"How much did that suit set you back?" Sookie asked, earning an eye roll from Jason.
"A lot, but can't complain. Fits like a glove." He adjusted the cuff links.
"That's Savile Row for you." Sookie straightened out his tie. The deep purple silk tie contrasted beautifully against the black suit. "How are the new designs coming along?"
"I've got a few prototypes. I was hoping to give them to your boo…" He giggled, using Lafayette's term for Eric. "He can test them out for me."
"That is really a good idea. I'm sure misbehaving subjects are not hard to come by in his position."
"I should book you a spot at Rhodes. It's not for a while yet, but it will be good for business." Since she'd be ensuring no bombs made it into the hotel. The mess the Queen of Chicago found herself in due to her son was rather apt. She'd taken the job because it allowed her team to be there without anyone questioning their movements. She now had a spy in the Fellowship, and thanks to Luna getting back in touch with a friend. They now had a friend in the Rhodes Police Force.
"Rhodes?" Jason asked.
"Yes, a vampire summit."
Jason's eyes lit up. "I can get a lot of orders." He cheered.
"Precisely." Sookie smiled. "When it gets closer to the date, we will go over a few things in detail."
"Sounds good." Sookie still found it perplexing how he never questioned her. In truth, no one did.
"Look at you two in your Sunday best." Adele praised. "Is that a new car?" She gave Sookie's BMW M5 the once over. It was in her usual color of purple, with black specks when the sun hit it at certain angles.
"Yes, it was a gift from the Queen of Chicago for getting her son out of trouble." What the idiot was doing forcibly bonding to a human and kidnapping said human was anyone's guess.
Adele chuckled. "No wonder the town folk are hounding Andy to ask you for your help. Why Bud isn't getting hounded is beyond me."
"We all love Bud. He's fair and very good at his job. Andy, on the other hand, the less said, the better. Even if he did ask, there is not much I can do. It's not as though I can help him arrest a maenad." Sookie mumbled, getting into the car. "Worse, it's been two months after the fact. There's not much I can do about it. What did Tara and Eggs say?" It didn't surprise Adele or Jason Sookie, who knew the ins and outs of the murders even though she wasn't there. In fact, she'd been in Alaska with Eric; they'd experienced forty-eight hours of complete darkness. It was about much as either could take. Even without the sunlight, Eric still felt lethargic, and Sookie felt her Fairy light diminish somewhat. Despite that, they'd still enjoyed their time in Utqiagvik. The town had exploited the phenomenon and opened a luxury camping site. Vampires did not have to worry about light-tight rooms. It was also bitterly cold, so they made use of the whether-proof cabins, which were incredibly warm and just encouraged lovemaking with their large animal skins in front of fireplaces.
"No, both seemed to be catatonic, and then Tara disappeared. Eggs claimed he was out cold and didn't see anything." Jason whispered. Sookie, unfortunately, knew exactly were Tara was, and she had to talk to Eric about it. She will help even if Tara seems to have pulled away from them since Sookie chose to go to LSU. In all fairness, the fault also lay with her.
Arriving early meant they could park in the walkway leading to the church doors. Sookie parked her car right behind Hoyt's truck. Sookie's belief in God was often tested in her line of work; just being a part of the super community did that already. It was a constant struggle, but at the same time, it strengthened her belief that there was a higher power in the world. It was such a power that had changed the course of her life drastically and for the better. Yet coming to church was not something she liked doing because it was merely a location for gossip and information gathering. Really, if she looked at it that way, she didn't mind being there. Her life took her away from Bon Temps, and this time around, she didn't know many of the people she knew so well in her nightmares. She didn't know Sam Merlotte, she didn't know Shirley Hennessey enough to call him Catfish. She'd never encountered the Rattrays; she knew they died attempting to drain the wrong vampire. Thanks to a little heads-up call from her to Fangtasia while in London.
The eyes that turned her way the second they entered the church had her dropping her shields. Gone are the days she allowed herself to walk blindly into situations. Gran was right, Andy was getting hounded to solve the murders. This was an unexpected development. No one had cared that much in her nightmares. Something had changed this time, Lafayette hadn't died, there'd been no murder to reveal, and Callisto didn't have to punish anyone, or did she. Since Andy hadn't been accused of murder, he hadn't been present to know an emissary of Dionysus was responsible for the carnage.
"No one thinks you did anything," Sookie whispered with an eye roll. Jason was worried, and I should add you were in Merlotte's with Hoyt. "Go and have a chat with Hoyt." Jason looked up to see Andy headed their way and promptly bolted.
"Sookie… Miss Stackhouse." It took everything in her not to start laughing. He looked so pained to be showing her a modicum of respect.
"Let me save you the trouble of making a complete idiot out of yourself. I was in Alaska at the time of the murders. Jason was at Merlotte's having a few drinks with Hoyt and Catfish. If so much as hint to anyone that Jason or I had something to do with that fuckery, I will sue you so hard, not even selling that crumbling mess you call home will save you. I appreciate you have a job to do, but trying desperately to pin the murders on my brother or me isn't the way. I'm having lunch with the governor and his wife this afternoon just because I can, don't piss me off Bellefleur." Sookie looked over his shoulder at the approaching Portia. She didn't wait around to hear whatever Portia had to say in her brother's defence. Portia has made her dislike for Sookie clear, but at the same time, were things different, she would be the one there when Sookie is shot. Another fucking mess she is not allowed to touch.
Sookie couldn't tell you what was said the entire service as they made their way to the car. "Did Andy ask for your help?" Gran asked.
"No, he was hoping for anything to muddy my and Jason's name. In hopes that people would stop hounding him about asking me for help. The funny thing is, none of them really know what I do, just that I solve problems for rich folk." Adele's sigh said it all.
"I gave him a piece of my mind and stormed off," Sookie muttered.
"He and his sister have never liked you two, and I don't understand it," Adele whispered.
"Made worse by the fact that we now have money while they are struggling." Jason had hit the nail on the head. This time, there was no Bill Compton to bail them out.
Niall and Claudine showing up with this many vampires in gran's backyard surprised Sookie. "The strength of my blood and bond to you will greatly strengthen your spell. "Yes, it will." Lafayette quickly interjected. "Actually, Jason, you as well; the more blood bonds we have here, the better." He added.
Thank you, grandfather, that is greatly appreciated." Sookie moved to hug him.
"Okay then, let's get this show on the road," Jesus murmured. "Charms in the bowl. There were mostly rings and ankle bracelets, as wrist bracelets were easily broken on vampires and Weres. Eric and Sookie went for a ring, one Eric had surprised her with. Effectively, in the human world, they were engaged, but neither had called it that. She'd peeked into his head for once and found he thought the same. Holly, her coven, and a few others had joined to strengthen the chant.
"Okay, vampires, hold your breath. We are about to cut a Fairy," Lafayette quipped. Claudine stood behind Niall, ready to blast anyone who moved toward her grandfather. In all honesty, so was Sookie.
The bloodletting went off without a hitch. Sookie, Eric, Pam, and Jason's blood were added to Niall's, then poured over a large bowl of herbs and God knows what else. The energy it produced was not something anyone missed. "Oh, that is strong," Holly whispered happily.
The charms were thrown into the concoction and left to marinade.
Niall's scent was the strongest on the charms, and the vampires couldn't stop sniffing them. "Put the damn things on and do not take them off, even after Hallow is dealt with," Eric growled.
Niall found the entire thing amusing. "Now, if these witches are as good as you claim, they will recognize this." They put a broach on Sookie and Jason, it was the same symbol as the one on his chain. It identified them as members of the royal house of the sky Fairies.
"Shiny." Sookie teased, but she was extremely grateful for it. Eric could smell the fact that the broach was also heavily spelled. With a final hug, Niall and Claudine departed with a pop. Sookie felt a great deal of gratitude that Niall had not frozen Jason out despite a lack of a spark. It helped that Dermot was doing well, thanks to Sookie. She suspected Jason's ability when it came to fabrication played a part; he was almost supernatural in his ability. She also suspected that Cluviel Dor played a part. Adele had wanted the best for her grandchildren, and it looked like it.
She also hadn't missed the way Niall kept staring at Holly.
"Okay, here you go." Jesus handed the vampire small vials with the concoction in. "Dig deep holes by your homes and pour the blood into the soul and bury it." The smell alone will give any witch pause; the energy it puts off will have them walking away."
"I live in an apartment with no backyard. Where should I bury this." Eric noted the Russian accent and realized it was the raven on Sookie's team. He was exceptionally good-looking, and reminded Eric of himself. Tall, blonde, with a perfect square jaw, dimples when he smiled, and he clearly worked out.
"Bury it in the garden outside your building. You don't want them entering the apartment building in the first place." Sookie advised.
"Unfortunately, we know this bitch won't give up easy." Lafayette groaned.
"Do you have any left for the super businesses in the area?" Eric asked.
"Yep, we had them in mind," Jesus said.
"I do not want to get involved with the Longtooth pack, but if you could give them a heads up, it would be good. After all, Hallow's coven are all weres. It would be in their best interest to stir clear of them." Sookie advised.
"I will call Flood and inform him." Eric volunteered.
"Okay, we done," Lafayette informed everyone.
"You are very. The definition of forewarned is forearmed." Pam's expression was one of gratitude.
"Doing nothing would have been a level of stupidity I doubt even I'm capable of," Sookie muttered.
"You have our gratitude," Chow said. He more than most should, considering his fate. Lucky for him, the use of black magic means he and the others who died are good.
"I could have told you that," Eric murmured.
"Anyone that practices the act of black magic is wilfully condemning their souls. They do it for immediate gratification, they could care less about tomorrow."
"That is… actually, I have no idea what to say to that," Sookie admitted with a yawn. She'd had three hours of sleep the night before. She stayed with Eric for most of the night. They'd completed their second bond. They hadn't meant to; it happened in the heat of the moment. Then, driven home to shower and change, then to Bon Temps to pick up gran and Jason for church.
"I'll let you get some sleep." Eric planted a soft kiss on her.
"I will be at the apartment tomorrow night with Jason; bring Pam."
"Sure." He muttered with a shrug before going out the window.