Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris owns all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chpt 8 Blindsided
EPOV
My office feels very small tonight but I force myself to focus on my work. And I do mean force, you learn great strength of will in a thousand years of life.
Pam knocks on my door.
"Enter."
"Compton is here to see you."
I had wondered if he would be that stupid and I find I am not disappointed that he is. Violence can be very cleansing and I find myself in need of both at this moment.
"Show him in."
Pam smiles, picking up on my anticipation through our bond as she turns to leave. Our Maker-Child bond is particularly strong, surpassed only by mine and Godric's . . . .
My pen snaps in my hand, spattering me with ink.
Interestingly when Pam ushers him into my office Compton does not look like has come for a fight, quite the opposite in fact.
"Eric . . . ."
I raise my eyebrow.
"Sheriff." He amends quickly. "I have come to ask for your help."
Words fail me so I indicate for him to continue.
"As you know I have spent time serving our Queen in her court."
I nod.
"You may not be aware of my actual role."
I shake my head.
"I was Her Majesty's Procurer." He says with a flourish.
Is he expecting a medal, or a chest to pin it on?
"Her Majesty sent me to Bon Temps to procure something for her."
Now we are getting somewhere. While not absolutely necessary, it is usual for a monarch to tell their Sheriff when they require something from their area.
"One of Her Majesty's pets has a relative with a particularly interesting gift."
"Sookie." I state and he nods.
"Her Majesty wanted me to ascertain the strength of Sookie's gift and if it would be of use to her. As you are aware Sookie's talent is growing the more she practices, the Queen will be most pleased when she discovers this."
I nod. Sophie Anne does love her shiny toys and baubles.
"I do not wish the Queen to have Sookie."
"I fail to see what you can do about that Compton."
"Realistically I can do nothing. But you could."
I blink, the most surprise I have shown for a long time and he rushes on.
"I am forbidden to bond with Sookie but the Queen has issued no such edict to you. You can protect her, in all innocence of the Queen's interest."
Without warning I leap over my desk, subduing him before he can even react.
"Pam!" I growl. "Prepare the Guest Coffin, the sliver one."
"Master." She responds from just outside the door where she has been eavesdropping.
Choking off Compton's air so he cannot speak I drag him to his feet and along the corridor to the basement steps, bumping him down them like a child's toy bear before carelessly tossing him into the open coffin.
Pam flips the lid closed, cutting off his protests before he can get started. Already wearing gloves she binds it in silver chains for extra security and then follows me back to my office.
"Call the Queen's offices and request an audience, tell them it is urgent but that I have not explained why to you."
She nods and blurs away.
I do not know where to even start with this development. The whole scenario beggars belief.
The Queen has sent him here to procure the telepath? Why? If she had asked me to deliver her I would have done it, even without knowing I have no interest in the asset, she knows I would have done it. Disobedience is punished, even mine.
He does not want Sophie Anne to have the telepath? Why? Even if I could believe Compton does care for the human, Sophie Anne is not a cruel Mistress, quite the opposite, her humans are all spoilt and over indulged. She would probably not even object to Compton retaining a relationship with the woman if that is what he wanted.
And why offer her to me? If I wanted her I would have taken her many weeks ago. That aside I am well known for not keeping humans, they are too much responsibility and too much of a security risk.
Even if I were interested, he has forced my hand. If it were ever discovered he told me of the Queen's interest before I claimed the telepath then I would be guilty of treason. Is that the plan, the trap?
I am older, stronger and more politically connected than Sophie Anne, a reality we both acknowledge. She would need support to end me and a conviction for treason would be an effective way of getting it. But I do not understand why she would want to be rid of me, having me in her service is far more of a boon to her than it is to me, and if this is a trap it is not a very good one, since I am going to deliver the human and Compton to her at the earliest opportunity.
I am a little disappointed to discover that the game was not as complex as I had thought. I was looking forward to the opportunity to pry the telepath's secrets from her. Although perhaps, after this morning when she was strangely able to give me comfort, it is better to be rid of her entirely.
"The Queen will see you tomorrow tonight." Pam informs me, returning to my office. "What do you want me to do with Compton?"
"Leave him. Sophie Anne will decide on his punishment I am sure. Send someone to guard the human, it would be most unfortunate to lose her at this point."
…..
She is in her dayroom, a ludicrous folly of artificially produced daylight and ornate pools.
"Eric." She seems pleased to see me. "My favourite Sheriff, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I have news my Queen."
"Sit down."
I perch on the chaise opposite hers.
"Majesty I understand you sent Compton to my area to procure a telepath?"
"That is correct." She says easily. "I didn't want to bother you with it until he had verified that her gift was worthy of my interest."
Plausible.
"It seems that Compton has become attached to the human. He offered her to me in order to prevent your claim."
Sophie Anne's eyes narrow dangerously.
"I will be honest my Queen, she has had my blood recently, I owed her the healing in Dallas. But I have no interest in owning her myself."
"Yes. I heard about Dallas. My condolences."
I nod stiffly.
"Where is Compton?"
"I have detained him."
"So efficient." She laughs. "And the telepath?"
"Unaware of the situation."
"I was going to contact Compton about her this week. Stan was full of praise for her abilities." She sighs. "This is what I get for mainstreaming, I thought if she was enamoured of Compton, he can be very charming, she would come here to serve me willingly and the rest would be child's play. No mind, sometimes the old ways are the best ways. How soon can you have her delivered here?"
"I can send one of my officers with her tomorrow at first dark."
"Excellent."
"And Compton?"
"Make him miserable for a week of two and then send him back here. He is too useful to kill and he may yet prove influential where she is concerned."
Before I can respond the doors swing wide and one of her minions enters.
"Your Majesty, Mr Cataliades is here to see you on a matter of some urgency."
Sophie Anne rolls her eyes at me playfully, truly I hope she is not in that kind of mood, and motions for me to remain where I am.
"Send him in."
A few minutes later the rotund demon lawyer scurries in with a very tall, very broad, very good looking human in tow.
"Your Majesty." The lawyer gushes. "It is so gracious of you to see me at such short notice."
"Desmond, you are always welcome here, you know that." She flutters her eyelashes and the demon actually simpers in pleasure. "And who is this delightful young man?"
"This is one of my trainees, I have brought a lot of paperwork with me and he carries it very well."
The Queen laughs and only centuries of self-control prevent me from rolling my eyes. This ridiculous dance is one of the reasons I have no interest in becoming a monarch. Ever.
"How can I help you this evening Desmond?"
"I am here on behalf of Sookie Stackhouse Your Majesty."
For the second time in two nights I blink.
The Queen's jovial demeanour slips to her ankles and it is possible to see the qualities that made her a monarch in the first place.
"Perhaps you had better explain Mr Cataliades." She commands in a clipped tone.
"At the request of my client, The Ancient Pythoness has ratified Ms Stackhouse as a member of the supernatural community."
That gives her certain rights which may prevent the Queen from just taking her. Interesting.
"And who is your client?"
The lawyer's human is smiling.
"I am not at liberty to divulge his name Your Majesty. The Ancient Pythoness has also upheld my client's claim of ownership of Ms Stackhouse."
"Show me." Sophie Anne demands, and the human hands over the relevant documents.
We are silent while she scans them and then utters a most unladylike oath.
Clearly annoyed the Queen tips the documents carelessly onto the floor.
"The Ancient Pythoness has also approved the contract my client is offering to undertake with the state of Louisiana for the protection of Ms Stackhouse."
"The terms?" The Queen snaps.
"My client will pay the sum of your current IRS bill, plus future incentives. Ms Stackhouse's freedom is not to be impinged in any way by the protection the state provides under the contract. No one beside the four of is ever to be made aware of the existence of the contract or edicts from The Ancient Pythoness and that includes Ms Stackhouse. As far as other vampires and supernaturals are concerned Ms Stackhouse is a human, the property of Eric Northman and works under contract for you. Should any permanent harm befall Ms Stackhouse during the lifetime of the contract the penalty will be the true death. Should either one of you meet your true death outside of the agreement the burden of the contract falls to the survivor and recompense will be adjusted accordingly. The details and clauses are outlined in this next document."
The human, now grinning, hands it over.
"The Ancient Pythoness has agreed to this?" The Queen asks in genuine surprise.
"Oh yes Your Majesty. She is more than happy to discuss it with you at the summit in Rhodes, or you can telephone her, you have the number. Oh apologies Northman, Niall, you have a copy for him also I believe."
The human's grin widens as he hands me a copy of what appears to be my death sentence.
"What is she?" The Queen asks as she begins scanning the document.
"I am not at liberty to divulge that information either Your Majesty."
Even with vampire speed it takes us several hours to read and re-read the accompanying documents. The Ancient Pythoness has indeed placed the telepath beyond the legal claim of any supernatural and worse she has indeed served Sophie Anne and I up on a platter to protect her with our lives. It is unprecedented and I cannot imagine who wields that kind of power. Nor for the moment how I am going to find out.
An hour before dawn the lawyer and his still smirking friend take their leave.
"Fuck! The Queen screams, leaping to her feet and pacing the room.
My sentiments exactly. First Godric and now this. My life has gone very wrong, very quickly.
"You had better make the arrangements for her protection immediately." She snarls after a few minutes.
"I am not a bodyguard." I point out.
"You are now Northman. A vampire of two thousand years or over is required to co-sign the Ancient Pythoness's rulings. Godric has signed these."
She shoves the papers she spilled onto the floor earlier toward me with her well shod toe and I go cold as I read them. She is correct, Godric was aware of these rulings, in fact they and the contract were approved by him several years ago, waiting to be enforced. Why did he do this to me? Why did he never tell me?
"Get over it." The Queen sneers as I stare at the papers in my hands, willing them not to shake.
I glare up at her and immediately she drops her eyes and turns away.
It takes several minutes for me to regain control of myself.
"This would be much easier to accomplish if we kept her existence hidden." I observe when I am finally able to start thinking again.
"Yes. Unfortunately the other monarchs are expecting to see her in Rhodes and faking her death would impinge on her freedom, don't you think?"
My growl is out before I can stop it but the Queen is oblivious.
"Hire all the help you need Northman and find out what she is and who has instigated this situation. It is intolerable for either of us to be placed in this predicament."
"Yes Your Majesty." The murderous conviction in my tone pleases her.