Eric turned the deadbolt of his front door into place as Appius and Alexei wandered a few steps forward and took in their surroundings.
"I have four bedrooms, all equipped to be light-tight," he told them. He walked past them and motioned for them to follow him. He slid his arm into one room and flipped on the light. "This is the first guest room. I hope it will serve your needs, Ocella."
"Of course. And there is no need for Alexei to have a separate room. He will stay with me."
Eric's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Based on what they had seen in the woods, perhaps it was for the best that Alexei would not be left alone. His phone buzzed to indicate a text message, and he opened it. The message was from Pam. Sookie told me. Take care. He closed the phone and put it away without replying. There was no need.
"Will you require anything else?" he asked.
"Your company," Appius said. He placed his hand on the boy's head. "Go to bed, my dear. Dawn is not far off, and I desire to speak with Eric in private."
Alexei nodded and walked quietly into the room, then Appius reached for the knob and pulled the door closed. Eric was about to lead Appius to his office when Alexei reopened the door.
"Must I, sir?" he asked. "Must I go to sleep with nothing to eat?"
Though Eric expected Appius to be furious at this questioning of his will, the Roman looked tired. "Eric's wife gave you blood to drink, and you declined it." He turned to Eric. "You have blood here?"
"I do."
Appius nodded and looked back at Alexei. "When I return to join you for our day's rest, I will bring you a bottle."
The boy's face fell. "Is there no real blood to be had?"
"Alexei, enough," Appius said, his voice sharp now. "Go to bed."
The small vampire closed the door softly, and Appius sighed.
"This way," Eric said, leading his maker to the office. "Ocella, you must know how troubled I am by your sudden appearance," he said carefully as they sat opposite each other. "And by this new brother of mine. He unnerves me."
"Such a strong jaw you have, Eric. Such a beautiful body. I have missed you." Appius smiled, his moving gaze frank and appreciative. "If I ask you to fuck me, will you do it?"
"Sookie would be very unhappy with me."
"That isn't what I asked."
He swallowed his fear and disgust with all the ease of centuries of practice. "Of course, Ocella. Obeying you is my duty and my pleasure."
"Let me tell you why I am here, Eric," Appius said, suddenly businesslike, as if the preceding interlude had been a test or a passing whim. It very well could have been both. "It does partly concern Alexei, as I told you earlier. But there is a larger reason."
Eric nodded grimly. "I knew there must be."
"Victor Madden asked me to come here." Appius leaned back and rested his elbows on the wide arms of his chair, clasping his fingers in front of his chest. "I can tell by your face that this comes as no surprise."
"Asked you or paid you?"
"What a vulgar question." Appius smiled and allowed the "vulgar question" to hang between them unanswered. "Victor requested that I sever your tie with Sookie Stackhouse. The manner in which I do so was left… unspecified. I have several options, therefore. First, of course, I could kill the woman." Eric flinched, a small movement that belied the real impact of what Appius was saying. He bit his tongue and tasted blood. "I will not do that. Besides the fact that it would anger her powerful kin – oh, yes, I know – it would hurt you. I have no wish to do that."
"Perhaps," Eric said slowly, "you could just tell me what you have decided."
"No. I want you to appreciate fully the actions I have chosen not to take." Eric gave one nod in silent acceptance, and Appius continued. "Second, I could command you to give her up. How easy that option would be. A few words." He fingered a thin chain that hung around his neck and disappeared into his shirt. "But I suspect that this approach would pain you more than if I killed her. Third, and this one, I confess, gave me some pause, I could dissolve your bond with her by draining your blood successively over a few nights and replacing it with my own. But what, I asked myself, would prevent you from simply bonding with her again? That left me with only one remaining option."
"Yes?" Eric managed to say when it became evident that Appius was waiting for a response.
"My remaining option, Eric, is to leave you alone and turn down Victor's handsome reward."
Eric remained unmoved. Nothing with Appius was this simple or this merciful. "And what would be expected of me?"
"You are so calculating, my paragon of a creation. So cynical. Victor Madden is a flea with no influence over me whatsoever. I am wealthy beyond even your imagining. Is it so unbelievable that I would do this because I want to, expecting nothing in return?"
Yes, Eric thought, but he didn't reply.
Appius gave a short laugh. "Very well, Viking. What I expect in return is your good will to help me. Do me this favor, and I will leave you and your pet - "
"My wife."
"Do me this favor, and I will leave you and your wife in peace. The favor will cost you nothing. I need help." Eric had rarely seen desperation or grief on his maker's face, but now he saw both. "The child… Alexei… you have seen what condition he is in. What I told you earlier about coming for your help with him, you see, was true."
They were interrupted by a loud thump. After one fleeting look at each other, they were at the first guest bedroom in a flash. Eric flung the door open to reveal Alexei curled up on the floor, his mouth on his wrist. Blood pooled slowly on the polished hardwood as Alexei raised his head, his grinning mouth smeared red.
I know this is very short, but I wanted to post something to assure everyone that I haven't abandoned this story. I've been busy, distracted with buying a house, and slogging through big-time writer's block. But I'm back, and I'll be updating again soon. Thanks for all your messages and encouragement! -DeeDee =)