Chapter 7

Vampire Law

After Mr. C. went over all the evidence we gave him, he sat back and stared straight ahead for a few moments before he finally looked at me and he asked, "Sookie, as you know I have been a lawyer for the Supernatural community for a very long time and, in all that time, nothing like this has ever happened. It has always been that children must obey their Maker's command. I know that Eric's Maker has met the true death, but still Eric had to abide by the contract commissioned by Freyda and Ocello. In order to protect you, he changed the contract to add an additional 100 years as long as you stay safe and, yes, if you had married the shifter that would have made you his. I personally went over the new contract and it stated very clearly that no matter what you chose to do with your life, you were to be left alone or the contract would be null and void, so with this proof Eric can be released. The problem is, if we take this evidence to the Vampire Council, it could take a while and you would still be left here in danger since Eric would still be stuck in Oklahoma until the judges decide to release him. It is not a common thing for a consort to leave a Monarch because the Monarch has all the power. Eric could also find himself in trouble with Freyda once she discovers this.

I held my hand up to stop him and told him that was the problem! Eric had survived over 1000 years on this earth tortured by a cruel maker and even in death Ocello was able to continue torturing him. I don't know what Eric's life was like in Oklahoma, I don't know if he was happy there and if he was, then that was fine, but it should be his choice, not hers. She may be a queen, but she was not his chosen queen. That alone should tell anyone that he did not want to be there! He could have chosen to live in Oklahoma and open his bar there but he didn't!

He settled in Louisiana, he ruled his little Area, and he was happy up until De Castro killed Sophie-Anne, and took over. All I wanted was for him to have a choice. Then an idea hit me! "Would it be possible for you to maybe see what he wants? You're his lawyer, too. Right? Could you ask to speak with him, privately, away from the Palace where I am sure everything is bugged? I could write a letter explaining what I know and he could choose if this might be what he wants. If it's not, then I'll stop, leave the country, and start a new life. I still have funds from Claudine. I could move to a small, no-name town in the middle of nowhere and let Sookie Stackhouse become a memory." Mr. C. handed me a napkin from the table and I realized I had tears streaming down my face once again. I hadn't even realized I was crying. The thought of not being with Eric was killing me, but this wasn't about me. He deserved to be happy and if Mr. C nodded his head and pulled out a blank piece of notepad paper and a pen. I got up and walked to an empty table and thought over what I wanted to write before I began.

I am writing this knowing it is probably too late, but I need you to understand a few things I have learned just today. These things have been going on since the week before I used the Cluviel Dor on Sam. Apparently Felipe De Castro gave Sam a potion to put in my drink once a week beginning the week before the Pack meeting. This potion was to make me love the person who presented me with the drink which, of course, was Sam. He is currently tied up at my house along with his mother, and Bill. They are being watched over by your Karin and Thalia. They were all involved in this from the beginning. You see, Sam owes a great deal of money and I knew this; I loaned him some of the money I received from Claudine which he never intended to pay back, but he owed more than that so his mother came up with a plan. Knowing that the King wanted me, and that if Sam married me, he could hand me over because I would be his.

They contacted De Castro. He had his witch create the potion and Sam started giving it to me. That's why I used the Cluviel Dor on him even though I knew in my heart I loved you. The potion was not letting me listen to my heart. Well, apparently he has been feeding me this potion every week for a year up until this past week when he had an emergency and wasn't able to give it to me. All week I've been feeling awful, and when I woke up today, the day I was supposed to marry Sam, I knew it was wrong and I would not be able to do it. As I sat at the vanity I was supposed to use to get ready all I could do was think about you. How much I loved you and that even though the words you said to me were hurtful and wrong, I knew you were hurting too, and just wanted to be with me no matter what, but I could never have done that. I am too selfish to be the other woman and I deserve better, but that's not what this letter is for. I have discovered that Felipe De Castro has been planning on taking me and I have proof from only two weeks ago that his plans were to take place tomorrow after I was married to Sam. Apparently he believes that Sam can just give me to him and it will not affect the contract drawn up between Appius and Oklahoma. I am with Mr. C now and he has informed me this is not true. Your final contract protects me regardless of what I choose to do in life so we have a few options.

The first choice is for me to change my name, leave the country, and start my life over in a small town where nobody knows me. I have no blood connections to anyone so nobody will find me. I will stay in at night and be free; you continue to live the life you are living. If you are happy in your position, then I'm okay with this since either way I am not staying in Louisiana. As long as the second choice is for me to take all of the evidence I now have against the King and request a trial with the Council. This will take time and I don't know how safe you will be while we wait. If we win, Freyda will lose you, and I am guessing she isn't one to like losing what she feels is the last thing I can think of is something I think you should have done a long time ago. You will have to stage a coup and takeover if you are willing to be King of four states. There are a few vampire monarchs who owe me their lives; I'll call in the favors and get them to help. Maybe you could give those States to them and make them happy or something since I would think running four States would be difficult, not to mention the big Bulls Eye on your back.

The choice is yours and, even if you no longer love me nor want to be with me, I understand and will accept that, but you deserve to be free.

I Love You

Forever Yours,

Sookie Stackhouse

I took the letter to back to the table and handed it to Mr. C. He said he would take it tonight and have an answer for me in the morning. I was surprised he could get it done that fast but didn't say anything about it. I graciously thanked him and we took our leave. All that we could do now was wait for Eric to decide his course of action.