Disclaimer: Charlaine Harris owns all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chpt 32 Magic Eye
SPOV
I didn't sleep for long. And when I woke I didn't advertise it.
I know we're about an hour from our destination because I know how long I was asleep. Don't ask me how I know that. I refuse to think about it. Nor how I know how long it is until sunset.
Alcide's thinking about a building code violation he needs to deal with when he gets back. Nathan's thinking about his lady friend, she seems nice. They're the only drivers and the others are all asleep and dreaming.
Thalia was quick to point out last night that I actually referred to myself as being a fairy. I don't think it's because I feel like one, she's quite right, I'm completely ignorant about what I am. I think it's just because I'm increasingly not thinking of myself as a human and I've no idea where I fit anymore. I've fought so hard to be normal and now it feels like I'm giving up. And I'm more resigned than scared, what does that mean?
I can hardly imagine going into Merlotte's again, certainly not to work. Sam's bar has been a major part of my life since the day he set me on there. The staff are my best friends, the customers effectively my whole social circle. There's no comfort in that anymore, only a kind of weary acceptance.
Of course I will go back, when this is over and Eric releases me, I'll go back because there's nothing else for me to do. And I'm sure I'll be perfectly relieved to do so, it's not surprising I'm feeling out of sorts under the circumstance.
That is assuming I don't end up dead or inconveniently enslaved tonight.
My life is in Eric's hands and even though he doesn't really like me I'm coming to realise that he takes his responsibilities as seriously as I do. If he can protect me he will. I'm not sure I'd be this calm about it if it were anyone else.
So in the happy event that this all works out and we're all driving home again tomorrow what happens next?
Eric isn't going to let me go back to my life until a takeover either happens or the danger is passed. I accept that. But he also said he won't let me go until I tell him the truth about myself. And I guess I'm going to when this is all over. How much worse can it be than telling him I can read vampire minds and he seemed to take that okay? Besides, we're bonded and he's entitled to the truth about what he's bonded to.
I don't know exactly when Eric stopped being eye candy, Vampire Sheriff of Area 5 and started being a person to me, but I can't turn it off now. I'm getting to know him and you can't just 'unknow' a person because it's convenient and less scary.
I used to be just scared that he'd lose patience with me and either drain me or sell me. Now I'm a little worried about what it might mean that I actually like him. Really like him, rather than just not dislike him because of his personality quirks. He can be a real jerk but I'm starting to see a pattern emerging. God knows I don't know what to make of that but it's there nevertheless.
And if we're both trying then we actually seem to be able to get on okay, well enough to work together anyway.
But it's not easy, I was furious with him last night until he apologised and I understood.
Was I jealous of that fangbanger?
God no. If that's her idea of a good time I might feel a little sorry for her, she's got serious self-esteem issues. So what was I so annoyed about last night? She thought Eric was my boyfriend so throwing what they'd just done in my face was rude in the extreme, she didn't know we're not involved that way and I didn't do anything to correct her.
I'm not annoyed about it now, I said my piece and it's done with.
So why do I still have a churning knotty feeling in the pit of my stomach? I've got standards and I've no desire to be bent over Eric's desk and used like an 'object', I don't care how good looking he is. But I feel like I want something from him, something he's not giving me . . . .
"Wake up Sookie." Alcide's voice rescues me from my thoughts like a well-aimed life preserver.
"Hey, sorry, I was just dozing." I sit up straight and rub my neck which is stiff from being bent sideways against the window. "I'm never gonna get used to these vampire hours."
He chuckles and reaches over to pat my knee with his large hand. "We're almost at the address the Sheriff gave us, want to stop for a bite to eat before we get there?"
My stomach says yes for me and laughing properly he calls the others to let them know.
…..
A couple of hours later, just as the sun is starting to set we pull up in the parking lot of a fairly generic strip mall to wait for Eric to 'join' us.
The easy banter from our meal is gone and Jason would probably say we've got our games faces on. I'm not sure I've got a game face but I got changed in the restaurant restroom into one of my smart professional Sookie ensembles.
I've opened our bond so I know when he wakes up, it's so abrupt it must be disorientating but it doesn't seem to faze him, already his emotions are going a mile a minute. And almost immediately he is annoyed.
"Alcide, unlock the back doors before he rips them off the hinges." I hiss.
Alcide strolls back to flip the catch and Eric's annoyance calms.
"Sorry." Alcide says easily. "Thought it was safer to keep the doors locked."
"Humph." Is Eric's only response as he comes to stand beside me.
"We will be met here shortly by some of the other Sheriffs." He informs us. "So that we can travel to the Palace together. You will wait here until we return unless Sookie or I contact you with a change of instructions."
"What if someone comes for us?" Nathan asks sensibly.
"Then do what you need to do but attempt to keep me informed." Eric responds crisply. "If you are not here when we return we will make our own arrangements."
Flying. I pale and Eric smiles briefly. Then he shocks me by enveloping my hand gently in his big cool one and tugging me to the rear of the truck.
"Andre . . . ." He says almost apologetically.
With a sigh I lift my arms up like I'm about to be searched at the airport.
"Scent away." I mutter.
He moves in slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on mine and for one horrible yet beautiful moment I think he's going to kiss me. But instead he bends down, coiling himself around me like a snake, lifting me off the floor and burying his face in my neck.
Now it's like I've gone through security at the airport and caught up in the arms of the one person in the world who should be waiting for me on the other side.
I can't latch in to what he's feeling at the moment and for once my own emotions aren't much clearer.
After what feels like forever he sets me gently back on my feet.
"Do not move away from me tonight unless you absolutely have to." He asserts, eyes boring into mine as if to be sure I understand.
"Done." I reply with complete conviction.
He smiles slightly and then takes my hand again, leading me back to the others.
…..
The other three Sheriffs are as sober and serious as Eric. They are conversing out of earshot but it seems clear that they've known each other a long time and have reached the same conclusions about tonight that he has.
Suddenly they are walking back toward us.
"It is time to go." Eric states, taking my hand again.
The others have arrived by car and Eric and I settle into the back of one of them for the drive to the Palace.
There's no more talking and it's a surreal moment as we pull up at the gates to an enormous, jauntily lit mansion, set back in its own grounds and enclosed by a high wall.
There are two vampires on the gate who peer into the car without speaking and then wave us through.
Eric's emotions are tightly controlled and steady. Calm and focussed. I'm trying real hard to keep mine the same.
We pull up by the huge entryway and a human valets dart forward to open our doors and for a moment it's just Eric and I in the car.
"Eric?" I ask quietly and immediately he leans down, presenting his ear at Sookie height. "How many vampires would you expect to be at the Queen's palace?"
"Tonight, twenty to thirty."
"I can sense at least twice that number."
He nods and exits the car, pulling me with him.
Of course, when we enter the ornate marble entrance hall, the first vampire we see is Andre.
"Northman." He seems pleased to see us. "Good of you to come. And your little telepath too."
Eric just nods.
"We're in the conference room." Andre continues. "Settle yourselves in, there are still a few more guests we are waiting for."
Eric heads to the doors beneath the stairs, leaning down to whisper to me as he opens them noisily.
"Sophie Anne is not here. I cannot smell her."
"Do you want me to . . . ."
"Please." He answers tightly as we come to the end of a richly carpeted corridor and enter what appears to be a fairly standard conference room with a long table surrounded by chairs.
He nods to the vampires already there and then holds a chair out for me, settling swiftly in the one beside me and I realise that he's deliberately selected a position where he can see the whole room and the only door.
My crazy Sookie smile is making my face ache as I tune out the low hum of voices and try not to concentrate on anything. Once again I find that filtering out the humans and the weres has become like child's play. There are seventy two voids in the area that I can identify and, worryingly, ten other minds I can feel but not read. They're unlike anything I've ever come across before but rather than repelling me like vampire voids do, these pull at my attention like magnets, threatening to suck me in.
Eric must sense my confusion because he casually reaches out his hand and takes mine, bringing it back to rest lightly on his thigh.
With a great deal of effort I try to stay away from those attractive minds and the distraction proves useful because random vampire thoughts start firing into my brain. Fast and furious.
I barely notice as Eric slides one of the pads of paper on the table in front of me, but I automatically pick up the pencil beside it and start doodling.
Nervous and suspicious. Most of the thoughts I'm picking up are the same ones I'm feeling. I don't know any of these vampires and none of them are doing anything at all to identify their thoughts to me.
More vampires come in bringing more of the same thoughts with them.
A couple of them are thinking how nice I smell, wondering what I taste like and considering their slight awe of Eric. They respect him and they're looking to him to take the lead tonight.
Finally we must all be here because Andre enters with the last couple of vampires and a human guy in a butler's uniform.
"Northman." He says immediately, eyes gleaming maliciously. "The telepath is not needed for this meeting. Smith will take her to the kitchens for a bite to eat until she is needed later."
"No." Eric's refusal is short and straight to the point. "I have already glamoured her."
He indicates my crazy Sookie smile and apparently random doodling.
"She will know nothing of what we discuss tonight."
"Northman . . . ." Andre begins.
"I must insist Andre." Eric's voice is flat and forbidding. "I have brought my asset here at the Queen's request. I will manage her as I see fit, as per my agreement with the Queen."
The others are all watching the two of them square off with interest, enjoyment even, they don't seem to like Andre very much.
. . . . . just stake him Northman, I'll speak for you at the trial, if there even is one . . . . .
. . . . . .Andre's going to get us all killed . . . . .
. . . . . Charles is right, we should speak to Northman about taking the crown before this degenerate fool brings about our final deaths . . . . .
. . . . . ten more minutes and then everything will be in place . . . . .
I scrawl out 'ten minutes' and then break the point of my pencil.
Lazily and insolently, Eric breaks eye contact with Andre mid stare down and leans over to get me another pencil, his eyes skimming the pad as he does.
"Where is the Queen?" Eric asks when he's settled back in his seat.
"You do not question me Northman." Andre snaps.
Someone chuckles and then coughs.
"I just did." Eric comments idly.
"It's a reasonable question." One of the Sheriffs we travelled in with agrees. "I would like to see for myself that her Majesty is healing well from her injuries."
"She will join us later." Andre fires back, eyes darting around the room. "She is feeding and resting."
"She is weak." Someone else observes.
. . . . . this should be quiet straightforward, feels almost like cheating . . . . .
That hasn't come from inside this room
"You will not question the ability of your Queen to rule." Andre's voice rises in anger.
I wish I could get in his head, just for a moment.
"We are not questioning anything." Eric observes smoothly. "We would simply like to pay our respects and pledge our support to her Majesty."
Andre glances at his watch.
. . . . . almost time . . . . .
'Trap.' I write, breaking another pencil.
Eric glances over casually to read and squeezes my hand.
"Let us stop pretending Andre." He drawls. "I am old. My senses are sharp. I know her Majesty is not here."
. . . . . shit . . . . .
I drop the pencil, hoping Eric is picking up on my sense of urgency, this awareness of time is new to me but we need to be gone. Now.
Actually I might as well have a neon sign over my head. All of a sudden I'm on my feet, pressed into Eric's body. Andre on one side of the conference table with two Sheriffs. The rest of us on the other side, the door side.
"This is treason." Andre growls.
Eric snorts.
"I will have your head for this Northman." Andre vows.
. . . . . and the one night I was promised with your telepath, I might even let you watch before you die . . . . .
You'll have to kill me first.
. . . . . what the fucking hell is that . . . . .
The visceral fear in that last vampire's thoughts and the images in his mind freeze my blood.
ERIC! Fairy-human hybrid really wants to go now . . . . Now, now, now, now, now . . . .