Once everyone was situated around Sookie's kitchen table, or at the counter in Bubba's case, Eric said, "We have tolerated Victor Madden long enough, and the time has come to be bold. I suggest that we infiltrate his new club in the early hours of the morning, just before it closes. This will minimize the number of human casualties, and it might also ensure that some of the vampire staff is gone as well. There are many strong fighters in my area who would be happy to answer my call. Victor has few friends here."

"I don't know," Colton said rather timidly, looking as if he didn't want to contradict Eric. "I'm sure you got good fighters and all, but most of the vampires who work at the bar are subjects of Felipe. I mean, they work for Victor here in Louisiana, but Felipe is the guy they're loyal to."

"Why not just go for Victor alone?" Audrina said. She sounded much more confident about speaking up than Colton did. "We could attack him during the day – me, Colton, and Sookie. Then nobody else has to die."

"Except we don't know where he sleeps," Sookie pointed out.

Audrina flashed a grin. "I do. He sleeps in a big stone mansion. It's set back from a parish road between Musgrave and Toniton. There's one lone road in, and that's it. There aren't any trees around the house. It's just grass."

Eric had never heard of either Musgrave or Toniton, so they must be tiny, unincorporated communities out in the middle of nowhere. In any case, it was a moot point because Eric didn't want the humans going after Victor without the vampires' help. Knowing Victor, he would have guards during the day. And if the humans failed to kill him, Victor would know that Eric had been plotting. It simply wouldn't work.

The humans, unaware of Eric's thoughts, seemed to like Audrina's plan. Colton was nodding and smiling, and Sookie said, "Wow. How'd you track him down?"

"I know the guy who mows the yard. Dusty Kolinchek, remember him?"

"Sure."

According to this Kolinchek, Audrina said, Victor had only two daylight guards. "Dixie and Dixon Mayhew," she said, "and they're some kind of wereanimals."

"I know them," Sookie nodded. "They're werepanthers. They're good. They must be strapped for cash to work for a vampire."

Eric considered this. It was certainly more feasible to let the humans do the job if two Weres were the only obstacle. Two Weres who could easily be bought. "So maybe I could bribe the Mayhews if they're that hard up. You wouldn't need to kill them, then. Less mess." He paused, frowning. "But you humans would have to do the job since Pam and I will be down for the day."

"We'd have to search the house," Sookie added, "because I bet the Mayhews don't know exactly where he sleeps… though I'm sure they have to have a pretty good idea."

No, it was too risky. Even if he did bribe the panthers, they could just as easily report this to Victor in the hope of an even greater reward. And the fact of the matter stood that Eric did not want Sookie getting involved in such a risky scheme when he would be powerless to step in if needed.

Just behind him and to the side, Pam waved her hand. "What?" he said to her shortly. She raised an eyebrow at him, silently asking for his permission to say something. "Oh, you can speak."

"I think when he leaves the club in the morning would be a good time," she said, steering them back to Eric's original plan. "His attention is on whoever he's going to feed on, and we might be able to attack then."

It still didn't solve the problem of all the other vampires and humans who might be there. They all looked absently at each other, at the tabletop, or at the refreshments Sookie had set out. Bubba looked somewhat lost and uncomfortable.

Finally, Sookie sat forward in her chair. "I have a plan." She pointed at Bubba. "He's the way. Colton, Victor's a big fan of… of the King of Rock and Roll, right? I mean, there's stuff all over Vampire's Kiss."

"Yeah…" Colton replied, clearly as puzzled as the rest of them about where Sookie was going with this.

"So we arrange for him to come to Fangtasia for a special performance, and then we make our move."

The one potentially dangerous variable was the number of people Victor might bring with him. But Eric couldn't deny that the idea of cornering Victor at Fangtasia, with all the advantages of familiar ground and in such an unexpected way, had its merits.

"Victor might bring a larger entourage than we can handle," Pam said, her thoughts in line with Eric's.

"Not if we explain that it's for a very limited audience. And that'll make it sound even more exclusive and tempting," Sookie replied. She gave Bubba an encouraging smile. "Bubba, would you be willing to put on a show for the regent? He really likes the kind of music you sing."

"I don't know, Miss Sookie. It sounds like you all are going to get into some kind of trouble."

"You don't need to worry about that," she said. "Eric's going to take good care of us. We have to stop this vampire, Bubba, and we need you. Plus, I'd really like to hear you sing."

"Let me ask Mr. Bill. If he says it sounds okay to do it, I'll do it."

Oh, for fuck's sake, Eric thought.

Without hesitation, Sookie opened her phone and called Bill – who was still on her speed dial, Eric noticed. Once Bill joined them, Sookie told him about the plan, being careful about her wording as far as it involved Bubba.

"I think it's a mistake to tell him that he can't bring as many of his retinue as he wishes," Bill observed after a moment's thoughtful silence. "He will be immediately suspicious."

"But what if he brings too many?" Sookie asked.

"Let's bank on reverse psychology. If we don't seem concerned about the size of his party, he'll feel much more confident that he's safe."

They both gave Eric expectant looks, waiting for his opinion.

"I agree with Bill," he said. "If they do bring too many for us to overpower, we will all enjoy the show and proceed as if nothing was planned."

"And Bubba shouldn't be there – after the show," Bill added pointedly, and Eric answered this with a silent nod.

"Well?" Sookie said.

Bill took the stool across the kitchen counter from Bubba. "I think this is a good idea, Bubba," he said. "I myself will be there, if that makes you feel any better."

Bubba's face was still full of uncertainty, but he mumbled, "I s'pose I can sing for the regent."

"Excellent," Eric said. "I will contact Thalia, Maxwell, and some of the new residents. The key will be to distract or otherwise disable as many of Victor's people as possible before the actual fight. When-" He was distracted by the sound of Pam's chair scraping backwards, and he turned to see her leaving the kitchen, her phone at her ear. News of Miriam, no doubt.

"Are we gonna help?" Colton asked.

Eric raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"

"Yep," Audrina said firmly.

"Bill, how about you take Bubba on home with you?" Sookie suggested. "He might better rest up before tomorrow night."

Bill understood immediately, of course, and made no protest. "Would you like that, Bubba?" he asked, rising.

Bubba left with Bill just as a grim-faced Pam returned. For the next several hours, they proposed and rejected ideas, listened to Colton's very useful overview of Victor's usual bodyguards and hangers-on, and finalized their plans. The drinks were drained, the chips and dip were nothing more than crumbs on Sookie's serving platter, and the humans' mouths were increasingly gaping with yawns. Pam – when she was at the table with them and not outside on her phone – said almost nothing, which was quite unlike her.

Not a single one of them made any effort to disguise their relief when Eric closed the discussion. While Sookie escorted Colton and Audrina to the front door, where they had come in, Eric turned to Pam. They looked at each other but said nothing.

"You all right, Pam?" Sookie asked when she returned to them. "Is it Miriam?"

"I'm going to the hospital," she said dully, both answering and avoiding Sookie's question. She pulled her purse over her shoulder and walked out. They heard the back door close behind her.

Physically, only the kitchen table stood between himself and Sookie, but the silence felt more and more like a wall that could never be scaled.

You can get around any obstacle if you walk far enough.

He started by walking around the table to face her. "Can you put yourself in my place?" he asked. One of her hands was resting on the back of a chair, and he took it between both of his.

She looked up at him and shook her head. "No, actually, I can't." She swallowed. "I've been trying," she said earnestly, "but I'm not used to that sort of long-distance manipulation. Even after death, Appius is controlling you, and I just can't picture myself in that position." Her voice was angry, bitter.

"Americans," he muttered.

Always "freedom" this and "I have rights!" that. They had never been obliged to serve a feudal lord or a king or a tsar. They literally had no point of reference. They often used the phrase "I had no choice," but they had never known – not really – what it was like truly to have no choice.

"Not just Americans, Eric," she said.

He released her hand and took a step back. "I feel very old."

"You are very old-fashioned."

Was she implying that he was choosing this because of vampire tradition or some similar nonsense? Had he not made it clear that he could not disobey? His temper flared. "I can't ignore a signed document. He made an agreement for me, and I was his to order. He created me."

"I'm so glad he's dead," she murmured, and it was not the response he had expected.

How much she had changed. On most occasions he welcomed the new, cold bent of her psyche, but at rare moments like this, when her face was stony and her eyes bitter, he regretted it. He took her hand again briefly and squeezed it before turning and walking to the door.

I can't believe this is chapter 60! I did a double-take when I saw that. You all have been so encouraging and supportive along the way, and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!

"Eric" has only one more chapter to go before the long wait for May and book 12. No matter what Charlaine chooses to do with Eric in books 12 and 13, this story will cover it from his POV. If Charlaine decides to crush my little shipper heart, I'll probably write other stories in addition to this one. But this one will always follow canon, and it will be completed. Hope that answers some of your questions.

Thanks as always,

DeeDee