AN: Sorry everyone, I have been sick with what I am totally convinced is the plague, the only thing I am missing is swollen lymph glands and the whole coughing up blood thing. But seriously I have been sick for six days now and felt like shit. While subbing is great, it does come with complications like getting sick. Anyway I finally have my coughing under control and feel good enough to write. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed. Now enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 22 Schemes and Self-discovery

Andre's Point of View

When darling Pamela said we were going to retrieve her maker from the airport, I did not expect the large entourage. To say I was surprised at the unexpected royal visit would be too simple. I had to catch myself from saying something stupid. I mean really how are we to fit nine bodies in a vehicle built to move seven. Stan answered my unasked question by ordering one of his guards to scout ahead. Pamela resumed her seat behind the wheel. A short cramped ride latter we were at another one of Northman's homes. I do have to give him credit though at least his taste in décor was relatively pleasing. The Stackhouse girl and other human were staring at each other almost like they were having a conversation. I ignored a text from my maker asking if I found her. You would think that she would realize if I had Hadley I would have said something by now. "Northman I would like a word with you." I said.

"Of course Andre let's go to my office." He walked toward the stairs. He gestured for me to take a seat. "What can I do for you?"

"I am sure your childe has told you, her majesty has sent me on an errand, to locate her missing human. I am obviously trying my hardest to locate the girl, but she is hard to find." I explain.

"Get to the point Andre."

"Hadley does not wish to go back to the place and frankly neither do I. My maker has gotten out of control. She is still holding unwilling humans as play things. She has turned my brothers and I into glorified babysitters and I am sick of it."

"What do you want me to do about it?" He asks with a smirk.

"I feel that it is time for a new regime. I want your help in taking out my crazy bitch of a maker."

"Do you have aspiration to be king?" That was the question wasn't it.

"In all honesty no. I would rather see someone like your maker or even Davis as king. I don't want to play in politics any longer."

"You do realize I could turn you in to the magistrate, for plotting to over throw your queen and maker? I won't, but we could both get in trouble here. If you are willing to do this, then I need your word you will leave my Sookie and her family alone." He says this like I am still going to take them back to the queen.

"You have my word." I pledge. I hope this does not come back to bite me in the ass.

"Then we need to plan. I am almost sure that Godric does not wish to be king so we will ask Davis." He paused for a moment before continuing. "If this is going to work we will need to get you and your brothers away from your maker. I don't want her to be able to use you as weapons against attacks. Are you sure you are ready to be free your maker? We will not spare her, she will be put to the true death."

"I have lived under her thumb for too long. She is not the girl who turned me. Sadly I think I lost her long ago. She is crazy and power hungry. She is convinced that if she consumes enough fairy blood for the Stackhouse family she will be able to walk in the sun. She is weak right now. Fintan Brigant took her fangs. Now is the time to strike before she can grow them back." I should not relish in the idea of my makers death but the girl I once loved is not there anymore. The girl who knew what it was like to be used and abused by those that were stronger than her, that girl is gone and never coming back.

Sookie's Point of View

I don't know what I expect the queen's right hand man to look like but it was defiantly not this. He looked like he was no more than fifteen or sixteen. He had a baby face, which was stuck in what appeared to be a perma-scowl. His body was lean with small muscles and he was short. I mean really short, almost as short as me. Even with his diminutive appearance he looked lethal. I was not tempted to look in his mind. I fear what I would find, but I may have to at some point. I don't know that I can trust him. He spent most of the car ride to Eric's watching Barry and me.

"What do you know about him?" I asked Barry.

"I know that he was the first childe turned by his maker. Stan told me once that he is one of the best fighters in the world. Other than that I don't know a lot. Do you think we can trust him?" He responded raising his eyebrow.

"I don't know. I will ask the guys. Change of subject but if you want to come with me to my classes tomorrow you are going to need to get some sleep. It is any early day, I have to be there by seven thirty."

"Yeah I want to see what you are so excited about. Are your professors going to mind?"

"No Mondays are lecture days, they won't notice you in the size of the classes."

"Ok then if you are sure." He smiled at me. If the lectures are boring I am sure we can entertain ourselves.

"Barry what kind of weres are these two?" I ask noticing the bear of a man staring out the window.

He laughs before explaining. "Mark the one sitting in front of you is a were-bear. He turns into this huge brown Kodiak. Scared the shit out of me the first time I saw him do it. Ellis is a true shifter but he mainly sticks to birds of prey. His favorite is a peregrine falcon."

When we got to the house Pam led King Davis, his guards and Barry off to their rooms. She put them at the other end of the house in the "good" guest quarters. I told Barry I would see him in the morning. Godric took me back to the bedroom I had been staying in before we left for Dallas.

"Little one, are you hungry? I know you ate at the hotel but I do not want you to go without eating." He asked placing our luggage by the closet.

"I am ok, Godric. I think I am going to get ready for bed. I need to be up at 6:00 to get to class on time."

"Of course I will let you get some rest." He moves to the door.

"Could you stay, at least till I fall asleep? I have gotten so used to having someone holding me. I don't know if I can fall asleep without you guys." I admit blushing.

"Then I will wait here for you." He smiled at me sitting down on the edge of the bed. I got changed as quickly as I could and laid down next to him. He pulled me into his arms and gently rubbed my back. "When you are done with your classes for the day please come back home." I smiled at that, I liked that he considered this my home too.

"I will. Do you still want to come with me tomorrow night?" I know it was silly to ask but I really was nervous to go. I know that Jason would be there but I wanted support.

"Yes I do. I am curious to meet your family." He kissed my forehead and started to hum. The song was sad but soothing. The song was not anything I recognized. I drifted off to sleep not long after.

Godric's Point of View

It made my heart leap when she asked me to stay. I love getting to hold her while she falls asleep. I plan to take Sookie to see her brother by myself. Until I know where we stand with Andre and Stan, I am not going to let her out of my sight if I can help it. I also worry what will happen with her small cousin if he does in fact possess gifts like Sookie. I would like for Sookie to be able to help him. I know how important family is to her.

"Now that the humans are asleep we need to talk." Pamela announces from the doorway.

"I am sure we do, let's go join Eric and the others." I sadly leave Sookie to her sleep. We find Stan leaned against the wall next to the door leading into Eric's office.

He nods his head as we approach. I open the door and Eric stands. "We might as well discuss this as a group. I will get strait to it. The queen of Louisiana needs to be removed. If you do not want to be a part of this, leave now." Eric explained looking at each of us.

"I am surprised you are conspiring against your own maker." Stan says looking at Andre.

"When those in power overstep their role, they must be removed." Andre answers with conviction.

"I think we can all agree to that. So how are we going to do this?" Pamela asks lounging on the sofa in front of the bookcase.

"Sophie is in a weakened state right now. Her fangs have been removed. Andre agrees that he and the Berts need to be away during the take down so she can't order them to defend her. I feel that we can draw her out if Andre claims to have found her current missing pet." Eric explains.

"I agree that could work Sophie is obsessed with locating her. However I don't know that she will want to leave the safety of her compound." Andre interjects. There is the unmistakable pop of fairy magic outside followed by a tap on the window behind.

"Northman why is there a fairy knocking on the window?" Stan asks.

"Well I imagine he would like to be a part of this discussion. This is Fintan Brigant and he is the one that defanged Sophie. I will not open the window if any of you plan to attack him. He is important to my Sookie." Again my son stared everyone down.

"I would rather thank him, than eat him." Andre gives an unusual smile.

"I won't eat the fairy but can I suggest we go outside so the smell does not linger." Stan proposes. We hasten to the garden.

"Lovely of you all to join me, I can make your planning easier. I will be taking care of that little bitch in two days' time. Figure out who will be taking over." Fintan declares.

"The obvious choice would be Stan. What do you say old friend would you like to expand your kingdom?" I question.

"I think I could handle it if you and Eric were willing to step up and help me run the state." Stan counters.

I look at my son. He knows I wanted to get out of politics. I nod my head. "We will but we stay in area 5. This is where our Sookie lives and this is where we will stay until she is done with school."

"I will agree but I will need someone to step in as sheriff of area one. Andre who would you feel could handle the job?" Stan turns his attention back to Andre.

"Rasul is more than capable of handling the area. He and I have been sharing the duty for ten years now. I no longer wish to be involved in the running of the state. My brothers and I are tired of her and we wish to live in peace."

"Well than I think Barry and I will enjoy our time here. Brigant when she is taken care of let us know." Stan looks to Fintan.

Fintan nods. "Now that we have that situation settled, who is going to protect my other granddaughter? She is safe for the moment, however she is just as much of a trouble magnet as Sookie."

"She is staying with Sookie's brother. Sookie and I were planning to visit them tomorrow evening. We can discuss her wishes then."

"I will offer her and the rest of your "human" family the formal protection of the state of Texas." Stan offered.

"That is lovely but who will be there with her. Formal protection only helps if she is with you. Are you willing to take on a part of my family you have never met?" Fintan counters.

"Then I will just have to meet her soon." Stan smirked in return.

"As much fun as this back and for is I would like to spend some time with my Sookie before the sun is up. I am retiring of the reminder of the morning." I walked at human speed back to Sookie's room. I ready myself for rest and climbed into bed next to her.