This chapter contains spoilers for book 11. You've been warned!

It's short, but I finished the book a couple of hours ago and just had to write. I've been stalling on this chapter, partially written, for weeks, but book 11 finally showed me what to do with it. I'll be updating again very soon. Lots of great direction to work with now. And I can't wait to start on Dead Reckoning!

Eric turned his phone over and over in his hand, flipped it open, and let his thumb hover over the number that would speed-dial Sookie.

"Are you calling that nice woman?" Alexei asked, appearing at Eric's side. He looked better tonight; the True Blood and day's rest must have done him good. "Are we going to see her again? I would like that very much."

"I was texting my friend, Bill," Eric said lightly. He returned the phone to his pocket. "Where is our maker?"

"Almost ready." Alexei reached for Eric's hand and held it. Even to Eric, the boy's skin felt icy. "I always wanted a brother," he said. "Did you have brothers?"

"I was the eldest of several brothers. The youngest – the last time I saw him – was a little younger than you."

"I am about a century old."

Eric smiled a little. "So you are."

"Ah, this is what I like to see." Appius stood in the doorway, his arms spread wide. Alexei released Eric's hand and went to Appius, who tousled the boy's hair with his fingers. "What do you have planned for us, Eric?"

Eric suggested that they spend the evening at Fangtasia, as he had work to do, and it would give them an opportunity to associate with local vampires. Appius had no objection to the idea; in fact, he seemed curious and interested to see the place. Deciding it was safer than flying again with the unstable Alexei, Eric drove the three of them in his car. The bar was busy when they arrived, which did much for Eric's personal satisfaction and little for his apprehension.

When the three of them entered, Eric scanned the room for Pam and found her immediately. They locked eyes, and her face froze in a somewhat amusing expression of mixed surprise and horror. Ever poised, she recovered quickly and forced a smile - Eric could always tell - as he led the visitors in her direction.

"Pam, allow me to present my maker, Appius Livius Ocella," he said, "and his child, Alexei Romanov. Ocella, Alexei, my child and business associate, Pam Ravenscroft."

Ocella stepped forward and claimed Pam's hand, raising it to his lips. "A pleasure and an honor, Miss Ravenscroft. You may call me Appius Livius."

"I am your..." Alexei looked thoughtful for a moment, then smiled a little. "I am your uncle."

Appius laid his hand on the boy's head. "We have no use for these human distinctions, my dear." He looked up at Pam again. "Are you to entertain us this evening while Eric works?"

"I believe you will find our clientele much more entertaining than I could ever be," Pam said smoothly. "Shall I get you each a blood?"

Eric watched as Pam led them to a table. Appius and Alexei seemed content, and Pam was proving herself, as always, to be more than capable. Satisfied, he went to his office, though he kept the door open. As he waited for his new e-mails to load, he considered calling Sookie, and again he deemed it unwise. He had messages from other vampires in the area, a digest from a mailing list for sheriffs, and – drawing his immediate curiosity – a message from the Queen of Oklahoma.

Eric, it read, I hope and trust that you have been well since we last met in Rhodes. By now, I'm sure, your maker has arrived and spoken to you about our arrangement. If you would like to visit me before the marriage, which I do encourage, please -

Numbly, he scanned the rest of the e-mail. He read it again and again until the words swam and danced on the screen, no longer making sense. After several silent minutes, he pushed himself up from his chair and walked to the doorway of his office. Appius had already sensed him, and his eyes were waiting to meet Eric's. Eric watched as he murmured something to Alexei, patted the boy's hand, and left their booth to join Eric.

"Something troubles you?" the Roman asked.

Without a word, Eric stood aside and waited for Appius to come in. He shut the door. "You told me that Victor had asked you to come." He kept his words measured, his tone even.

"And so he did. May I?" Appius motioned to the couch and sat down without waiting for a response. "When I tell you that I love you, Eric, do you believe me?"

"Should I believe you?"

"Sit down, my child." When Eric didn't move, Appius' eyes hardened slightly. "Sit," he said, and it was a command which Eric could not disobey. Appius reached over and grazed Eric's cheek with the backs of his fingers. "What have you heard?" he asked. "What troubles you?"

"An e-mail," Eric said. "You have arranged…" He paused, regaining control of his voice, his anger, his very real fear. "You have given me to Freyda?"

Appius closed his eyes briefly and hissed curses in more than one language. "I asked her to wait until I had spoken to you myself."

"Until you had used me, you mean. Until I had helped you with that… that abomination you brought with you."

He felt the sharp slap, though he never actually saw the swift motion of his maker's hand. Appius bared his fangs.

"Yes, I need your help, you ungrateful fool. But I am here to help you far more than you can help me." Appius blinked, and blood pooled in his eyes – an unnerving sight. "The boy is a lost cause. Don't you think I see that?" Taken aback, Eric said nothing, waiting for Appius to continue. "Don't you think I know that I will have to send him to the final death?" The Roman straightened his back and composed his features. "Just as I will have to give up one I love, so will you. For your own good. I have made it possible. I have made it easy."

"I already have a wife."

Appius smiled, though it wasn't a cruel smile. "Eric, let me remind you of some facts. First, Victor Madden wants you dead, and he wants it sooner rather than later. Second, your bond and marriage with this human woman makes you weak. You cannot deny this. Third, this marriage I have arranged with Oklahoma will accomplish more than one purpose. It will not only separate you from the human but give you a powerful ally. In every respect, you see, I have acted with nothing but the deepest concern for your well-being – and your happiness, though you may not see that now."

Eric turned away and stared blankly across the room. The marriage between himself and Sookie was the only thing that stood between Victor Madden's acquiring her and controlling her for as long as he wished. His own feelings aside, he could not – would not – allow that to happen.

"I will not marry Freyda," he said.

"Stand, Eric," Appius said. Eric obeyed the command. He couldn't not obey. "You see, my prize? You will do as I say. And you will marry Freyda."

Eric knelt before Appius as he had done the night before. "Is there nothing I can do?" He forced himself to smile up at his maker as he cupped him through his pants. "Nothing at all?"

"If I wanted that from you, Eric, I would command it as easily as I commanded you to stand. You degrade yourself."

"For her, I will do anything."

"That is why I must separate you."

The office door flew open, and Erin turned quickly to see Pam. She spared a second to take in the scene before her, with Eric kneeling before Appius, before saying, "Alexei's escaped."

I've decided not to go back and insert passages where Eric gets in touch with Niall and enlists Terry to watch Sookie. I'll just let the story stay the way it was. I don't think either of those things affects the story much anyway.

Thanks for reading! :D