Stepping into the barren center of the room so her whereabouts and company would be as vague as possible, Pam activated her holo-com. In less than a blink of an eye Bill Compton, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, had joined them.

"What?" Pam demanded, adding "I'm busy."

"You're about to get busier. We have a problem," Bill Informed her.

"We?" Pam smirked, an expression Eric mirrored behind Bill's transparent back.

"Yes, we," Bill reiterated. "I have a mostly drained fairy on my hands…"

Eric's brow rose. Pam frowned.

"…and the vampire who did it is someone's agent," Bill continued. "I just don't know whose."

"Then how do you know he? she? is an agent and not just stupid?" Pam asked in a tone that implied she agreed with Bill but wanted more details. "And why isn't the fae dead?"

"Sam and Amalie were tracking the vampire," Bill explained. "Actually, they say they weren't sure he was a vampire until he attacked the fairy. They intervened and rescued…."

"They intervened?" Pam's frown deepened.

"Yes."

Bill paused but Pam didn't press him. Working with him all these decades had refined her abilities to read him. Pushing his buttons right now wouldn't deliver the information any faster. It might even delay it while he nursed a wounded ego. If Pam still observed the faith of her humanity she'd be asking God to give her patience and save her from sensitive people.

"It seems Amalie has inherited some of her namesake's power," Bill admitted at last.

"She's a witch?" Pam asked. Her surprise was great enough to show on her face.

"Yes, and a powerful one though she seems lacking in training," Bill affirmed.

"Of course she's lacking in training," Pam snapped. "She's barely 19 and no one else in the family has shown any more than a hint of ability since Amelia. They wouldn't know what to look for."

"True," Bill conceded the point with a single nod. "In any event she managed to knock the vampire off and shield the fairy until help arrived. The reinforcements contained the vampire while Sam got the fae and Amalie to a safe house where, I am told, Amalie proceeded to pass out cold."

"You sent the Doctor to see to them?" Pam asked although she knew the answer.

"Yes, Dr. Ludwig phoned in a report. Amalie is magickally spent and will need some time to recover. The fae is unconscious and likely to remain so for some time providing it doesn't die of blood loss. Sam contacted the Pack as well as several affiliated shifters to stand guard at the house," Bill paused to take an unnecessary breath before rushing to add: "I've stationed 4 vampires outside and sent Bubba inside, just in case."

It was a breach of protocol but Pam let it slide. As long as the fae was alive, Pam could deal with the repercussions later. After she'd dealt with the miscreant who had landed her in this delicate and dangerous situation.

"Very well, I can see you have that situation under control."

As praise went, it wasn't much. Bill seemed pleased and flattered anyway. Pam didn't let him savor the moment long.

"Tell me about the vampire and why he is a problem," she demanded.

"He's a problem because I don't know him," Bill sighed. "I've never even heard of him and he's not young."

That last was saying something. Courtesy of his continuing work on his database, Bill knew the name of virtually every vampire currently existing and many who were not. For him not to recognize the name implied someone or something was deliberately keeping the vampire hidden and not just from Bill. Pam knew that most if not all current monarchs relied on Bill and his data to guard against uprisings and settle disputes when a vampire met their final death. Of course, none of them would admit they turned to such outside help. Pam knew because they paid her well to pretend like she didn't. So if the vampire who attacked the fae wasn't in Bill's data collection…he was being actively concealed.

"Is he in a condition to speak?" Pam asked, not really caring but also not willing to rush to send someone to interrogate him if he couldn't give them any information anyway.

"Yes," Bill said with a cruel smile that might have surprised Eric had he been able to see it. "Though Cataliades has offered to assist with the inquiry and I am tempted to let him."

Now it was Pam's turn to smile. The demon lawyer had proven his worth more than once to her. In fact, she rather liked him.

"Let's not be hasty," she told Bill. "This smells of something deeper than fae intoxication. I want to see him before the demon takes his pound of flesh AND before the fae start asking questions."

"As you wish," Bill said with far more…servility than he had ever shown Eric.

Pam smirked.

"I will see you before dawn," she said ending the transmission.

Her eyes met Eric's across the room. For a long moment neither said anything.

"You have a problem," he acknowledged.

"Yes, I do," Pam admitted her smirk unwavering. "The question is: how big a problem."

"It's a very good question," he replied.

"Indeed it is. Would you like to come help me solve it?" she asked.

"Well, I can't leave it in Bill's hands," Eric scoffed. "I'm impressed he managed to keep the fae and the vampire alive."

"He's not entirely incompetent, Eric," Pam corrected him.

"He's just not entirely competent, either or you wouldn't need me," Eric observed.

Pam didn't correct him.

"We're burning darkness," she said instead. "Let's fly."