a shit. She looked forward and continued with her search.

Sookie, Quinn called out to her mentally. Sookie, please listen. I can't approach you, but I want to apologize for my actions that night. I was never going to rape you. Bill asked me to take it to the point where he could swoop in and save you. I didn't want to, but I had no choice because vampires have threatened my family and me. They told me if I did what they asked then my sister and mother would be released. I know it was wrong, and I am so sorry. I was just desperate to keep them safe.

Sookie didn't want to hear what he had to say, but as he thought at her she couldn't help but listen to him. She didn't want to forgive him, and really she couldn't. Not now at least. But she could understand why he had done what he did. She had been in many impossible and desperate situations where she would have done anything to protect the ones she loved. Hell, she had murdered someone.

She also was sympathetic to having the constant worry of people preying on you. Sookie was always looking over her shoulder for vampires and fairies and God knows what else to take her. She was lucky she had Eric. Maybe Quinn didn't have anyone.

Sookie looked over her shoulder towards Quinn and gave him a nod to show she accepted his apology. She didn't think that she would ever talk to him again, but she did feel bad for the situation he had been put in. Sookie decided to place all of the blame on Bill, where probably belonged.

Eric seemed to notice their interaction and he growled low, only loud enough for Sookie to hear. "What the hell was that?" he asked, angry.

Sookie looked at him and said, "I will tell you later."

She could feel in the bond that he wasn't happy, but he couldn't really press it because the room was falling quiet as someone was walking up to the microphone set up on stage.

"Welcome to Rhodes! We are pleased to have so many dignitaries and officials here. For those of you who have never attended a summit, we ask that you do not interrupt the proceedings to have situations explained to you. We have all the events and meetings listed in the itinerary and ask that you peruse them this evening and consult with your regents to confirm which you will be attending. If you have free time, feel free to come to the ongoing trials in Conference Room C."

Sookie wondered what trials he was talking about, but remembered the request that asked not to interrupt for questions. What a warm and inviting people, she thought sarcastically.

Sookie remembered her task and lowered her shields. Most humans were buzzing about all the vampires in the room, along with several amorous thoughts that she ignored. She then caught someone practically screaming and Sookie thought they sounded familiar. She glanced around the room and saw Amelia Broadway. The witch who had performed her severing spell.

Sookie smiled and decided she would go and say hi later, introduce her to Eric.

She tuned Amelia and her screaming thoughts out and scanned the crowd continually for a clue for something of use. She looked to a woman who was worrying about a vampire named Jake. Sookie looked at the image of the vampire Jake in her mind and then scanned the crowd for him, finding him hunched over, and looking miserable.

Sookie wondered what troubled this vampire. Was he like Godric and sick of his existence? She made a mental note of him to see if Eric knew anything about the vampire and continued. There weren't many new monarchs to be introduced. Aside from Bill, there were only four. One in Utah, one in Kansas, and two in New Hampshire that were mated and shared rule.

Sookie watched as Bill took the stage and she fought the urge to roll her eyes as he flashed his fake smile. He gave a speech that oozed bullshit about how he wanted to return the great state of Louisiana to its former glory and that he was excited about collaborating with the authority to accomplish this.

Sookie tuned Bill out and rescanned, but everybody's thoughts seemed to be when they were going to eat. Sookie's own stomach rumbled in agreement and she refocused on the new vampire on the stage.

He was instructing the vampires that there were some events that their humans couldn't attend and those would be listed in the program. All the vampires remained silent as they accepted the news and Sookie wanted to ask, but again, she would have to talk about it with him later.

Sookie glanced around and couldn't help but look at Nora and Pam. Who was she? Why were Pam and Eric so oddly? Sookie looked her over and she noticed that she was very beautiful. She wondered if she and Eric had been intimate like Bill had suggested.

Sookie knew she needed to remain calm. She liked the overall look of Nora, but looks could be deceiving. She heard the vampire wrapping up the opening ceremony and she found she wanted the summit over so her and Eric could return to their little corner of the world.

Sookie stood as the others began to stand and walk to another large room where there were hundreds of humans with signs saying 'Willing Donor' and then behind them, bottled and bagged bloods served in champagne glasses.

On the other side of the room was a buffet filled with wonderful smelling food and Sookie was eyeing the growing line. Eric led her over to the line and she said, "Eric, I will be fine while I wait in line for food. Go get something for yourself."

Eric looked at her as if she could get in trouble holding a plate in the line for food. She looked towards his side and noticed a lot of the donors were sitting with vampires already and only a few dozen had gone for the synthetic and donated blood.

She wondered what Eric would do as he nodded and pecked her cheek. She watched as he headed towards the table, without even glancing at the donors and she smiled a small, relieved smile. She didn't think she would be able to watch Eric feed off another. At least not yet.

She scanned the crowd of humans to see if anyone was thinking anything interesting, but they were all thinking about the food, the long line, or the vampires on the other side of the room.

Sookie glanced nervously around for any approaching people. Eric had scared her during their argument and she was reminded of her precarious situation and tried to be extra cautious, especially since Eric was across the room and not her personal body guard at the moment.

She could manage by herself, she just didn't like it.

Sookie filled her plate with the protein rich foods she could find. She had salmon, spinach, and a salad. She moved to a table and noticed that Eric was talking to Nora and with a genuine smile on his face. Sookie looked down at her plate and she shook her feelings of jealousy off. Well, attempted to.

She dug into her food and Amelia was suddenly there, hugging her from behind and Sookie turned and smiled warmly up at her. Sookie felt gratitude. Right now she needed a distraction and the blond witch was a welcome solution to that.

She began talking animatedly to Sookie about Lafayette and how Bon Temps was. Sookie found she didn't really know as much about Amelia as she would like and engaged her in friendly conversation, only occasionally peeking for Eric.

Amelia babbled happily over the next twenty minutes, telling Sookie she was here with her coven from New Orleans as a request from members of the Authority in case they needed to ask them for information about magical spells and enchantments or have them perform magic.

Sookie was interested in why the Authority would want witches here when they posed a threat to them, but Sookie also noticed that there were many weres here as well. She began discussing this with Amelia, but Eric interrupted them.

Sookie was annoyed. And she knew it wasn't because of him interrupting. This Nora chick was getting under her skin. Sookie hated, absolutely hated, being that girlfriend. But she couldn't help it.

He said, "Excuse me. Sookie, Bill is asking for you."

Sookie nodded and said, "Amelia, this is Eric. My bonded."

Amelia's eyebrows popped up in surprise and she looked between Eric and Sookie curiously. She nodded her head and asked if Sookie would like to go to the spa with her tomorrow evening and catch up during one of the vampire only events.

Sookie looked to Eric and he nodded, "Pam may like that as well," he said, which meant that Pam would be able to go and keep an eye on her.

Sookie turned and said she would. She hugged her quickly and then laid her napkin next to her plate and stood, turning from the table and walking with Eric trailing after her. She spotted Bill by the door with his entourage and walked to him.

"You sent for me, King Bill?" she asked sarcastically. He smirked at her and said, "I will be going to a meeting for the regents. I would like you to go to the events catered for the humans, since these are your subjects. Sound good?" he asked her.

She nodded and turned, but he stopped her. "Sookie, be careful and be aware."

Sookie narrowed her eyes. Where the hell had that come from? She turned on her heel and faced Eric, who was looking furious. "What?" she asked, not believing what he could possibly be pissed at her for.

"What the hell is going on with you tonight? You are acting very odd."

"Eric I can't be all moonin' and starry eyed at you right now. I am currently workin' and tryin' to get through this Summit. Can we get through these events? There is only this one tonight for the humans then we can do whatever you want or go to whatever events you want to go to."

He nodded and led her to where the human program was. Surprisingly, many of the vampires were with their humans and Sookie sat in the middle of the room and opened her shields wide open once more. She listened around for something interesting. She found many things that were interesting to her, but wouldn't be to Eric or Bill.

She heard many women and men thinking about how jaw-dropping gorgeous Eric was and wonder what he was doing with her. It didn't exactly inspire confidence in Sookie at the moment, but she tried to focus on what she needed to.

Eric rubbed her back and she actually leaned into his embrace and let him rub her back and pull her closer to him. She looked up at him and he was giving her a small smile meant only for her. She returned it and held his hand in her own.

Sookie thought about Debbie Pelt then, of all people, and remembered her murderous jealousy. The thought was enough to discourage her from letting her imagination getting away from her. Sookie leaned into Eric and she closed her eyes, briefly enjoying his silence and she regrouped.

She was actually really tired and her head hurt from all the thoughts. She sat up and opened her eyes, refocusing on the minds around her. She just needed to get through this one event.

Okay, so this was a chapter to show that Sookie is being consumed by the green monster! And to show that Eric doesn't really consider Nora as a foe. The question is, will Sookie?

What do you all think about the Quinn apology?

Shoot me a review because there is a lot going on in this chapter.