Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris owns all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chpt 31 Giving Ground
EPOV
When Pam announced my refreshment break I did not give it a second thought. I was thirsty and I was in need of release.
True the fangbanger in question was one of Pam's less spectacular selections, but time was short and like me she had many more important things claiming her attention. And a feed and fuck is meant to be exactly what it says on the tin.
And of course as soon as Pam herded her into my office and I smelt her blood and her arousal my reactions were almost completely normal.
Except that usually, even with a woman who is not worthy, I pride myself on my attention to detail, on my desire to please my lovers even as they please me.
But this woman was not blonde, beautiful, or remotely dangerous and my need for her was purely on a maintenance level.
So I closed down my end of the bond and like an arachnophobe in therapy, I bent her over my desk, refusing to even look at her as I took her from behind and sank my fangs into her neck. Unsatisfied and unsatisfying. Not that she seemed to care anymore than I did.
I felt the non-human's annoyance, even as I pulsed and came inside the fangbanger.
And then I felt her absence. Cold, pointed and unsettling in a way I cannot fathom.
I closed the bond. I know I did . . . .
Angry words wrench me from my office and my feed and fuck staggers to her feet in front of me, just outside the restrooms.
I catch her easily, glamouring her to tell me what happened, noting the purple bruises flowering on her pasty and unappealing neck.
The non-human has revealed her true colors. Such a shame I do not recognise them.
Easily I use my glamour to wipe away my meal's memories, sending her on her way so I can deal with the non-human when she emerges.
Her eyes rake me mercilessly when the door opens and she finds me standing there, I do not need to feel her disdain to recognise it.
"What happened?" I ask, knowing at least some of the answers.
"Nothing. Your 'dinner date' just had a bit more attitude than I usually like in my sluts."
Ouch. Non-human claws are showing. I like it. And I laugh.
"I had to glamour her." I offer. "She thought you were going to kill her."
The non-human's eyes narrow and darken, glittering dangerously.
Magnificent.
"Good. I hope you glamoured away the memory of your less than stellar performance in the office earlier too, no girl should have to live with that."
I do not blink. My mouth falls open instead.
And she stalks away. My Valkyrie. Her long blonde hair swaying heavily against her back.
I think she has finally rendered my sex drive responsive to only one stimulus.
…..
The club has cleared now and we are able to get down to the business at hand. Namely our forced trip to the otherwise beguiling city of New Orleans.
"Eric." Pam asks. "Is it safe?"
"No." I answer honestly. "I do not see how it can be. Either Andre is up to no good or someone with more sense is."
"Then I must come with you." She states forcefully.
"No. Pam. You must not. Though you were not specifically invited there is too much risk involved. You will see to the appropriate precautions here. For yourself and the others who depend on us."
I can feel how unhappy she is with my edict.
"Thalia. You will remain here with Pam."
You are as strong a fighter as I am, my child may need you.
She nods, not needing to hear my reasoning, we have known each other a long time. The non-human shifts in her seat, showing her unhappiness with my decision.
I glare at her and surprisingly she subsides.
Pam is my only child. I must see to her safety even above my own. I should be able to protect the non-human but if I am not I would rather meet my true death than have anything happen to my child.
The suspicion that the non-human understands this twists at the constricted mess in my chest.
My spies have revealed no new information about Madden or any of the other dangers facing us. I could refuse to travel to New Orleans. If Stan makes his move quickly such a decision would be correct. If he does not, the instability that is Andre would be here in a moment and though he is no match for me the consequences would be catastrophic for the non-human and the others I hold dear. Treason. Such an easy crime to commit.
I am resigned.
The noose is tight.
As long as my child is safe I will do whatever I can for the non-human and myself.
I cannot see it ending well.
With very few options we have decided that the non-human, her were guards and I, will travel during the day so that we can be in New Orleans at sundown.
I should be afraid for my life under such circumstances but I can see no other way.
Perhaps I have taken leave of my senses or maybe the confidence and ease of Pam and Thalia is rubbing off on me. Neither of them seem remotely perturbed that my life will be in the non-human's hands. Pam likes her, which is surprising. Thalia likes her, which is astounding. Of course they do not know what I know, but still, I feel curiously blasé about the trip to New Orleans. It is what will happen when we get there that is consuming most of my thoughts.
I do not trust this. I do not trust it at all.
Philadelphia has been to visit the Queen? Vampire do not make social calls. And he is apparently behind the raid on Fangtasia, one which clearly had the backing of the AVL as their own resources were in attendance. As a member of the counsel convened on the Rhodes bombing he will have known that Stan delivered Newlin here. Monarchs do not usually share much information with the AVL because it renders them 'untrustworthy' to the others, however considering the media circus over Newlin in this case they would have had no choice but to support any action the AVL took against me, once they knew the Reverend was in my 'care'. Philadelphia is a shrewd opponent it seems. He, or at the very least Compton, has also made an attempt to take the non-human.
The non-human who can unglamour cops and hoist hefty fangbangers into the air with one hand.
Internally I sigh as the discussion and planning continues around me. For all my age and experience I do not think I can take much more. I feel like I am being repeatedly hit over the head by an extremely heavy blunt object. A brick perhaps.
Herveaux and his weres are here, they have already stolen a truck in which to transport my travel coffin and along with their own armoury they have retrieved the non-human's silver loaded shot gun, the clothes she needs, and the silver jewellery Pam supplied her with.
Our plans are finally made and it is getting very late. The non-human is also practically falling asleep, upright in her chair, and clearly requires some rest. Dismissing the others I move her to the couch, leaving Thalia to guard her while I retrieve the items I will need for tomorrow.
I have always revelled in my ability to fly. To borrow a human phrase I have always found it 'cool' not to mention useful. It is very hard to track a flying vampire and I cannot afford to be tracked tonight.
Flying with a re-enforced electronically secured travel coffin is more chore than pleasure, however I manage to deliver it to the rendezvous location with the weres without dropping it, so they can load it in the truck. By leaving from a halfway point between Shreveport and New Orleans we will arrive in the city far earlier than anyone, friend or foe, can anticipate.
Next I fly to one of my other houses to don my light tight suit, thank you NASA, stuffing the hood in my inner jacket picket. I am one of only a few vampire who are aware that the technology exists, those of us who actually possess a suit are even fewer. It serves as extra protection if I am travelling under less than ideal conditions and though it sounds like a liberating invention there is still nothing on earth that can animate me fully during the daylight hours.
With a business suit over it I fly back Fangtasia to collect the non-human.
I am consciously putting the issues she represents to the back of mind. At the moment my instinct tells me that we are in this, whatever this is, together and I should continue to encourage her assistance rather than her animosity. So I wake her gently.
She stirs immediately and I am struck by how pale and tired she looks as she sits up, rubbing her eyes in that curiously vulnerable gesture I have come to know.
"We must leave soon."
"Okay." She mutters, stretching and twisting with a delicate yawn, which she covers with her dainty hand.
This is going to burn on the way out . . . .
"Ms Stackhouse, Sookie, I would like to apologise."
Her eyes widen and her breathing hitches. Hardly surprising and I cannot help but smile wryly.
"Last night. When I was dining I thought I had closed our bond. Obviously I was mistaken. Apparently I can neither open nor close it. If I caused you any discomfort I am sorry."
She blinks at me a few times and I can almost hear the cogs in her head slipping as she tries to calculate the motivation behind my words. When she does I hope she will enlighten me . . . .
"Perhaps you should warn me next time." She says eventually, her face flushing at the implications.
Mentally I roll my eyes. Of course. It makes perfect sense. I, the vampire, am in theory going to have to ask my bonded 'human's' permission if I wish to slake any of my desires. Fantastic, I can feel the blunt instrument trauma starting in on my skull again already.
The bond opens and immediately I can feel ebbing embarrassment, fear, and growing determination.
"There's something I need to tell you." She admits quietly after a few moments, dropping her eyes. "Tonight in the bar, I was bored, so I started playing around. You were right, I can hear vampires. I couldn't before, but I seem to have worked out how to do it."
Her eyes rise to mine and I keep my expression and emotions neutral. I am not sure I believe her entirely but now is not the time to get into it. Encouraged by my silence she continues.
"I'm not sure if it's going to help us in New Orleans, I haven't exactly had much practice with it and I got much less than I would with a human, like you guys are on a different wavelength or something, and I couldn't deliberately focus on anyone in particular. But I wanted you to know, just in case."
I watch her in silence while I process the implications.
"Sookie. Never, ever, tell anyone but me that you can do this, no matter how limited the ability is. Please, trust me in this, it would be very dangerous for you if word got out." And me.
She nods, her fear flaring and her eyes dropping again.
"Can you hear me now?"
She shakes her head without looking up. "No. I don't want to be able to do this Eric, I get so little peace and quiet as it is, I'm glad I can't hear you now, I was afraid that I would be able to after what happened earlier. I had to use my shields to block the thoughts out. But I'll try to read the others, later, since it could be trap."
"I am surprised you shared this with me." I confess, considering her motivations.
"So am I." She whispers ruefully, forcing her eyes back to meet mine. "Please don't make me regret it."
"We must go." I extend my hand and she takes it so that I can pull her smoothly to her feet.
Outside in the back lot she glances round at the lack of vehicles.
"How are we getting to Alcide and the pack?" She asks in all innocence.
Smirking I raise my index finger to the stars twinkling in the night sky.
Her look of incomprehension is almost endearing.
SPOV
If it was anybody but Eric, I swear . . . .
It nearly made me glad I hadn't eaten anything in god knows how long. I'm sure being splattered with vomit from a great height and no discernible source would easily make the National Enquirer.
Of course he thought it was hilarious.
The jerk.
Meeting up with Alcide and his pack brothers was weird. On the one hand I could clearly pick up the derogatory feelings about vampires they shared with him but on the other they were like excited little boys, ready for adventure and spoiling for a fight. To my relief there was no one who seemed to be planning to do anything untoward to Eric.
Alcide is driving the refrigerated truck they stole and I'm the only one travelling with him, Eric in his travel coffin doesn't count seeing as he's dead for the day.
Having taken one look at me he wanted me to get some sleep but though I'm tired, possibly exhausted, I'm not sleepy. What I am is ravenous. Fortunately no one seemed to care that we were throwing off of Eric's meticulous schedule by stopping for breakfast and one of Alcide's pack, Nathan, has a lady friend in New Orleans and directed us to the best diner enroute.
My ability to pack away a 'Hungry Man' breakfast seems to be amusing them no end. In their thoughts and their words. For once I don't mind hearing it, I never realised a woman who didn't try to hide her appetite could be considered sexy. Emboldened I use my fork to start taking a swipe at their plates and the ensuing rumpus eases the tight feeling in my chest with laughter. It's like being on a road trip with five Jasons.
"You okay?" Alcide whispers as he hands me back into the truck.
"Yes, I really needed that. Thanks Alcide."
He smiles and we both know I'm talking about more than the food.
"We're all on board with this Sookie." He says, suddenly serious. "We'll do whatever we can to protect you."
"Please." My mood plummets. "Alcide. Don't. It's enough that Eric's got to look out for me as well as himself. You guys just drop us off and pick us up. Please, promise me you won't get involved."
"Really cher?" He chuckles, preparing to shut my door. "The pack operates together. I won't abandon you and neither will they."
I stick my hand out to stop him.
"Alcide. You are my friend. I'm asking you. Don't get any more involved than you are. This is my problem, mine and Eric's."
Gently he pushes my hand back inside the cab so he can close the door and in just a few seconds he's round to his own side and slotting himself in behind the wheel.
"You and Eric?" He asks once we've pulled back out onto the highway.
"Its vampire stuff and I'm bonded to a vampire. That vampire." And I jerk my thumb toward the back of the truck where the coffin and its occupant are resting.
His thoughts immediately turn to pulling off the road and putting an end to Eric one way or another.
"Alcide." I sigh. "It's a lot more complicated than you think. Eric protects me. And I'd rather be bonded to him than any other. You'd have to stake me first."
You'd think the resultant atmosphere would keep me awake. But you'd be wrong . . . .