I don't know why I was surprised that the Queen had a conference room in the palace, but I was.
It was already set up when I arrived, with several heads of state seated around the long table. A pitcher of warm blood sat in the centre, and eight glasses were gathered beside it. Rasul gestured toward a seat toward the head of the table, beside Mr. C. It was with a sense of resignation that I sat down.
I looked around the room trying to figure out which states were here. I knew Isabel was here for Texas, Russell for Mississippi and Freyda for Oklahoma. I recognised Alabama and Kentucky from Rhodes. Tennessee I recognised from his photo on the guest list. There was another vampire I couldn't place. He was a burly, lumberjack-looking man with a dark brown beard and a tumble of curly hair. I'd bet my hat on him being Karl Müller, King of Missouri. There'd been no photo accompanying his name. Outside, the party carried on, the other guests oblivious to the unexpected turn of events.
To my right were three empty seats, which I suspected were set aside for the Queen, Andre, and Eric. I hadn't seen a one of them since they'd disappeared down a bland corridor an hour before. I expected few humans had ventured down that corridor and lived to tell the tale.
I looked up as the door opened. Eric's eyes were bright. The bond tingled, alive with a mixture of excitement and bloodlust.
His eyes fell to the empty seats beside me, clearly intended for Andre and the Queen as they headed the table. His mouth hardened and he sat in the third seat, the one across from me. I looked away before he could catch my eye.
The door opened once more, and with it the smell of vampire blood, sweet and cloying, filled the air. The sound of eight pairs of fangs descending ricocheted around the room.
Sophie-Anne was wiping her hands on a linen napkin as she entered, the thick blood on her hands turning the cloth a deep crimson. Andre followed, rolling a swivel chair which he positioned beside the table at the front of the room, and upon which sat the source of the scent.
Jonathan was bound to the chair in silver chains. His face and dinner shirt were bloodied. He was completely still, except for his bloodshot eyes, which darted around the room. I noticed his bow-tie, which I'd so recently admired, had been reduced to a black shred of fabric dangling from his neck.
I was reminded of an incident from my childhood, when I'd found my father crouched over a rat caught in a glue trap. The rat had been eerily silent, its twitching whiskers the only indication it was even aware of its fate.
The Queen sat beside me, tossing the bloodied cloth onto the table as she did so. She poured herself a glass of blood before breaking the unnerving silence.
"If any of you claim him, do so now."
The vampires around the table were motionless. The only sound was the faint sizzle of the chains against Jonathan's skin.
Sophie-Anne examined her polished nails as she waited. From where I sat beside her, I could see blood had soaked into the cracks of her nail beds. She brushed absently at one of her nails before looking expectantly around the room.
When no-one moved, she finally spoke. "We've had an unexpected guest this evening, our Sookie here alerted us to his presence." She turned to me and waited.
I guess that was my cue.
"This vampire approached me when I was outside," I said, looking around at the vampires present. "He knew details about tonight's event and who was present. He said his name was Jonathan and that he's from Alaska. When I asked who he was attending the ceremony with, he said he was here as a guest of Oklahoma." I focused on keeping my voice clinical, aware every set of eyes in the room was fixed on me. "I believe he tried to glamour me. Then, Eric arrived and he tried to run."
There was a stunned silence.
Freyda was the first to speak. "He tried to glamour you?"
I nodded. "That's right ma'am, I can't be glamoured."
"It is true," Eric confirmed. "After I restrained him we made him available to the Queen for questioning."
"Unfortunately, he has proven quite resistant to our methods," Sophie-Anne said coolly. "Bill Compton is in the process of finding him in the database as we speak, but we know enough to be certain he is not from Alaska. And I expect that you deny any affiliation?" She directed the last question at Freyda.
"I've never seen him before," Freyda said, her face pinched.
Sophie-Anne hummed in confirmation, and she sat back in her chair. "I thought as much. He appears to be alone, and he does not carry any weapons. We suspect he is scouting the South."
There was a beat of silence as the statement hung in there.
"He may be scouting Louisiana," Isabel said. "But there is no evidence he is scouting any other kingdoms."
"Of course he is scouting other states," Sophie-Anne derided. "Louisiana may be of particular interest at the moment, but there is no reason an interested party would not be inspecting nearby states as well. The South is vulnerable. We all suffered losses to our ranks at the summit. Some of our number are unable to be present today, as they recover."
Isabel's face hardened at the reference to Stan.
"Mississippi and Louisiana are both recovering from a natural disaster that has surpassed any in recent memory," Sophie-Anne continued, looking toward Russell who bowed his head in polite acknowledgement. "But do not take my word for it, ask your sheriffs whether any new vampires have been in your areas, in your kingdoms, asking questions. I expect that whoever sent our Jonathan has been watching the South for months."
The vampires looked uncomfortable around the table. If their areas were anything like Area 5, then they regularly hosted vampires from other areas.
"Visiting vampires aren't proof of anything." Kentucky said. "Perhaps, you'll let one of us question him? Maybe our endeavours will prove more fruitful."
"By all means," Sophie-Anne spread her hands, but her next words were cut off by a curious gurgling noise.
Jonathan had lunged against his restraints, causing the silver chain to sear deeper into his skin. The sickening sound, I realised, was coming from him. It was the sound of thick blood bubbling in the back of his throat, as he hissed at Kentucky's threat. The gaping entrance of his mouth revealed a writhing, bloody stump protruding from the back of his throat.
I felt the bond strengthen, fortifying me. I glanced at Eric. He was sitting across the table, his leg crossed at the knee, a look of disinterest on his face as he surveyed the room.
"You cut out his tongue?" Kentucky's accusation pulled my attention back to the situation at hand.
"He is responsible for that himself," the Queen said lightly, ignoring Jonathan's display. "A shame, really. It is rare to find loyalty in one so young."
"He has been punished for his insolence," Andre dropped something onto the conference table. A pair of fangs. The roots of the fangs extended out further than I'd expected, glistening with blood and tissue.
The Queen was watching those around the table, her finger stroking her lip thoughtfully. I wasn't sure whether they believed her. Heck, I wasn't sure whether I believed her, but there would be no way to prove she was lying.
Tenessee seemed to come to the same conclusion. "So, what exactly do you want us to do about this?"
"Normally, the threat of a war would excite me, but as a newlywed, I wish to find other ways to amuse myself." Sophie-Anne gave a coquettish smile in Andre's direction. "So, I have decided to sell Arkansas."
Outrage fluttered across the table. My eyes flitted to Jonathan. He'd stopped straining against his chains.
"To whom?" Freyda asked.
"The highest bidder, of course," Queen Sophie-Anne said blithely. She was playing into the role of the teenager that she appeared to be, more concerned with matters of the heart than matters of the state.
"Come now Sophie, let's not be rash," Russell purred. "Arkansas is a fine state, and with it you hold a healthy sum of the South."
"And yet to me it only serves as a reminder of my late husband's betrayal." A hint of a pout marred the Queen's beautiful face. "And if a vampire is intent on acquiring a state in the South, I see no reason why I shouldn't offer up Arkansas."
"If this so-called vampire does have their sights set on the South, they will not be satisfied with Arkansas," Oklahoma spat. She was clearly young for a queen, and her state bordered Arkansas. She'd be just as likely to be targeted as Louisiana.
"Freyda is right, it will be a matter of time before Arkansas is used as a base for their next takeover," Kentucky chimed in.
"I would offer the first preference to you, my neighbours and allies, of course." The Queen continued serenely, their objections falling on deaf ears.
Russell had quietened and looked thoughtful. "What is your asking price, my dear?"
"Fifteen."
Oklahoma's face pinched. "It is not worth half that."
"Whoever purchases it can make that back in under three decades with the right investments," Andre said.
"It has no population."
"A blank slate," Sophie-Anne proffered.
"We still have no proof of any of this. This vampire could be one of yours. He has no tongue to tell us otherwise. I expect this is all a ruse to encourage a bidding war on your paltry state," Alabama said.
As they talked I stared at Jonathan, trying to grasp at a thought that evaded me. His eyes had turned upwards, fixed on the chandelier that hung over the conference table. If he was listening, he didn't react.
"Do you still have the newspaper article?" I asked the Queen. The vampires fell silent, looking in my direction. I wasn't sure if I'd talked over someone, or my question had just garnered their attention because it was so completely unexpected. "The one about Katrina?"
Sophie-Anne arched an eyebrow, but Mr. Cataliades leaned forward and grabbed the briefcase from beside his chair, rummaging through it before handing me the newspaper article, its creases still showing from where I'd folded it to fit it in my purse the day before.
I smoothed it out, conscious of the torn edge and folds, and scanned it, quickly finding what I was looking for.
"Here," I pointed to the paragraph that listed the vampires around the country that had donated to the Katrina fund. "Are any of these vampires kings or queens?" Sophie-Anne took the article from me, scanning the list, her lips flattening. I was starting to doubt my theory. "Or even someone ambitious enough to go for it?"
The Queen glanced at Andre, who left the room. I shifted uncomfortably, wondering whether I'd taken us on a wild goose chase. Sophie-Anne passed the article to Eric who glanced over it, a detached expression on his face.
Finally, Andre appeared at the door followed by Bill. A laptop was open, balanced in his hands. Bill perched on a chair at the edge of the room, his eyes flickering to me in a movement so brief I doubted anyone else had noticed. Except maybe Eric. After a second of reading the article he started typing furiously. I looked around the room, curious of what the other vampires were making of this.
They were waiting quietly for Bill. Their eyes fixed on him. All sets but one. Freyda's eyes were fixed on me. I held her gaze. Finally, she looked away toward Bill. It only took a few minutes for Bill to cross-check the vampire donors and their residents.
"Huang Kasemchai, or Jonathan as he is known in the Americas, is a vampire from the court of Nevada."
Jonathan had been very still for the last few minutes, but at the mention of his Thai name he perceptibly stiffened.
"Nevada," Sophie-Anne looked at me, "the kingdom ruled by Felipe de Castro, who as it happens, donated generously to the Katrina relief fund."
Bill had still been typing as she spoke and he cleared his throat now, causing the room to turn back to him. "An internet search of de Castro reveals he has donated to several funds in recent years. Hurricane Dennis and Rita, as well as Ivan. Also the Evansville tornado. This is only the natural disasters, there may be more. I would need some more time to pull a comprehensive list together."
The vampires in the room fell increasingly silent as each disaster was named. Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas. I mentally rattled off the list of states I knew had been hit by the natural disasters. Whether his donations were designed to drum up press, or to build local connections was anyone's guess, but he clearly had his eye on the South.
"Please print off copies of Felipe and Jonathan's profiles, along with the research you've compiled."
Bill gave an awkward bow as he departed the room.
"This is preposterous," Missouri grumbled. "You have spent weeks assuring us that this event was secure. You have boasted of your security after Rhodes. And you expect us to believe that a scout managed to infiltrate your home? All we have is a vampire who cannot speak for himself and a print out from your own database, along with some articles your underling claims to have found. You could have doctored these things yourself. How do we know that this is not a ploy to sell the state and push the price up?"
I frowned, staring at Jonathan. I still couldn't figure out how he would have gotten in. I'd seen the security first-hand. His bloodshot eyes had returned to the chandelier above, as he fixedly ignored the conversation going on around him.
"Did anyone ask Bubba?" I asked a room full of blank stares. "He wasn't on the guest list. How did he get in?"
"Good idea, Sookie." Sophie-Anne said lightly. She looked pointedly at Eric. "Return Jonathan to the holding room on your way, we would not want his presence to scare Bubba."
I watched as Eric rose, and manoeuvred Jonathan's swivel chair out of the room. I wondered what would happen to the Nevada vampire, but I couldn't find it in me to feel too sorry for him.
Eric and Bubba appeared a minute later. There was a small gasp from Freyda as she recognised the latter.
Bubba stood at the front of the room, shifting on his feet. An uncharacteristic move for a vampire. Eric stood behind him, although whether it was in solidarity with the vampire or to prevent his escape, I couldn't tell.
Sophie-Anne looked at me and gestured vaguely, suggesting I should go ahead. I was doing a crappy job of flying under the radar tonight. I tried not to let my dismay show, focusing instead on the task at hand.
"Bubba," I asked, "how did you get inside the palace tonight?"
Bubba relaxed slightly when his attention turned to me and I felt a rush of fondness for the vampire. "Through the front gate, Miss Sookie."
That killed my first theory. Bubba had a knack for getting into places, I thought perhaps he'd discovered a hole in the security.
"You weren't on the guest list."
"I told them it was a surprise and they let me right in."
I had a burst of inspiration. "Were you alone Bubba?"
"I was with my friend."
Sophie-Anne shifted beside me, but I kept my eyes fixed on Bubba.
"Do you mean Jonathan? I met him earlier tonight." I beamed at Bubba and he gave me a tentative smile in return. "How did y'all meet?"
His smile faltered, and he looked uncertain. "I'm not meant to say."
"That's alright, I love secrets." The vampire relaxed, and I felt a pang of remorse. Bubba's reasoning was always a bit child-like; I couldn't help but feel I was taking advantage of that.
"He told me about Miss Sophie and Mr. Andre getting married, and offered to travel with me. Said he was coming this way already."
"So you two have been travelling together for a spell?"
"Yes'm, we had ourselves a road trip. That's what Jonathan called it."
"That sounds real fun, Bubba. Where'd you go?"
"Albuquerque, Amarillo, Dallas," Bubba counted on his fingers.
"Wow Bubba, you're a real traveler huh?" I grinned. "You two going anywhere else?"
"No ma'am. I told Jonathan I want to stay in Louisiana."
"What about Jonathan, Bubba? Will he keep travelling?" Eric's voice was light.
"Well, I don't know about that," Bubba's eyes darted around the room. "He never said."
The vampires stirred around the room, their rising displeasure apparent. I was thinking furiously of how we could find out more information, there must be a way.
"Thank you Bubba, you may return to the party," Sophie-Anne's voice was light, but I had the sinking feeling I'd dragged Bubba into something he couldn't get out of.
The room erupted as soon as the door closed behind him. Insults were hurled at the mentally challenged vampire, as well as Louisiana's security. The only vampires that didn't move at all were Sophie-Anne, Eric and Russell.
"Enough," Sophie-Anne said, but if the others heard her then they ignored it.
"Enough!" Eric roared. The room silenced at once. When he spoke again his voice was business-like. "What Bubba lacks in sense he makes up for in loyalty. He would not knowingly lie to us. It is apparent Nevada is surveying states beyond Louisiana. Speak now if you disagree."
The room was silent.
"Then it is simply a matter of how we fortify ourselves."
The vampires broke into discussions, their conversations overlapping and intersecting in a way that was impossible to decipher for my human ears. If I didn't leave now, I had a feeling I'd be stuck here all night.
"Your majesty, could I be excused?"
The Queen glanced at me, waving a hand carelessly in my direction. I decided to take it as a yes, and scurried out, carefully avoiding Eric's gaze. I wasn't ready to deal with him just yet. I made my way back to the party, eager not to be alone again, lest another strange vampire approach.
In the ballroom, the revelry was in full swing, the guests unaware of the machinations occurring in the palace. Although, I noticed a few grouchy looking donors who seemed to think there was an orgy they were missing out on. I made my way over to Bubba, who was sitting alone at a cocktail table near the stage. He didn't say anything as I walked over, instead looking uncharacteristically sombre.
"You okay, Bubba?"
"Am I gonna get in trouble, Miss Sookie?" My heart broke for him. Poor Bubba, he just didn't have an ounce of guile in him.
"I hope not," I said. "But if you want, I have an idea for how you might be able to help."
It took less than two hours for Rasul, Bubba and I to find Jonathan's car. Bubba had been dropped off in the city earlier that night and told to meet Jonathan at the palace, so he hadn't known where it was parked, but he gave a good description of it. We'd combed the streets for a white Hyundai Sonata. I'd kept my shields down in case any humans nearby had seen anything, but it was no use. Finally, we'd found it a handful of blocks back from the palace.
It was locked, but since Jonathan hadn't had any keys on him I was sure they'd be around somewhere. Rasul was the one to find them, tucked underneath the car. The car didn't hold a lot, but it did have a road map of the South. Bubba was the one to pull out Jonathan's notebook from underneath the driver's seat.
It had a few pages of notes, all scrawled in a foreign script full of curves and curls. Thai, I expected. As we made our way back to the palace, I asked Rasul if he would leave out my involvement in this excursion. Rasul gave me a long look before agreeing he'd keep the report to his and Bubba's involvement. I gave a tired nod, too exhausted to thank him. Bubba nodded to security as we passed through the front gate, and with my shields down I had a clear flash of insight. The final pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
Rasul left for the conference room to report on what we'd discovered. Bubba and I returned to the main party room. I squeezed Bubba's arm, in what I hoped was a reassuring way and excused myself to use the ladies' room. When I returned I found a chair in a corner where I could be alone.
It felt like an age since I'd been talking to Isabel out here, or even dancing with Russell. I lazily scanned the human minds in the room a few times to make sure no-one else had ulterior motives, but they were harmless. I kept the bond open, checking in on Eric, but all I could feel was the steady hum of his presence.
A heaviness settled in the pit of my stomach as I thought through the events of that night. On the one hand, I was sure Eric and I had done everything we could to ensure Louisiana stayed in Sophie-Anne's hands. On the other, I had failed dismally at flying under the radar. In fact, I had the sickening feeling that the Queen had never valued me more.
I was at a crossroads. Up until now I'd stuck my head in the sand when it came to vampires, but if I kept it up then I'd end up on a path I couldn't live with—if I was alive at all.
The band was on their last song when Russell Edgington crossed the room, his husband in tow. I darted after them as they left the main room.
"Excuse me, Mr. Edgington," I called out. He stopped and turned. "Could I have a word?"
He shared a look with Bartlete who continued walking without him.
When his husband had rounded the corner he turned to me. "What can I do for you Miss Stackhouse?"
"Did you mean it? About Mississippi?"
He gave me a steady look. "Let's go somewhere more private, pet."
He directed me into a dimly lit room with a large bed in the centre. A room for donors and vampires who wanted some alone time, I realised with distaste. Russell's words brought me back to my purpose.
"I always mean what I say, Miss Stackhouse."
I waited.
He spread his hands. "My offer is simple. A job. Security. Money. Freedom. We would negotiate the terms, of course, but I think you'd find me to be quite receptive to your wants. It's not every day you get the chance to acquire a telepath, after all."
"What about the bond? Wouldn't that be a problem?"
"Bond shmond." He waved it away as though it was a trifling thing. "We can get rid of that pesky thing."
"But blood bonds are permanent, until one of the members dies."
"Is that what they told you?" He looked amused. "Well, I suppose they might think that. Blood bonds are rare these days. When I was younger they were commonplace. They were made and broken like promises. Of course, not just anyone can break a blood bond. It's all about who you know."
He eyed me thoughtfully. "If what you want is to be free of the bond, to be with your tiger, perhaps," he raised his eyebrows, "I can help with that."
I swallowed. He had offered something I hadn't anticipated. To be free from the bond. Truly free. Jackson was only a few hours drive from Bon Temps, of course that wouldn't matter if I couldn't visit home.
"And Louisiana? Wouldn't you go to war?"
Russell cackled. "With me? No, Sophie-Anne respects her elders far too much for that. Even the Northman I dare say would have to admit defeat. There'd be the compensation for your breach of contract, of course, but I would cover that. We could make some arrangements for you to travel home, visit your family and friends."
"I'm not saying yes," I clarified. "I just want to know all my options."
"Of course, Miss Stackhouse." He produced a cream-coloured business card from his pocket, adorned in an elaborate script. "Think it over, I'm in no rush."
I returned to the main room to find the band were packing up their instruments. I ordered a gin and tonic from the bar. Then I sat, and drank, and thought.
It was creeping toward dawn by the time Eric appeared, his tuxedo jacket draped over his arm. I rose, and followed him out the door.
It had been a hell of an evening, but for once, I realised, no-one had been shot at, or beheaded or killed. I hadn't had my dress ruined, or flashed anyone. And honestly, for a vampire event that felt like a win.
Eric didn't speak until we were in his car. "Indiana will be buying Arkansas."
"Bartlete? How come—for Russell?" My tired brain was piecing it together as I spoke.
"He suggested it was a belated wedding present to Russell. An opportunity to visit him more easily."
"You don't believe that."
"It is not wise to assume one's motives. However, Bart is not overly ambitious and he is stable. He could prove a valuable neighbour."
I nodded, too tired to say anything else. Too tired to think. I felt that all my decisions from the last few days were finally hitting me. I felt as though the weight of the world was on my shoulders.
I expect between the sale of Arkansas, and your suggestion for prosthetic limbs, Louisiana is secure." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Eric glance over at me. "Even for those that are aware she was using prosthetics, her display tonight was disconcerting. I underestimated her thirst for survival, I think many of us did."
I looked out the window at the darkened streets of New Orleans, not bothering to respond to Eric. Tonight, the streets seemed to have lost their magic.
When we arrived at the hotel, I went straight into my room. I had a long, hot shower, got into my pajamas and crawled into bed. The bond buzzed with restlessness, like a mosquito in a dark room. There was at least an hour until sunrise, maybe more.
I sighed, resigning myself to my fate, and made my way into Eric's room. Eric's eyes were on me as soon as I appeared at the door. He was sitting on the bed, his elbows on his knees. The buzzing quietened.
"I need to sleep," I said. Those four words were all I could muster.
Eric's eyes were a wide, burning blue. I sighed and walked around to the other side of his bed, pulling back the sheets and climbing in. I laid on my side, facing the wall and pulled the blankets up around me.
The buzzing settled, stopped. Eric moved behind me, his body curling around mine, his arms anchoring me against him.
"Is this like some protective bond thing?" I asked, my words muffled by the pillow.
Eric was silent for so long I was nodding off by the time he answered, "Something like that."
I woke a few hours later. Eric's arm was wrapped around me, holding me to him. Resolution settled in my stomach. I had let this go on for long enough. The bedside lamp was still on but the bond was quiet. Eric was dead for the day.
I eased out from underneath his arm, and I didn't look back as I left the room.
It was time to set everything to rights.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for all the comments on the last few chapters! I was away for a few days so to come back to internet and read through them all has been awesome! I've tinkered with this chapter a little since SmokeAndEmber beta'ed it - so as before all mistakes are my own.