A/N: I have covid, but I also have a chapter. Don't worry, though. I will only share the chapter.

Chapter 27

On the way back to their room, Sookie paused in front of a poker table. Eric could feel… something… and wondered if she had once again heard a suspicious thought.

"Do you mind stopping here for just a few minutes?"

She appeared to feel perfectly normal when she sat at the no limit Hold'em table and crossed her legs. The vampire dealer took notice and Eric gave him a warning look and placed his key card on the table.

Sookie said, "Twenty thousand."

The vampire raised an eyebrow at Eric. He nodded back and the dealer slid over the chips. He gave Eric his own warning look. Anyone caught cheating would have a very serious conversation with one of the King's trusted courtiers, now that Victor was out of commission.

"No vampires at the table."

Eric nodded again and stepped back.

On the first deal, she caught a lucky card on the river. She was up over three grand but nobody at the table was taking her seriously. That was just fine with her. Being underestimated had worked well for her the night she and Eric had played cat and mouse with Emily and her vampire boyfriend. She'd walked away with more than ten thousand dollars in chips that she'd had to give back to Felipe. It would also work for what she had in mind right then.

She folded pocket aces after calling a big raise and lost the following pot with a pair of fives. She only won a couple more times and blew through the money in little more than a dozen hands. She tipped the dealer with her last hundred dollar chip and excused herself from the table. She shook hands with everyone and the man who had most of her chips in front of him held on a little bit longer than the others. She took Eric's hand and led him away, looking — and feeling — pleased with herself. Eric raised an eyebrow. She smiled up at him and led him back to their room.

He swept it for bugs and then they undressed and climbed into bed. Sookie sighed and lay on her back. Eric lay on his side against her, propped up on his elbow. He swept the hair out of her eyes with one finger.

"How did you manage to lose at poker?"

She laughed.

"The man across the table from me. The one with the glasses? He has a sick baby at home. I figured he needs the money more than Felipe does."

Eric smiled.

"You are very kind. But that was dangerous."

She shrugged.

'I dunno. It's not very kind of me to play Robin Hood with the King's money. But, if he notices at all, it isn't something he can prove. Either way, it was worth the risk."

"He will likely lose it all, regardless. Sick child or not."

Sookie smiled up at him.

"Nah. He got up right after I did and headed for home. He was here because he was desperate, not stupid. He was doing okay before I stepped in and he came out pretty far ahead in the end."

He kissed her forehead and she sighed and closed her eyes. Enjoying being held was still a novelty. One she didn't think she'd ever get tired of. Or maybe even get used to.

"You are very beautiful."

She opened her eyes and he was still looking at her, smiling. She smiled back. He leaned down and kissed her. It was soft and sweet.

After they made love, she snuggled up against him and kissed his chest. A few minutes later, she said, "I'm anxious to hear from Pam. It's been at the back of my mind all night. I hope Gran and Jason are okay." She gave him a half grin. "And that Victor isn't."

Eric laughed.

"It certainly wouldn't break my heart if something happened to Victor Madden."

Sookie splayed her hand over his ribcage and felt nothing. No steady thumping rhythm or the rise and fall of his chest. It didn't bother her. She noticed her skin wasn't really that much darker than his, as pale as he was. Her last tan had faded away a very long time ago. She wanted to see the stark difference between his snowy white and her sunny bronze. She wanted to see the sun again. Feel the warmth of it on her face. The hazy glow through the dark UV-proof glass in their hotel room window just wasn't the same.

Eric put his hand over top of hers. She looked up at him and he kissed her forehead.

"I'm sure we will hear from her soon. It's nearly sunrise in Louisiana."

She and Eric didn't say much and just held each other until his phone rang nearly an hour later. It wasn't Pam.

"Eric. It's Felipe. I need you to come to the VIV Club at six."

That was the last place she wanted to be and he could feel how anxious and afraid she was. Eric hated that he had no choice but to comply.

"Yes, your Majesty. We will be there."

"No. Just you. These are vampire affairs and there will be no humans there for her to read."

This was even worse. Eric paused.

"Do you think that's safe, your Majesty?"

Felipe sighed in exasperation.

"She is alone with you while you're in your death all day. There is a camera aimed at the door and there is an alarm that alerts security every time it is opened. She is only allowed to be escorted by you or me. Security will be there in thirty seconds if anyone else approaches or if she leaves on her own. The window doesn't open. You are bonded. There are cameras throughout the casino and up and down the strip. She will be fine."

"With all due respect, your Highness, I would feel better-"

Felipe cut him off. He sounded more irritated than exasperated now.

"If you're that worried, you can lock her back up in her room until our business is complete."

Sookie tensed against him.

"No, your Highness. That won't be necessary."

Felipe said, "Six o'clock," and hung up the phone.

Sookie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"I'll be fine here, Eric. The King is right. I'm alone here every day and it hasn't been a problem. I'm not going anywhere. I won't open the door for anyone but you. I promise."

He wasn't happy but he wasn't sure why. She was just as safe at night as during the day, pretty much, and they had gone over the safety precautions more than once.

They had a little over an hour before he had to leave, but they didn't say much. Finally, Pam called just past four thirty. Eric answered the phone.

"What have you found out?"

"And hello to you, too."

Eric shook his head a little, annoyed, but he'd been dealing with her mouth for a century and a half. He was used to it.

"Pam…"

"Ok, fine. I went to Bon Temps first thing. Bill Compton wasn't at home. Sookie's grandmother was and she's fine. Her brother, too. I had the old woman call him."

Sookie closed her eyes, relieved. Pam continued.

"I was able to track down the disco triplets and they led me to Bill Compton's cabin out in the middle of nowhere. Victor was there with Compton and a couple of women they'd picked up someplace. They all came willingly enough, thanks to Thalia. I let the humans go. "

Eric laughed. "It is good to play to Thalia's strengths. Just be careful not to piss her off. Was Victor a problem?"

"Not really. He certainly wasn't happy to see me, but I may have said something about being there on behalf of the King. And, of course, Thalia's reputation precedes her."

"Excellent. And what's next?"

"They're here at Fangtasia. Victor and I are going to have a nice chat before we head to Nevada tomorrow."

Sookie was relieved in a way. Jason and Gran would be safe with Victor far away from Bon Temps. Then again, she was much safer with Victor almost halfway across the country.

Eric smiled. He looked forward to getting his hands on Victor Madden. He just hoped he got the chance.

"I have a meeting with Felipe soon. I will let him know where things stand and arrange transport back to Las Vegas for you both."

"Good. I'll call you if I can get any news out of them tomorrow. So far, Victor is claiming innocence. Says he has no idea what I'm talking about."

"Of course he is but we have him dead to rights. We will talk soon."

Eric hung up the phone. It was time for him to leave. He kissed Sookie and then they both dressed. He wanted to take her with him. He even wanted to lock her in her old room in the VIV Club, but he knew he couldn't do that. And if he kept her with him in the Club, Felipe would undoubtedly punish her for Eric's sins.

"I must go. Use the new lock and don't open the door for anyone but me. Do you understand?"

He was making her nervous.

"Of course, Eric. I'll be fine. Just… just hurry back."

He sighed and kissed her again and left. Sookie locked the door and sat down to wait. She was sure everything was going to be okay even if it did feel wrong to be alone now. She'd cherished being by herself more than just about anything a few days before.

She turned on the television. There wasn't much on in the middle of the night so she didn't bother changing the channel. It was showing an infomercial. She had no idea what the product was but the voices made her feel a little less alone. Until they didn't. She turned it off and looked out the window for a while. When she checked the clock an hour later, it had only been just over ten minutes.

She sighed and sat back down on the bed, turning the tv on again. She flipped through the channels and picked a pay per view movie she had no intention of watching.

…

Eric entered the VIV Club and scowled. There was an orgy going on in one corner and a sex show happening on the stage. He had no use for the debauchery any longer. Felipe's seating area was empty and Eric sat down to wait for the King.

It was past six thirty when Felipe finally entered the Club. Eric stood. The King walked over to his chair and raised an eyebrow.

"Eric."

Eric bowed his head. "Your Majesty."

The King sat first and then Eric did.

They looked at each other for a moment. Eric decided to start if the King was going to be cagey.

"Pam has found Victor. He says that he's innocent. They will require a flight back to Nevada."

Felipe smiled.

"Where was he?"

"In a cabin owned by Bill Compton back in Louisiana"

Felipe's smile widened.

"Excellent. Tell Pam to bring Compton along. It has been a long time.

Sookie's first rapist. The one who'd taken her innocence, as much innocence as a telepath could have. He wasn't pleased.

Felipe leaned forward.

"Is that why you wanted to see me? And where is Sookie?"

…

Sookie heard someone come down the hallway and she crept to the door and looked out the peephole. Three vampires — a man and two women — passed the room and kept going. She blew out a sigh of relief.

A couple of minutes later, someone knocked. She jumped a little and looked through the peephole again. It was Eric, distorted by the fisheye lens. She quickly unlocked the door and Eric strode in. The look on his face scared her to death. His voice was low.

"Sookie, we must leave. Immediately. We don't have time to pack."

Sookie didn't really know how she felt. It was like she had so many emotions they were all canceling each other out until she was only left with numb. She grabbed the picture of her and Jason and Gran that was propped up against the lamp on the bedside table and stuck it in her pocket. She was ready. She looked out the window and frowned.

"It's nearly sunrise, Eric. We don't have time-"

"I will fly as far as I can before dawn. I'll find a safe place for you and go to ground. We need a head start. Come."

She took his hand and followed behind him. He took the elevator down to the lobby and another to the parking garage. They quickly walked into the open, acting like they belonged there. He took her into his arms and shot into the sky. She gripped him tight around his neck and tried not to freak out. She also tried not to think about what would happen when they got caught or whether or not he would burst into flames if the sun peeked over the horizon before he found shelter or what was going to happen to her if he did. Dawn was so close. The desert sky was pink and orange and red and, as beautiful as it was, she was terrified for him.

"Eric! We have to stop! You're going to burn up."

He smiled at her and they kept going. She tried to feel his feelings but she thought he must be blocking the bond from her somehow. She had no idea why. He'd never done it before. She closed her eyes and tried so hard to feel him but there was nothing but a buzzing in the background. It felt far away. There was no surge of warmth, just from being near him.

The sun broke over the horizon and she saw it for the first time in three years. She screamed but he didn't catch fire or dissolve into ash.

His smile widened. By sunset, they would be hundreds of miles away. Northman would try to find her, of course, but he had planned for that. When Northman rose, the bond would be a distant memory.

Sookie screamed again when the vampire she'd thought was Eric turned back into himself.