Spellbound

Chapter 72

Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. I love that you all are still reading this story and it makes me so happy. Thank you.

The story idea belongs to me but most of the amazing and wonderful characters belong to Charlaine Harris.

As he looked out at the vampires, Weres, and the were-tiger that sat and stood before them, Eric's chest swelled with pride. They are the fiercest and deadliest fighters he's ever know. They are so much more than members of his and Sookie's retinue. They are more than their Friday night friends. They are their family. They are his family. They are the ones that have always had his back and he'll forever have theirs. They are the ones that he loves more than he'll ever admit to.

When Sookie told him of what Claudette had seen in their futures, he had to admit to himself that it has more than startled him. It has him shaken him to his very core. He looked out at the smiling and loyal faces of friends and his heart melted. If the truth be known, he'd lay his life down for any of them.

"You love them," Sookie said as she gripped his hand.

"I do," he said as he looked down at her.

"And they love you," she said. "Especially Quinn. The frenemies act that the two of you play is a bit tired ... if you ask me. It has never really gone over very well with me either. You two need to let it go." She nudged him with her elbow when he smiled down at her.

Getting serious, she said, "This is going to be hard; especially hard for you. I know that and I hate that you have to go through this, my dearest love. I wish that we didn't need their help." She looked up at him with sad eyes.

Eric did a very human thing and sighed he turned in the direction of his family. He watched Luna and Amanda as they animatedly talked with each other. He watched Pam as she chastised Marco for doing something that she believes that he shouldn't have done. Maybe he was supposed to do it but he didn't do it the way she wanted him to do it. Who knows? Chow was leaning on the table drinking a Royal blood while he laughed with Selene and Clancy. Claudette and Sal were sitting with each other, whispering and giggling. Quinn stood on the sidelines and watched them.

Yes. He loves them. He loves them dearly.

Though he said nothing, he squeezed Sookie's hand as he acknowledged her comment. He'd thought of everything that he could to keep his friends safe but there were no others that he could turn to. There were no others that he can trust or depend on. There were no others that he wanted standing at his side when it came to solving the case of the missing girls.

Giving her hand a final squeeze, he said, "We need to get his meeting started. There is a lot that we need get done before the night is over. Dawn will be upon us before we know it."

"Okay," she said. "By the by, the vampires are still guarding the house but I've also sent our faery guards out to patrol the grounds. They are cloaked and hunting. If there's anyone out there, they'll find them."

Cloaking comes in handy when it comes to being covert. The faeries can't be seen and if anyone comes onto the property, they will be captured. Normally, they would be captured and tortured … sometimes killed but not tonight. Sookie had to order them not to do any of their normal things to the trespassers. They wanted to kill the one that has tried to kill their princess but they wouldn't go against her orders; no matter how much they wanted to.

Eric and Sookie stood together as they called the meeting to order. Pretty soon, everyone was seated and ready.

"As you all know," Eric began. "There are several human women that have gone missing. What we know is that they were taken at least two weeks apart. From what Sookie and I have learned so far, they were all known to associate with vampires and Amelia Broadway. Each of them hung out at The Coffin and some of them went to the local community college. They either met at The Coffin or in class from our understanding. We have a little more work to do before we find out for sure. And as you all probably know, Amelia Broadway is the daughter of the well connected businessman, Copley Carmichael."

They all acknowledged what he'd said them by nodding their heads or mumbling silent yeses.

"That was their biggest mistake," Sookie added. "If a vampire is behind this, they have put us under the spotlight and have put unwanted attention on us. Copley will stop at nothing to get his daughter back and if that means hunting down and accusing vampires of this heinous act, then that's what he'll do," she added.

"She's a Broadway," Luna said. "Was she adopted?"

"No, she wasn't. She uses her mom's maiden name. The difference in their last name is more than likely the reason that Amelia was taken," Eric concluded. "Sookie and I believe that if her last name had been the same as Carmichael's, she never would've been taken. It would've been too big of a risk."

Sookie nodded as she agreed with her husband.

Eric continued on. "Carmichael is the reason it's believed that vampires are involved. He has been on the news. He has been talking to the newspapers and magazines. He's doing everything possible to put all of the focus on the vampires."

"Another question," Luna said.

Eric gave her the go ahead to speak.

"Do you know if they're still alive? Are there any clues to what may have happened to them?" Luna asked.

Eric shook his head no. "What we do know is that two of the girls are dead for sure; Bridget and Connie. When Sookie and I went back to where Connie Babcock was taken, Sookie was able to see her death. She was able to see how she died but not who killed her."

Pam looked from Sookie to Eric and said, "A vampire did it."

"Yes," Eric answered.

"So if she's dead, it's more than likely that the others are as well," Claudette deduced. "They're not going to kill just one of them and leave the others alive. They'll have to kill them all. They can't risk being found out."

Chow looked at Claudette and asked, "What's your point?"

Claudette sighed and rolled her eyes as she shook her head at Chow's idiotic question. "Fucking vampires," she said.

Luna and Amanda laughed. Pam dropped fang on Claudette. Clancy looked pissed. Sal smiled. Quinn, still standing in the doorway, looked down at the floor as he hid his amusement at Claudette's comment. Chow, on the other hand, looked just as confused as he did when he asked the question.

"My point is that we're no longer looking for living, breathing beings. Either they're dead or they're dead." Claudette returned her focus to Eric. "We're looking for dead bodies and viable suspects, right?"

"Yes," Eric answered.

Looking at Chow, Claudette repeated her earlier statement. "Fucking vampires."

Eric glared at her as he continued speaking. "But we do have a lead. Sal," he said as he pointed to his dearest and oldest friend.

Sal stood up from his seat and looked at his allies. "Last night, Eric and I discovered that The Coffin is or was the hunting ground that was being used to find the girls but as time went on, it suddenly stopped. Franklin Mott told us that André used to send a procurer to the bar to find girls for him. He said that André had always found his girls there but in the recent months, he hasn't seen the procurer at all. He hasn't seen any of André's regulars there. "

"The college," Amanda said. "They moved on to the college."

"Precisely," Sal said as he smiled at Amanda. "Well, at least that's what we think. After our talk with Franklin Mott, Eric and I are under the impression that The Coffin may have gone dry and they decided to move the hunt to the community college."

"Makes perfect sense," Clancy said. "There, he'll find a fresh batch of girls. Some of them have more likely than not been touched by vampires. Some of them could've been innocents." Clancy began nodding his head. "Innocent blood is the best blood. Though I don't condone what he's done, the procurer is very smart."

"Too smart," Selene said. "And he has to be fucking amazing at his job to go about it without ever being caught. No telling how many girls have gone missing before now. There could possibly be girls that have gone missing that don't have family. He's probably been doing this for years, centuries even."

Sookie and Eric looked at each other from the corners of their eyes but said nothing.

"The procurer," Amanda said. "Do you have his name?"

"Yes," Sal said. "Franklin gave us whatever we requested of him. The procurer's name is William Compton."

"If I may," Pam said. "When did his procuring start … before or after André's bout of silver poisoning? I find it to be quite amazing that none of this started until after André got sick."

"It's always been going on," Sal stated. "He's always sent procurers to find girls for him. In the beginning, he would take whatever girl that he could get his hands on. He didn't need Compton for that. He could've used any vampire to find him a girl. Compton was used for a specific reason. From what we've learned, Compton is the best at what he does."

The room fell silent. Claudette, Pam and Sal are already aware of what was going on. The others did not. Sookie and Eric looked out at the loyal faces and waited.

Luna was the first one to get it. She slumped back against her chair. She and Amanda turned to face each other. Luna decided to speak up. "He was looking for a specific type of girl. He wanted someone that was unusual, didn't he?" She began shaking her head. "He didn't want just some ordinary girl. They weren't any good anymore."

"The blood," Amanda whispered.

No one uttered a word.

They all looked at Sookie and Claudette but said nothing.

Chow looked at Sookie and placed his hand to his heart. Clancy gave Eric a quick head nod. Selene had a sly smile on her face. She was going to finally get her chance to kill something or someone and she couldn't wait.

"So what do we do?" Amanda whispered.

"Clancy and Chow, you two will work with Sal at The Coffin," Eric ordered. "Call in a few vampires from our area. Tell them to be here by dusk tomorrow night. Each of you will report to Sal every night. Sal will give the orders. The Coffin is now under new management. As far as anyone knows, Franklin is going to be indisposed for awhile and has left the bar under his best vampire's control."

Clancy said, "Earlier, Sal said that you got your information from the vampire known as Franklin Mott. Will he be working with us? How are we supposed to trust him?"

Shaking his head, Eric said, "Sadly, Franklin is no longer with us. It was in his best interest that we go our separate ways."

Sookie dropped her head and giggled. She now had an explanation for Eric's bloodied jeans and shoes.

"Sookie and I will begin questioning the friends of the missing girls' tomorrow night," Eric announced.

Selene stood tall; a frown appeared on her normally cool face. "What about me? What am I supposed to do … sit around and wait? I haven't had a chance to kill anyone in a very long time and my skills are drying up. I need the practice."

Sookie laughed. "No," she said. "Your skills are in no danger and you will get your practice soon enough. You and Pam will head up the vampire security team. Eric's going to let you all know updates on what we find out during our investigation. You and Pam will then take over from there on a nightly basis."

"That sounds like a plan," Claudette announced."Now, what do we do about the attempt on Sookie's life?" Crossing her long legs, she said, "I'm not going to sit here with my thumbs up my ass and wait for the next attempt. While all of you are looking for the missing girls, I'll put a team together to find the possible assassin."

Sookie looked up at Eric before returning her attention's back to Claudette. "That's already been taken care of. Anastasia will head the fae security team. You are going to help us with searching for the missing girls. You'll be with me and Eric."

Claudette jumped up from her chair and walked to where Sookie stood. "You can't do that to me. I have to keep you safe. That's my job. That has always been my job. I'm responsible for you. I've always been responsible for you. You're mine. You've always been mine. " Looking at Eric, she said, "You know what I mean."

"I do," he replied.

Talking to Sookie, Claudette said, "This is what I've always been groomed to do and you cannot take this away from me."

"You're right, Claudette," Sookie said. "You're the best at what you do. Everyone that protects me was trained by you and you've trained them extremely well. I'm exceptionally proud of you and all that you've done but from this moment on, until the possible assassin has been captured, you are relieved of your duties."

Claudette was about to argue the many reasons why Sookie was making a mistake. She wanted to tell her that no one is capable of protecting the princess the way that she can but she didn't. She thought of the conversation that she and Sookie had earlier today. She knew why she was being told to step down. She didn't like it but she understood it.

"I have to do this, Claudette," Sookie said.

"I know," Claudette answered. "I understand."

"Anastasia will be acting as the head of the fae security team … but only for now. She will report to Pam and Selene, who will in turn report to Eric and me." Sookie took her cousin's hand into hers. "You won't be left out. I promise. You will be with me."

Compton, Claudette thought. This is all because of William Compton.

"Quinn," Sookie said.

Quinn walked over to where Sookie and Claudette stood. As he stood at Claudette's side, he looked at Sookie and said, "Yes, Mrs. Northman."

"You will keep an eye on her, won't you?" Sookie asked. "You'll keep her safe for me?"

Quinn looked at Claudette and answered, "I'll protect her with my life."

Claudette glanced at Quinn from the corner of her eye. She dropped her head and smiled. Still looking at the floor, she said, "I thank you for your offer of protection, Quinn, but I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. I have been trained proficiently in the arts of many weapons. I don't need …"

"You may be capable but you're still going to have protection," Sookie interrupted.

"Yes, your highness," Claudette said.

"Don't go near him, Claudette," Sookie warned. "I'll know if you do. Quinn's not the only one that will be watching you."

Claudette acknowledged Sookie's order by placing her hand over her heart. "You have my word."

Sookie closed her eyes and sighed with relief. She'd expected a fight, a drawn out argument but her cousin surprised her. She fell in line quickly and easily. If not for her keen sense of realization, Sookie would've believed that Claudette fell in line a little too quickly. Sookie looked at the fae and her were-tiger and smiled. They should've known that they couldn't keep their affair a secret for too long.

Indira's presence at the door interrupted Sookie's thoughts. "Master, mistress, you have two visitors here this evening. They're waiting in your office with Jonathan and Thalia." She bowed to them and walked away.

Whispering, Sookie said, "It's Sophie Ann and Heidi."

Eric nodded and called the meeting to an end. "Alright everyone," he said. "Be sure to check in with your superiors at all times. Report any and everything that you find out that is pertinent to this case. Am I understood?"

There were yeses and nods from all around. As their friends milled out of the room, they did their best not to give the vampire and the fae sad looks but they couldn't help it. They didn't want to see them separated. They know how much the lovers mean to each other. They also know what this would mean for them as a couple, as a family, and as a race.

Once they are alone, Eric looked at Sookie and asked if she was ready to meet with Heidi and Sophie Ann. "Heidi has brought her children with her in order to help her track the scent of the would be assassin. She's the best at what she does. I promise you, lover, we will find out who tried to kill you and I will have my vengeance."

Sookie looked up at Eric and smiled. "I know that you will. If you trust Heidi, so do I. The big question is what do we do about Sophie Ann? We can't trust her to be loyal. We don't truly know why she's asked for your protection." She stepped in closer to his body. "I don't trust it, Eric. I need to read her tonight."

Eric shook his head no. "After all that you've been through tonight, no. I will not allow that to happen. You will question her in time. Just give it a couple of nights. We both know that something's there other than what she's told us. We will find out what it is. Gervais is helping us and since he's a part of André's home and if he hears anything, I'm sure that he will let us know."

She sighed. "Alright," she said. "If you think that's best. I'll do my best to be civil with her but I can't make any promises. I want to be with you when you meet with her tonight. I don't want you going in there with her alone."

"I want you with me too, lover but you need to get your rest," he said. "You go to bed. I'll be fine. Thalia's and Jonathan are here. They will stay with me in the office. Thalia is centuries older than I am and she's loyal to me. If anything happens, she can more than handle it."

Sookie then frowned. "She's not staying here, is she … Sophie Ann? She's not staying in our home, is she?"

Eric laughed. "No. I wouldn't allow that. She will be under the watchful eye of Thalia."

"Good," she replied as she nodded. "That's good."

Rubbing her belly as he lightly kissed her, he said, "Now you get to bed."

She hesitated before taking a step. She wasn't sure of what to do or what she needed to do. "Are you sure? I'd love nothing more than to stay with you. I want to stand at your side, my dearest love. I'm up to it. I'm not as tired as you think I am." Just then, her body betrayed her. She yawned.

He kissed the tip of her nose as he laughed at her. "I'll be up as soon as I meet with them."

"Ok," she said. Pointing at him, she said, "Be careful and call to me if you need me. Promise?" she asked.

"I promise."

He leaned down and kissed her once more. "Don't worry over me, lover. Everything is going to be just fine."

"On second thought," Sookie said. "I'll wait up for you." She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

He chuckled as the lovers went their separate ways. As he walked to his office, he thought of how fine things really were going to be. He was going to find the person that wanted his wife dead. He was going to find the person that wanted to bring death to his unborn child. He was going to torture that person. He was going make sure that they suffered to their very last breath … if they breathed. He was going to kill anyone that had anything to do with the assassination plot.

Yes.

Everything is going to be just fine.