Niall's POV
I have never been certain of my granddaughter's heritage. Fintan brought her home, severely depressed because the child's mother had died. Fintan could not speak about her with out becoming very upset. Overtime I learned only a few details. He and the woman had met in the human realm. They spent a wonderful couple of years as lovers and were overjoyed when they were with child. News of the pregnancy is what kept Fintan from returning when he was expected in Faery. The pregnancy progressed normally but the birth was horrific. The love of my son's life died and his child barely survived. It was clear early on that the child was very unique. Her spark was very powerful and we all knew she would be extremely talented one day. As she grew and more and more oddities were revealed I became very curious about her blood lines. Fintan always maintained that his lover had been a fairy.
Though my household tried to keep her uniqueness a family secret we were unsuccessful. There are too many magical beings in Faery to ever truly hide a magical beacon such as my granddaughter Sookie. The light and power in her are so great they shine through her causing her to glow with a golden aura.
Breadan of the water fae had been causing trouble for centuries. He has a list of reasons he feels make his uprising justified but they are all nothing more than excuses. To my complete surprise and chagrin Breadan learned of Sookie. It became a game. Breadan would have her kidnapped or beaten. She would either be ransomed or left for dead outside the royal residence. She would be nursed back to health and even more heavily guarded. It all changed when she disappeared one night. The maids discovered her gone and a legion was sent out to search for her. She presented herself to me hours later utterly fine but covered in fae blood. She said she escaped because her spark exploded; charged by her overwhelming anger and then she teleported for the first time; right out of enemy hands and straight back to the castle.
I knew she was lying about some part of her story. I did not have it figured until days later when reports of Breadan's near death was all over Faery. I left her some books on magic hoping she would reveal herself to be powerful; one to help win and end this war.
A few more years passed. Sookie never learned to be the power I believed she could be. It was really rather disappointing, despite her telepathy. Breadan, however, was even more determined to own her after he knew what she was capable of. I still do not have a clear understanding of what occurred but I refuse to allow Breadan to take her.
Victor's POV
They say there is no rest for the wicked and isn't that the truth. That bastard William Compton had convinced my king, Felipe De Castro, that Russell Edgington, Compton's king, had given him permission to create a database on vampires and other supernaturals. Both Compton and my king felt it was a very good idea to have Edgington approve of and claim responsibility for the creation of the database. He would be the one to take the heat from the supernatural community for their gross violation of privacy, a treasure worth more than fortunes. Compton planned on supplying my king with insider information before the release of this database. Things like the work and resting places of fairies in this realm. Compton was sent by my king to investigate a possible fairy connection in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Old real estate records show that the house was originally owned by Finn Brigant. That surname is not so very common and happens to belong to the ruling fae prince. A fae princess is missing; a coincidence maybe, but unlikely; not worth checking into. Compton was supposed to follow protocol as normal and investigate without raising suspicion. The recording is pretty much proof that Compton failed to follow instructions. Now between my visit and Compton's ineptitude the Northman is aware something is amiss. I knew listening to that asshole was insane.
I will return to Nevada. At least I will not return empty handed. I will be able to tell him of the Viking's pledging. He will be both interested in the gossip and pleased with the idea that we may have the opportunity to return to Louisiana. Perhaps if we are discreet in our inquiries and investigation we can acquire the fairy and find that dick Compton if we return.
Bill's POV
King Felipe De Castro did not take my visit to Las Vegas very well. I told him I was doing a study about vampires through the ages. I asked for permission to stay in Nevada for a couple of months and to speak with the vampires in his area. He gave me permission, however he had me watched; very well too. De Castro soon found out the nature of the questions I asked and the ease with which vampires responded. I found myself wrapped in silver and in his dungeon. My priorities shifted instantaneously. My database was my baby but the continuance of my undead existence ranks higher. After three days of torture I confessed to the true reason for my visit and after three more days I let him rip the truth from my lips about the charmed pen I wrote with. I had a powerful witch cast a friendship spell on it. If I was using it when I spoke with another they would feel comfortable and friendly, trusting even, in my presence. I simply asked all I wished to know and sat and talked with them. Not all vampires always answered all of my questions. Within a few minutes of conversation I could tell if I could ask after their deepest secrets or if I needed to be careful how personal I became. I am only alive because of the database and my ingenuity. I could tell that Felipe was debating on what to do with me now that he had the truth. I begged him to let me go. I promised to swear fealty to him and bring him a fairy. At first he had doubts but after I was allowed to clean up and use a computer I showed him all the information I already had on the whereabouts of some fae. Most of my research revealed they lived in the southeast due to the balmy environment. Finally we struck a deal. I would have agreed to anything to save my own ass but it was unlikely if I held up my end of the bargain that I would escape unscathed.
As soon as I left Nevada I called Russell Edgington, king of Mississippi and my liege. I explained to him that Felipe De Castro was a problem and that I had been forced to swear fealty to him. To say that he was angry did not even cover it. I explained that it would be better for me to go into the Northman's territory as De Castro's representative than Mississippi's. That way if things went badly the Viking would hold Nevada responsible.
I avoided disaster but only for a short time.
To my astonishment and glee the Stackhouse residence in Bon Temps was occupied and it reeked of the delicious scent of fae. I knew she was in there; I could smell her but she refused to come out. I had tried being a gentleman in the beginning but she refused me an invitation to her home and repelled my glamour. I had hit the jackpot, or so I thought. I had decided to trap the unwilling fairy. I would just burn the house down then she would be forced to come out plus the human authorities would believe the fairy died in the fire. It was brilliant except she wasn't home. In the time I had been there she was never out of the house at night. Hell, I had not even seen all of her, only just part of her face that had peeked from the side of the door.
I did not know what to do. I waited for her to arrive home but by dawn she had not returned. I decided to go ahead and check in with the sheriff of the area since it was going to take longer than expected to catch a fairy. Just as I was calling Fangtasia, where Felicia ran her area from, it struck me that I should meet with the king since only he could give me permission to interview all of his retinue. I would kill two birds with one stone.
When I called Pam to make an appointment she said that she and the king were actually in Shreveport and holding meetings the next night. She agreed to put me on the docket but only because she hoped her maker caused me harm for wasting his time. Stupid bitch!
I arrived for my appointment only a few minutes early. I nearly froze as I walked down the hall to King Northman's office. I smelled it. It was the same scent from the farmhouse in Bon Temps but not as concentrated, much fainter. It was also mixed with another scent. Northman. Shit!
When I entered the office, if vampires could have fainted, I would have. There she sat the answer to my problems, in the king's lap. It only got worse.