Chapter 26

In the following weeks, life resumed a steady thrum of normality. Outside of work, I hadn't even seen hide or hair of a single vampire! But tonight, excitement was in the air. Instead of mystery and mayhem, it was music and revelry. New Orleans was alive. Streets in the French Quarter were closed off, street parties had been taking place all day, live music, food vendors, entertainers, art installations, and people everywhere. I had never seen it so busy, and the beatific mood was infectious. It was not every day a new vampire Queen took the throne in Louisiana!

"You look amazing," I said, and Danny flashed me a winning smile.

"This old thing?" He brushed the lapel of his brand-new tux. "It's got nothing on you."

I pulled him in for a kiss. Yes, if I could press pause on this moment, I would. Things were good. If you don't think about it too much, a little voice sing-songed in my head. My conscience sounded suspiciously like Amelia. Now that was a disturbing thought.

The events of the last month—Lydia's murder, the take over, then investigating Rosa's murder in Dallas, closely followed by what happened in Shreveport with Pam and then myself. I'd needed time to process. Easier said than done, however.

I shook it off the memories, setting aside my rumination for another day. I had to focus on the now. Life had been content and quiet the last few weeks, and I was owed that, wasn't I? I had a nice man on my arm, I was in a knock-out dress, and I had my friends with me.

Diantha stuck her head in my bedroom and rapped on the door.

"Quit sucking face. The limo is here." She disappeared from the doorway.

"Does she scare you?" Danny whispered in my ear, half joking. "She scares me. Why do all your friends scare me?"

I laughed. "She's fine."

She was a forgiving roommate, that was for sure. She'd recovered from a nasty concussion after Set-Amem had knocked her out in the shower, and she didn't gripe once about the cleaners that had to come and strip my bedroom from top to bottom to scrape it of all the blood and goop remnants that Set-Amem had left behind. The house felt like a crime scene for a little while there. I'd finagled her a ticket for the coronation as a thank you. Diantha wasn't one to miss out in a big party if she could help it.

Amelia and Hannah were downstairs. Amelia looked like she'd stepped off the red carpet of the MET gala, dressed in a fully sequined tuxedo in a shade of peacock blue. Her hair, styled in finger curls was cut in a short bob that matched the angle of her chin. Hannah on her arm cut a stunning figure in a sleek Jessica Rabbit red dress, champagne glass dangling from between her fingers.

"You look incredible!" Amelia said.

"Right back at you, bestie."

"No, no, for real," Amelia said. "You are the epitome of a blonde bombshell. Do a spin."

I laughed and dutifully turned on the spot. I'd seen what people wore for Mardi Gras parties and galas the year before, so I understood the assignment. I wore a figure-hugging bronze dress with a plunging neckline and tightly cinched waist. The hem dropped right to the floor and featured a thigh-high slit. I paired it with strappy heels and sparkly chandelier earrings. The way the dress clung to my hips and swished as a I walked made me feel like a Hollywood siren.

We piled into the limo all together. Amelia was wise to suggest booking the ride early. The closer we got to the French Quarter, the more packed the streets became. "As busy as Mardi Gras," Amelia remarked. Thalia had been clever—she'd given her coronation night a theme: Strength through Unity. Over the last week there had been community led art installations that the general public could contribute to: murals, sculptures, performance art. Thalia along with the local Shadow Run pack had also just announced via press release that they were committing a serious chunk of change to city revitilization projects and emergency preparedness programs. My grouchy vampire friend with the murderous streak was the current media darling. Was her theme a little on the nose? Yes. But was it a great PR move to start undoing the mess that the changeling had caused politically? Also yes.

We passed a group of scantily dressed women in sheer gowns made of transparent gauzy silk walking towards the action. The bell hoops of their gowns were constructed with glow sticks, each woman wearing a different color. Others revelers wore elaborate masks, some as big as they were tall. I wondered how they were able to hold their heads up. The streets were packed and traffic was snail paced.

The palace was lit up with bright red spotlights, which caused the red carpet leading to the front steps to look as dark as arterial blood. I looped my arm through Danny's and gave it a tight squeeze.

"You okay?"

"Fine." I said with a curt nod. With my free hand I reached up to finger my hummingbird necklace. The small ruby of the bird's eye felt like a roughened pinhead under my thumb.

I wasn't sure if it was wise to wear the necklace tonight. But I was off the clock and wanted to enjoy myself. We passed the crowd of photographers, who mostly ignored us (we were nobodies to them) and we proceeded along the red carpet oohing and aah-ing at the topless fire twirlers who were stationed along the length of the carpet.

"If getting tickets to events like these are the perks of working private practice maybe I need to consider a job change," Danny whispered to me, and I elbowed him in the ribs.

"Watch it, buddy," I said with a laugh.

We entered into the palace through security and then into the great ballroom where we were met with a wall of sound. I thought back to Freyda's birthday party and could've laughed at how paltry and pitiful it was compared to this. Spotlights in the corners of the ballroom lit the space in a vibrant palette of pink, orange, and purple hues. A big band with close to twenty players were set up on the stage at the far end, the jazz music energetic and spirited. A throne sat atop a raised dias to the right wreathed in all manner of exotic flowers in vivid colors.

Vampire servers dressed in some scanty approximation of tuxedos (that was more skin than suit) zipped at super speed with trays of blood and champagne and cocktails above their head.

Citrus cocktails were pressed into our hands, and we milled around, chatting between ourselves. I spotted familiar faces out in the crowd but felt more comfortable staying with my friends. It was the first time I'd attended an event like this without a vampire on my arm.

We lingered in our little group for a while until a bell tolled somewhere. The music hushed, the room darkened. The crowd turned to face the large gilded double doors at the far end of the room that were now lit by a spotlight. I grabbed Danny's hand and as a group we hustled through the crowd so we could get a better vantage. We found our place just as the doors swung open revealing Thalia.

I felt my breath catch. I didn't think I'd ever seen her dressed up, not like this. She was clad in a cascading chiton gown made of what looked to be raw silk the color of rich cream. The dress featured a deep v-neck with a large fabric panel that draped over her right shoulder and down over her arm. She could've been an Ancient Greek goddess plucked right from the halls of Mount Olympus. She walked slowly from the entrance toward the throne, her eyes dark and sharp as obsidian.

"Please tell me there's no sort of ritual sacrifice as part of this, is there?" Danny whispered in my ear.

The question annoyed me. Of course, there was no sacrifice. It made me think of how patient Bill and Eric had been with me at events like these in the past. I'd been so naive. As Danny was now. Naive and judgmental.

"No," I whispered back. "She takes an oath. There's generally not even a crown." While I'd never personally attended a coronation, I'd gone over the order with events with Thalia on the phone earlier in the week, as I had a little role to play later in the night. Vampire coronations were surprisingly perfunctory affairs, often with no physical crowning involved.

An emissary from The Ancient Pythoness enclave was in attendance for tonight's ceremony. A willowy-thin Chinese vampire, in a simple floor length linen gown, stood before the throne. Thalia came to a stop before the woman and kneeled as the emissary spoke.

"The sovereign Thalia Vatsineas is recognized by the Pythia as the rightful heir to the throne of Louisiana of Clan Amun."

She turned her attention from the crowd to Thalia. The speech was clearly intended for a vampire audience, with no microphone or PA system. I strained to hear.

"As Queen, will you abide by the doctrines set forth by Clan Amun?"

"I will."

"Do you solemnly promise to govern the state of Louisiana according to and the respecting laws and customs of vampires?"

"I do," Thalia replied.

"Will you, to the utmost of your power, maintain peace and uphold justice against acts of iniquity?"

"I solemnly swear." Thalia's accent was pronounced. She was nervous, I realized.

A crown was proffered on a pillow to the emissary. An unusual style for a crown, an intricately embossed gold circlet that drew to a pointed tip at the center, inlaid with polished black stones.

Thalia dropped her head a little, and I didn't catch the last part of her oath, and then the emissary laid the crown upon her head.

The room erupted with a cheer. I tried my very best to cheer and clap loudest of all. The music started up again and that was that, we were on the dance floor as a group, laughing, drinking and shimmying.

Danny was agog at the extravagance of it all, and for once it was nice not to be the fish out of vampire-infested water.

I saw Eric at various points and tried to catch his eye, but he seemed resolved to avoid me. Fine. Things had been strained between us ever since we drove back from New Orleans together, and I'd stupidly kissed him. I wanted to set things right. And I also wanted to have it out. I wanted to prove I did accept vampires. Just look at me! But if that's the way he was going to be, then he could stick my apology where the sun didn't shine. I snickered into my champagne glass at that, since technically any part of his body was where the sun didn't shine.

We danced until out of breath, and Danny and I made our way to the hor d'oeuvres table. We milled around chatting and eating food so fancy it was hard to exactly discern what it was.

Danny spotted the mayor of New Orleans over by the bar and brushed a kiss to my cheek, leaving to go speak with him. The King of Mississippi made a beeline for me and invited me for a dance. It wasn't the sort of pomp and circumstance dance we'd shared in the past, this was a get up and shake your tail feather kind of dance, the sort I loved and Russell Edgington seemed to as well.

"So here we find ourselves, yet again on a dance floor,"

"It seems we have," I said a little breathlessly.

"Things have worked out quite well for you," he remarked.

"I suppose you could say that." I wasn't sure what he was hinting at, but I found it was wise to agree with a vampire monarch where possible.

"You're no longer under Felipe's thumb, presumably free to live unmolested under the reign and protection of Queen Thalia."

"We'll see."

"Ah, the glass is still half empty?"

"A matter of experience rather than perspective, I'm afraid."

"O tempora! O mores!" He smiled at me in a tolerant way. Patronizing, even.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Cicero, darling." He patted my cheek. "Let me know if your formidable services are ever available for hire, Miss Stackhouse." The song ended and he danced off into the crowd leaving me somewhat mystified, but more pressingly, thirsty.

"Who's Cicero?" I asked Diantha. I found her at the bar. It was strictly synthetic blood available on tap for the vampires and an open bar for the rest of us. No donors, which was another good PR move in my books.

"I dunno," Diantha replied. "Didn't they headline Coachella this year?"

I harrumphed. Who knew what Russell was talking about? But did I even care? The answer was a big fat nope. I asked for a glass of soda, but the barman misheard me and ended up pouring me a vodka and soda. I didn't bother correcting him and wandered through the crowd in the direction which I'd seen Danny disappear.

He was standing with the District Attorney, Florinda Cross, and the mayor. He introduced me to the District Attorney. She was utterly gorgeous, stood nearly a head height above me. Her cheekbones looked like they'd been personally sculpted by Michaelangelo. Her pale hand clasped mine firmly and, as she shook it, I felt the depth of her calculating gaze on me.

"Sookie Stackhouse," she murmured. "Now why does that name ring a bell?"

"She works in the law offices of Cataliades, Lucretius and Latour," Danny said.

"No, that's not it," she said. Her head canted to the side. "You've been working recently on the murder investigation for Lydia Ryker."

This caught the mayor's attention and Danny's. Oh, crabsticks. I felt my face burn. Of course, she knew my name. The murder was in her jurisdiction, she would've been keeping tabs on the case.

"I was assisting, yes."

"Assisting the President Alpha personally, is that right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

I felt, rather than saw, the slight shift in Danny's demeanor, but his poker face was expert. I hoped this wouldn't lead to questions later.

"I'm pleased to hear that the case has been resolved," she continued.

"Yes, ma'am, as am I."

"A grisly end, I hear."

Now I was sure that not only was my face was red, but my neck was splotchy too. "One less case for your offices to prosecute, at least," I said, lifting my chin in an attempt to hold my own.

"Oh, it would've been a federal case. Not our jurisdiction."

I glanced out, hoping for a distraction, a life boat, anything to shift the conversation away from its current trajectory. Thalia stood with a group of vampires to my right and she caught my eye.

Oh, no. This was worse.

Rasul stood in the group to her right and he inclined his head to me. This was my prompt to engage with the newly crowned Queen. I'd gone over this with them both. This was the little song and dance I was to perform at tonight's events. But why did it have to be now?

"Sookie," Thalia said.

The two groups now merged into one and all attention was on me. I wanted to slink to the floor and slither away like a shadow, avoid this entire awkward exchange.

I licked my lips and forced myself to speak. "My Queen."

I dipped my head and curtsied low, deferentially. I stayed there for way longer than any regular curtsy. I felt the eyes of the vampires on me, burning into the top of my head. I was the hunk of meat and Thalia the leader of her lion pride, the one who got the claim the first bite.

"Rise," she said and rested a hand on my shoulder.

I stood and noticed all the nearby vampires were watching. And that was all it took for vampires of Louisiana and beyond to know that I was under the protection of the Queen. I was hers. Eric was now part of the onlookers, the corner of his mouth twisted in amusement. I narrowed my eyes at him, and his smirk grew.

"My Queen," I said returning my attention to before her. "This is the District Attorney Florinda Cross. I'm sure she'd love to make your acquaintance." I clasped Danny's hand. "If you'll excuse us."

I dragged Danny to the dancefloor.

"You gonna explain what that was about?"

"Yes." No. "Later." Maybe.

I threw back the rest of my drink and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter. We'd been officially dating for two months now and, somehow, I'd sidestepped most unpleasant topics with regards to my supernatural life. It was easier that way.

We danced our butts off for the next hour. Diantha was in her element, her features bright with life and excitement as she cut up the dance floor, attracting the attention and curiosity of supes and humans alike. With her electric pink hair and barely there dress she was a knock-out, with dance moves to match. Bill danced on by with a cute woman on his arm, and we waved happily to one another. I planned to save a spot on my dance card for him.

Pam joined us on the dancefloor. She looked incredible of course in an ethereal silvery-pink gown. I didn't miss the hungry looks she shot Amelia's way. Oh, brother. She was hunting for a rebound, I take it.

"Looking good, Stackhouse."

"You too, Pammy."

She flashed fang in faux anger at her hated nicknamed, and I giggled. Whoa, I needed to go easy on the booze. I'd somehow acquired another glass of champagne. Dancing was thirsty work.

"How's it going with Mr. Milquetoast?" Pam asked.

Danny was right beside me as she said this, and his brows rose in shock.

"Yes, I mean you," Pam intoned.

"I think you meant to ask, 'how's it going with Mr. Ubermensch?'" Danny shot back.

To my surprise Pam found this hilarious.

"And the answer is great," I slid my hand in Danny's. He gave it a little squeeze. I wasn't sure if great was the exact term; we hardly had time to see each other with our busy schedules, but I felt the potential there. It could be great. I just had to give it an honest-to-goodness chance.

We made our way onto the streets of the French Quarter a couple hours later, where the crowds were tightly packed, ready and waiting for the kick-off of the inaugural midnight parade. The air felt charged with excitement like the moments before a lightning strike. Rasul had really outdone himself in planning the coronation. In one event, Thalia had done more for New Orleans than Felipe had done in years.

Danny pulled me into the doorway of store front and kissed me.

"Tonight was fun." People streamed past us and somehow it made the alcove feel all the more private.

"Was fun? It's just getting started." The coronation had only been beginning of the night. The revelry was expected to go until dawn. I wasn't one to party all night, but this felt a little like being a part of history. I was determined to be here for it.

"I'm afraid I have to love you and leave you."

"Really? Already?"

He smiled ruefully. "Work tomorrow morning."

"But it's Sunday!"

I knew that. He knew that. This was the life of an overworked state prosecutor. I had noticed he'd been drinking diet-cokes most of the night but figured him for being responsible.

"I wish I could stay. And I feel like you have a lot to fill me in on when it comes to your work with vampires."

I froze under his touch and forced myself to speak. "Yes. I guess there's a bit to fill you in on."

"Well, my bed is closer than yours if you need a little help getting to sleep?"

Danny said goodbye to the other girls, and we parted with a brief kiss. I watched him disappear into the crowd. I wasn't looking forward to that conversation.

"No time for sooking, Sookie." Diantha slung her arm through mine and pulled me into the crowd. "I got us VIP access to a club that has a balcony overlooking the parade!"

Amelia regarded me in a way I could only describe as disapproving parent.

We followed the crowd toward Canal Street and Amelia grabbed me by the elbow, hard enough to pinch.

"He really likes you, Sookie." She said it as an admonishment.

"You think? I hope so."

"Then what are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"What's your end game?"

I shook her hand off. "Why are you asking me this?"

"You haven't told him about your telepathy, have you?"

I stepped around group of drunk college boys, and Amelia caught up with me on the other side. I chanced a look over my shoulder and saw Hannah and Diantha some paces behind, chatting and laughing.

"I haven't."

"But you will."

"I guess so. What's it even matter to you?"

"You guess so? You guess so? You have to tell him!"

I groaned and threw my hands up in the air. I was drunk. She was drunk. I just wanted to continue to enjoy my night.

"Fine. I'll tell him. Are you happy now?"

"No! You're acting like an idiot!"

I skidded to a halt, hands on hips. "Excuse me?"

"What's your end game?"

"What do you even mean by that?"

Amelia saw that Diantha and Hannah were catching up with us, so she took me by the elbow again and marched me forward.

"You're going to fall in love? Settle down? Move in together?"

"I don't know." I shrugged her off.

"Get married? Have his babies?"

"I don't know! We've hardly been together long enough to discuss any of that!"

"Well, what happens when he grows old and you don't?"

It was as if she'd thrown a bucket of ice water over me.

"How dare you. You bitch." I stalked off. I'd told her that some weeks ago in confidence. Told her about what had happened in Shreveport. Now here she was throwing it back in my face.

"Sookie!"

I forged on ahead and Amelia jogged to catch up, her sequined suit rustling like a percussive instrument.

"You don't know that!" I cried. "I might be normal. I might be fine!"

My throat ached with anger; a brick I couldn't swallow down.

"Who are you kidding? And why deny it? You aren't normal."

"You don't know that."

"It's not a bad thing."

"Just up ahead!" Diantha yelled over the crowd. We were walking past some old tenements that had been converted to stores. A neon green sign, bearing the club's name 'Aura', hung from an awning a little ways further down the street.

"You don't know I won't age." I said to Amelia.

She gave me a withering look. "You died, Sookie. Stabbed and deceased. And then, just like that, you were alive again, in perfect health. Ipso facto, you are immortal. As in unchanging."

I told Amelia to zip-it when the other girls caught up. Diantha told us to wait beside the considerable line while she talked to the bouncer. A few moments and an obscene cover charge later, we were admitted inside. I marched straight the bar and waved down a barmaid.

"Give me a shot," I said.

"Of what?" she asked. She was in no mood for indecisive blow-ins on the busiest night of the year.

"Something alcoholic and sweet, make it a double."

"Comin' right up."

A double shot of Sambuca later, I was up on the second floor of the club, 'the VIP area'. We'd positioned ourselves on the balcony, waiting for the parade to pass us by. Aubrey and Jonathan from work joined us, both dressed as the King and Queen of Hearts, full face make up and all, which was a hoot.

We heard the parade before we saw it. Brass jazz, loud and bawdy, and the whoops and cheers of the audience as they drew nearer rose above it all. Then the streets were filled. Marching musicians, performers, rhythmic drumming, spectacularly beautiful drag queens, Harry freaking Connick Jr. playing on a grand piano on the back of a float made to look like a love heart, salsa dancers in elaborate dresses, Native Americans on horseback in full regalia, several floats of two-natured creatures, wolves, foxes, even bears and big cats. It was a sight.

Amelia appeared next to me and handed me a fruity cocktail. A peace offering.

"Thanks," I said. She clinked hers against mine and rested her head against my shoulder. We'd made up.

"I think my necklace needs a magical top-up." Thoughts had been leaking through for the last hour of so. Particularly Amelia's apologetic thoughts right now.

"It's probably due. Stop it to my office during your lunch break on Monday."

"Look, here she comes!" Hannah said.

The crowd's cheers lifted in crescendo to a roar. The float appeared in view. It was the largest of them all, a giant boat painted gold and glittering, illuminated by its own custom lighting rig, with Thalia at the helm. She was dressed in Greek finery, gold armor, and an enormous shield and spear in each hand.

"She's Athena!" Amelia cried.

"She's gorgeous!" said Hannah.

"She's smiling!" I said, jaw flapping. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been seeing it with my very own eyes. Was this Rasul's doing? How? Gymnastic hand maidens danced and cartwheeled alongside the float while a crew of drummers and percussion players kept up a steady thrumming beat.

"Look." Diantha pointed into the crowd of costumed revelers following Thalia's float. "There's Eric."

Sure enough, there he was, dressed as a court jester—a topless court jester, mind you—with red and black floaty pants, his long hair covered with an enormous matching cap and bells hat. He was smiling broadly to the crowd lining the streets as women in a variety of outrageous costumes danced around him. Eric waved and twirled his jester's stick to the crowd.

I laughed. Of course he'd chosen to dress as the court fool. How far he'd come, from trophy consort of a snooty baby Queen to the right-hand man of the most powerful badass vampire Queen in all America. I felt a rush of pride. A woman dressed as a peacock danced around him. He said something to her, to which she laughed, and then he pulled her to him and dipped her for a showstopping kiss. The crowd whistled and hooted.

My stomach twisted like a fish on a dry dock.

I watched the float pass, smile frozen. The girls, Hannah, Amelia and Diantha, began pointing and discussing another spectacular float they could see approach. The raucous sounds around me disappeared and my awareness faded. I set my drink down with a clunk on the balcony railing and gripped the cold metal.

Thoughts and emotions sucked in a vacuum deep inside my chest, like bath water down the drain, all converging to a singular point. Clarity. Stupid damned clarity. Lord help me. I'd tried to hide it, tried to stuff it away into the deepest recesses of my awareness. It was hopeless, and it was no good.

I still had feelings for Eric Northman.

I leaned forward and rested my forehead against the cool metal railing. I was transported in time to Oklahoma. To Freyda's palace. To the night of her birthday party where I'd stood in a similar position on a patio in her palace. To the conversation Eric and I shared there. To the conversation we had in the car after coming home from Shreveport some weeks ago where he'd very explicitly renounced all romantic feelings for me.

I groaned. A loud beleaguered, angry, frustrated noise. Why? Why was my heart such an idiot? Why did I have to continually have to make things so difficult for myself? Why? Why couldn't I just move on already? How could I move on?

"You're not going to barf, are you?" It was Diantha.

"No." I straightened, my vision swirling.

Amelia was smiling at me, a soft understanding smile.

"I have to break up with Danny, don't I?" I said, the words slow to form. She nodded and wrapped a consoling arm around me.