Spellbound

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Eric laughed his way down the long hallway. It tickled him to hear André call him an arrogant prick. The arrogant prick and his wonderfully amazing wife have proven just what type of leader André really is. Their plan worked perfectly. They'd gotten under his skin. If he's the reason those girls are missing, things aren't going to fare well for the vampire community. The publicity will be detrimental to everything that they've worked so hard for. The alliance with the faeries will be destroyed thus destroying every other alliance they've established. Who's going to trust them? If they can't keep their word with the faeries, they have nothing else going for them. They will no longer be seen as a credible part of the supernatural world. So much for André being the friend they once believed him to be.

As he strode to his car, Eric noticed the car that was suspiciously parked only a few feet from his; the car that wasn't there when he arrived earlier this evening. It wasn't much of a surprise that André was going to have him followed. He figured that it would be a possibility so he and Sookie planned for that as well. He shook his head and laughed at how predictable André had become. Silver poisoning seems to have destroyed the vampire's creativity.

"What's so funny?"

Eric spun around to see Gervais standing just a few feet away from him.

"Nothing and everything," Eric replied. He stared at Gervais for a moment. He's the head of André's security team. If anyone knows anything about what's going on around here, Gervais would. He's always been a New Orleans vampire. He believes that New Orleans is the greatest city in the world; even if there are humans scattered about.

"Come, let's have a seat in my car," Eric said. "We need to talk."

Gervais eyed him suspiciously but did as his superior told him to. Once they were seated in the car, he looked at Eric and asked, "What's up?"

Before answering, Eric looked through his rearview mirror and noticed that the follower had let down the car window in the hopes of hearing what the vampires were up to. He shook his head in disbelief before returning his attention back to Gervais.

"Do you know anything about the missing girls, about Bridget? Do you know anything about the vampires that they supposedly partied with or knew? Did any of your underlings ever mention being with Bridget or her roommate, Amelia?" Eric stared at Gervais as he waited for an answer to his many questions.

Gervais cocked an eyebrow. "No but the underlings never share that type of information with me. I don't do playful banter with them. I do know that the girls frequented The Coffin. All of them except for that one girl called Bridget; she was not a regular. She came by maybe a couple of times. The other girls made it a habit. I'd see them at least three, four times a week but not Bridget." His normally blank face was now in a frown. "She wasn't like the others. She was different. There was something about her. She was quiet. She was beautiful; not your typical beauty but beautiful just the same. I found her to be intriguing. She was different … in a good way. If it wasn't for Carla," he trailed off.

Eric rested his hands on the steering wheel and nodded. "Yeah, I've heard that about her. It's being said that she supposedly left with a couple of vampires on her last visit. Do you know anything about that? Did it look as if she was being led … was her leaving against her will?"

Gervais shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know who she left with but I know that she was there. I remember her because of her eyes. They were bright and curious. She fascinated me. Her first night there, she appeared to be mesmerized by the very sight of vampires. Her eyes were so full of life." His eyes twinkled as he remembered the girl known as Bridget. "If it wasn't for Carla," he repeated.

"Did you see who she came with?"

"Amelia," Gervais replied simply. "Amelia was a regular. She loved being with the vampires. She was …." He didn't bothering finishing his sentence. He was suddenly on edge. "Is this why you're here? Are you here because of the missing girls? André called and asked you to come here and find out what's happened here in New Orleans? I'm the head of his security team. I know this city and the vampires better than he does … better than you. You've come here to take over my job and now you're questioning me … in my city … doing my job?" He eyed Eric with contempt.

Normally, Eric would have knocked Gervais' teeth down his throat for speaking to him in such a tone but he could appreciate the vampire's anger. He is the head of André's security team. Gervais does know the city and the vampires that live here better than he does. This is his home and someone else; someone better qualified, someone stronger and smarter has come in to do the job that he is supposed to be able to do. Gervais wouldn't be able to do the job as well as Eric but he can do the job just the same. He has every right to be angry but he's directing his anger at the wrong vampire.

"I appreciate your anger but your master has requested my presence. You need to discuss your discontent with him. I'm not here to take your job," Eric affirmed. "I want to find out what I can and get out of here. I've never been partial to New Orleans. I don't like the smell. I don't like the city and I'm not particularly fond of the company. I don't want to be here anymore than you want me to be. I want to go home and relax with my wife. New Orleans is not exactly what I'd call a romantic getaway."

Gervais studied Eric for a moment before he chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Whatever I find out Eric, I'll let you know. I know that these missing girls would hurt us as a race. I will do whatever I can to clear our name," he offered. "I give you my word. I know that this was none of your doing and I apologize for my abruptness. My hasty and rude comments were uncalled for. Forgive me, Eric. I sweat that I meant no harm."

"Forget about it," he replied."Just don't let it happen again."

The smile that he gave Gervais was cold and deadly. He could see that Eric wasn't joking. He'd seen Eric behead a vampire that disrespected him at one of the summits they'd attended. He could only imagine what Eric would have done to him if he didn't need his help with the missing girls. Gervais then decided that since they are now working together, he had a few questions of his own.

"Eric, if you don't mind, may I ask you a couple of questions about Bridget?"

"You may."

Gervais turned to face Eric. "She wasn't human, was she?"

For the first time in a long time, Eric didn't know what to say. Sookie and Pam would have been pleased.

"I only ask because I knew that she was special. I could see it. I don't know about the others but her differences made her stand out. She's not like any human I've ever seen. I know that you may not answer this question but curiosity is getting the best of me. Is she your wife's kin? I only ask because she seemed to be the most important issue for you. You didn't really ask many questions about the other girls."

"And if she was?" Eric asked.

"I will keep it quiet," he said in a matter of fact tone. "I know what this means for us. We could lose everything that we've worked for. And I know what this could mean for you and Mrs. Northman."

Eric stiffened. He hoped that Gervais wasn't going to try and blackmail them. He would have to kill him and he didn't want to ruin the seats of the rental car. "I hope that you have nothing planned, Gervais. I know that you want to get home to Carla."

"I don't and I do," he said as he put his hands up in the surrender motion. He had to make Eric see the true reasoning behind his questions and his statement. "I understand your treatment of her at the summits and the meetings. You had to ignore her; be firm with her. You had to dismiss her when all you wanted to do was hold her. She would have been seen as a weakness and used against you but I knew your true feelings. It's my job to notice things, Eric. I noticed the way you watched her when she would be on the other side of the room. I noticed how you would watch her when she would be alone at a table with another vampire; a male vampire in particular. When she would have to touch them, I could see the hate seething behind your eyes. As I said before, it's my job to notice these things. I know that you love her just as much as I love my Carla. She's not a faery princess but her being human makes her vulnerable to my enemies. So I know. I understand."

"Your point," Eric replied stiffly.

Gervais wasn't insulted by Eric's short answer. As he said before, he understood it. "I will do anything within my power to keep Carla with me just as you would for your wife. I will do whatever I can to help you. The life that you and she have worked so hard for us to have will not be destroyed in vain. I don't want to go back into hiding. I don't want to be seen as the boogeyman anymore. I will help you both with whatever I can."

Eric didn't know whether to believe Gervais or not. He worked for the enemy but he has shared information with him. He shared with Eric that his human wife is his weakness but what is that supposed to mean? Did he believe that sharing that his human is his weakness makes him Eric's equal ... his friend? If so, he is sorely mistaken. He wasn't sure if he could trust Gervais; not right now, not right away. He would have to prove himself. There is no way he's going to take Gervais at his word. There was too much at risk.

"I appreciate that," Eric finally answered. "Whatever you find out will help us all."

"Agreed," he said. In order to break the ice, Gervais offered Eric an invitation to dinner. "Carla and I are having a get together soon. It would be nice if you and Mrs. Northman would join us. I'm sure Carla would love to meet her. She's never met a faery princess before. It would make her day … night rather."

Eric nodded. "I'll talk it over with Sookie and I'll get back with you."

Eric had met Carla before. She's a little ditzy but she was a ball buster of a woman. She kept Gervais on a short leash and she ruled him. Eric had seen her knock a few humans on their asses when they'd get too close to Gervais. She staked claim to him regardless of who was around and needless to say, he didn't argue. When Carla spoke to her vampire husband he listened to whatever she had to say. Carla always had the final say and her final say was law. Whatever Carla wanted, she got. Gervais was a good husband. He knew his place and he knew his role.

Gervais opened the car door. Before getting out, he said, "I'll be sure to call you with when and where we'll be dining. Please, tell your wife that I hope she enjoys our fair city while she's here."

Eric cranked the car and said, "Will do."

Gervais slammed the car door and went about his business.

As soon as Eric drove away from André's house, his cell phone rang. Pushing the button on his steering wheel in order to answer, Eric bid the caller hello in his own special way. "This is Eric."

"How'd it go?" Sal asked.

"Very well, I must say. I know for sure now that André is up to something. I wouldn't be afraid to say that he's the reason those young girls are missing. I don't trust him, Sal. I don't trust him at all." Eric paused briefly. "His color has all but returned."

"Strange," Sal muttered.

"Indeed," Eric stated. "He's behind this, Sal."

"I agree but we have to keep it quiet. There's nothing that we can do about it … not now. You know that you can't take that before the council without proof. They'll kill you for committing treason," Sal warned.

Eric began laughing. "I have no intentions of taking him before the council … none at all. I'm going to let him play into our hands." He looked through the rearview mirror and noticed the car from earlier was creeping up behind him. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the Greek Palace waiting on you," Sal answered.

Eric began laughing as the car drove closer to him.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm being followed."

Sal laughed as well. "André is quite predictable, is he not?"

"Quite. I must admit, I never thought that he'd be stupid enough to follow me so closely or so soon. André used to be somewhat the adversary back in the day. I almost pity him … almost. Death will be his just reward."

Sal laughed. "Chow and Selene have arrived. Chow is at the compound. Selene is here with us. Should I send for more back up? I'm not saying that we can't handle things on our own but we have to keep the little woman safe. That baby of yours is the new generation."

"Yes," Eric said proudly. "Yes, he is."

Sal laughed. "I figured you'd want a son. Would a daughter be such a terrible thing?"

"Yes," he answered. "Can you imagine the amount bodies that I would have to get rid of? I wouldn't do well if I were the father of a little girl. She would be the very death of me. I can't handle another woman. Sookie and Pam are more than enough. A daughter would break my very heart." A small smiled appeared on his handsome face.

Sal laughed. His laughter soon faded back to André. "What did you learn about Bridget? Did they know that she was fae?"

Eric nodded as he talked. "I believe they did. My contact said that he could tell that there was something different about her when she went to the vampire bar The Coffin. If he could see it, anyone other vampire could have seen it. So whoever took her, knew what she was. That explains the reason behind the iron being hidden in her home."

"Yes," Sal whispered. "Yes it does. We have our work cut out for us."

"We do."

"Things will bode well, my brother," Sal said. "We will prevail."

"I don't doubt it."

"Good. Where are you now?" Sal asked.

"I'm turning into the parking lot. Where are you?"

"By the fountain," he answered. "There are three cars just like yours to the left of the fountain; park in between those cars. Clancy will back out as soon as you ride past to keep the follower at bay. Once he does, we'll be ready."

"Got it," Eric said. He followed Sal's orders to the letter.

Just as Clancy backed out in front of Compton's car, Compton laid on the horn. Clancy leaned out of the window and gave Compton the finger. "This is a fucking parking lot, asshole! It's not a racetrack! Slow the fuck down!"

Compton blew the horn again. "Get out of the fucking way. You need to watch what the hell you're doing when you're backing out of a parking space, you idiot!"

Clancy gave him the finger once more and continued to argue with the irate vampire. While they argued, Eric was parked and out of his car. Within seconds, he was lying down in the back seat of Selene's Humvee.

When Clancy noticed Selene driving towards him, he pulled his car back into his parking space. Compton drove past Eric's car and noticed that he was sitting in the car and on the cell phone. He parked in the parking space in the next row and watched him. That's when he noticed that there are three cars that looked exactly like the one that Northman was driving. Compton leaned forward and stared intently at each car. They were the same make and model. Each person was talking on a cell phone and each person had blonde hair. When Compton was about to get out of his car and walk past each identical car, one of the car doors opened.

A blonde haired woman got out of the car. She was wearing a blue suit. She was laughing and talking on her cell phone. She looked in Compton's direction and winked. She even blew him a kiss. She leaned against the trunk of her car and stared at him.

The second car door opened.

A blond haired man got out of the car. He was wearing a blue suit exactly like Northman's. He, too, was laughing and talking on his cell phone. He looked in Compton's direction and winked. He leaned against the trunk of his car and stared at him.

The third car door opened.

A blond haired man got out of the car. He was putting his cell phone in his blue suit pocket. He looked in Compton's direction and he didn't wink. He didn't blow him a kiss. He began walking over to him. When he reached Compton's car, he tapped on the window and waited.

Compton rolled down the window and looked up at the man. He looked as if he was Brazil or Spain. His skin was too dark for him to be a natural blond. That's when he realized he'd been played. "Yeah," he said in a defeated tone.

"I have a message for you," Sal said.

"What is it?"

"Fuck you." Sal punched the vampire in the face several times before deciding to stop. He knew that punching Compton wasn't a part of the plan but it felt right. It felt good. "Have good night, now."

Compton didn't flinch as he wiped the blood from his mouth. He licked the blood from the back of his hand and smiled at Sal. He said nothing as he cranked his car.

Sal sauntered back to where his companions were. He looked as confident as ever but a feeling of uneasiness washed over him. He couldn't let his cohorts know it so he smiled at them; puffing his chest out with pride. Claudette and Antony were standing there waiting and watching Compton as he slowly drove away; eyeing each of them. He didn't take his eyes off of them until he was gone.

Once he was out of sight, Claudette said, "What do you think is going to happen to him when he goes back and tells André that he lost Eric?"

Sal shook his head. "If he goes back now, he'll be severely punished. I guarantee you that but that's not going to happen. He won't go back to André right away. He'll probably go to the police station and wait there. He's no fool. He doesn't give up easily." Sal took a step forward and stared out into the dark night. No matter how he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. "That one's dangerous. Yes sir," he said. "We are going to have to watch him. We're going to have to keep a close eye on him."

Claudette smiled evilly. The thought of killing something filled her with joy. "I'll watch him. I'd love to watch him."

Antony's sword appeared slowly in his hand. "I want him."

Sal laughed. "Maybe we can share him but not right now. The time isn't right. We must be careful of him. This isn't just an assignment for him. There is something more to him; a darkness in his soul, in his eyes. He's in it for the pain of it."

"I could smell it," Claudette said.

"He's dangerous and he won't stop until he gets what he wants." Sal took another step forward and said, "The battle has just begun."