12

Stakeout

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful New Year. I hope that 2017 is going to be great for each and every one of you. Here is the next chapter. I want to apologize for not posting it sooner but it's better than never, right?

Anyway, I want to thank all of you for reading, favoriting, alerting, and reviewing my story. I appreciate all of you. The story idea belongs to me but these wonderfully, amazing characters belong to Charlaine Harris.

I made it to Fangtasia with thirty minutes to spare. I didn't see Eric's car as I'd hoped but I was glad about that. I was going to get a chance to see how Pam operates when she's one on one with the patrons. I'll bet she's a hoot. If you didn't catch that, it was pure sarcasm. I couldn't see Pam being a hoot at any time ever but I did see her. She was sitting at the door terrorizing the patrons. And I just knew that deep down inside, she probably enjoyed that more than anything in her undead life. The gleam in her beautiful blue eyes told me all that I needed to know.

I took the empty seat next to hers and sat down. She glanced briefly at me as she took the money from the wannabe fangbanger that stood before her. "I heard of your proposition to my master. You are one of great nerve." She turned to face me head on as she gave the young girl permission to go inside. "I don't say this to many people but I admire your gumption, your bravery." Her face showed not a sign of emotion. "Come to think of it, I've never said it to anyone." She shrugged her shoulders and went back to the patrons that were waiting in line.

This guy was looking at Pam as he smiled and nodded. His hands were on his hips. "Hi," he said.

"Your money," she said.

"I'll let you bite me if you let me in for free," the guy said to her. He even had to gall to wink at her.

Pam looked the man up and down as she sneered at him. "I do not eat trash. Get the fuck out of here."

He looked pained. "But I …"

Pam dropped fang on him.

The guy backed away with his hands up in the surrender motion.

She watched him drive out of the parking lot before returning to her seat.

I laughed. "I can't believe you said that to him. What if he doesn't come back?"

"Who cares?" she responded. She carded the next ten patrons without missing a beat. "He has no money and he smells of trash. His diet is absolutely atrocious. I cannot believe that you could not smell the stink in him. And who cares if he does not come back? Who is going to miss him?" Pam then looked over her shoulder. "Maxwell Lee," she called out. "Come and relieve me of my post. I am done here for the night."

A handsome, African American vampire sidled up to her and said, "You've only been doing this for thirty minutes, Pam. You're supposed to do at least two hours."

Pam ignored him completely as she took my hand and pulled me inside the bar behind her. She led me down a hallway that took us through to the gift shop and to an office that was in the back. It had to have been hers because it was covered in everything pink. Pink carpeting. Pink walls. Pink floral chairs with a matching couch. The only thing that wasn't pink was the desk. It was white.

She sailed to the seat behind the desk while I took the seat in front of it. With the way that she stared at me, I knew that things were now very serious. No one was going to be making any jokes anytime soon. "Now, tell me why you want to bond with Eric."

"You sure are nosy," I answered.

"He is my maker," she replied. "I have to keep him protected … even if I am protecting him from … whatever you are. I want to know what you are doing and why you are doing it."

"He didn't tell you?"

"He did not."

I studied her before replying. "If that's the case, then it's really none of your business. If he wanted you to know, he would have told you and since he didn't, maybe he doesn't want you to know. Maybe he thinks that it's also none of your business." I stared her down after I spoke.

"Tell me," she ordered

"Why should I?" I asked.

"Because he is important to me," she shared. "I do not want to see him hurt. I like you, Sookie, but I will kill you if you hurt him. On that, you have my word."

I could see in her eyes that she meant it. She would have drained me of every drop of my blood. Even though she meant it, I still wasn't afraid but I was going to tell her anyway. He obviously wanted her to know if he'd told her of my offer. He may not have told her everything but he told her some things. "What I'm about to tell you has nothing to do with your petty threat. You don't scare me. I just wanted to make that clear."

"It is," she said.

I proceeded to tell her why I need to bond with her master. "I'm part fae and I'm a Brigant. My grandfather's name is Fintan Brigant. He said that if I am to work in the supe world, I need strong protection. He said that Eric is the only one that can keep me safe. He said that Eric is the only vampire that I can truly trust. I believe him and so I asked."

Pam's face was blank. Her eyes were unblinking. I know that vampires are dead but she really looked dead. I didn't know what to do or to say. From experience, I knew that she wasn't in a coma. I could only guess that she was thinking over the things that I'd said to her. Not too long later, she blinked. "Thank you for telling me," she replied.

"No problem," I said. "But you're still nosy."

The corner of her mouth twitched just a bit. She didn't say anything for a few seconds as she continued to stare me down. I knew that there was something that she wanted to say to me and lo and behold, I didn't have to wait too long for her to say it. "My master feels something for you," she said suddenly. "I don't quite know what it is but it's there. It is something new. I have never seen him act the way that he has since meeting you. I fear that you may become a distraction for him. He has lived over a thousand years. He does not need someone like you destroying the years of control that he has learned. Tell me, Sookie. Did someone send you here to us?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Though I had every right to be anger, I remained calm. "No one sent me," I explained. "I came here because you had an ad in the paper. You were hiring and I applied for the job. Obviously, I got the job. I have no reason to want to hurt either of you. If I'd wanted to hurt you, you wouldn't be sitting here tonight. I could've kept quiet about the guy that came in here to take you but I didn't do that. I told both of you everything."

She looked as if she still didn't believe me. It was as if she didn't hear a word I'd said. "What are you hiding?"

I still wasn't mad. I was just a bit curious as to why she was questioning me as she was. "Are you serious?" I asked. "I have told both of you everything about me. I have nothing to hide. I am a commodity to you and your precious master. I wanted to work in the supe world. It's what I've wanted for a long time. Until last night, I didn't realize what I was getting myself into by doing this. I never thought that I'd be putting my family in danger. I never thought that other supes would want to steal me away from Eric but don't think for a second that I'm walking away from this. I'm taking the necessary precautions needed so that I can live the life that I want … if that's okay with you, Mistress Pam."

"I like the sound of that," she whispered. "Mistress Pam. Say it again."

"Eat rocks," I said.

She finally gave me a real smile. "I believe you, Sookie. I just had to be sure. You do understand."

"I do but I still would like to see you eat rocks."

The corned her mouth twitched. "Let's get back one of your earlier statements. Tell me what it means. Steal you away from Eric? Are you his now?"

"Yes," I proclaimed. "I may not be his by blood but I am his because I work for him. I've promised to be there when he needs me. So, yes. I belong to Eric."

Just as I said that, the door to the office came open and there he was. I could see a flicker of amusement in his eyes but it wasn't there for long. There was something else in his eyes … on his face. Obviously, Pam saw it too because she blurred from the behind that desk so fast, the wind of her movement caused my dress to flutter around my legs.

"Master," she said. "What is wrong?"

He continued to stare at me.

I stood up from my chair and walked to where he was. I stood by Pam. "What is it? Has something happened?"

"You need to come with me," he ordered. "Pam, you stay here. Maxwell Lee and Heidi will be here with you."

Pam's normally cool face held a look of concern. "What is wrong, Eric?"

"We will return. Stay here until we return," he said to her. He took my hand into his and led me out of the room. I turned to look at Pam. She winked at me as she closed the door behind us.

I thought that Eric and I were going to his office but we didn't. We walked through and out of the bar and to his car. A beautiful red corvette with licenses plates that read 'BLDSKR'. It was a classic beauty. Though I wanted to ride in it, I wasn't quite in the mood. I wanted to know what was going on. "Eric, you need to tell me what's going on," I said.

He said nothing as he deposited me in his car. He didn't talk the entire time as he drove me to where we needed to go and where we needed to go was to a dark and gloomy neighborhood. We parked in the parking lot of the church across the street to get a better look at the house that was directly across the street. It looked as if it was supposed to be abandoned but it wasn't. I could see the flicker of a candle through the ratty curtains. There was also a beat up old car in the driveway. The front door looked as if it was going to fall off of the hinges. I figured that if a good wind came along, the entire house would be nothing more than kindling.

"Where are we?" I asked as I looked at Eric.

"The human from last night," he began. He was staring straight ahead and at the house. "He was staying here."

"With a vampire?" I asked.

"Vampires are here but I don't know if he was with them," he said. "I couldn't get inside because it is the home of a human."

I nodded my head. "You want me to go inside so that you can get in?"

"No," he said as he looked at me. "As I told you last night, I would never put you in danger. You're here because I need to know if you can hear any minds."

"Yeah," I answered immediately. "There are two voids in the house and a human mind. I'm assuming that the voids belong to vampires. And the human. She may as well be a void. She's not thinking anything. There's nothing there. She's barely alive. She must be food. I don't believe that she is with them. Not like the man from last night. What are we going to do?"

"Listen," he said.

And that's what we did for over an hour. We didn't talk. We didn't laugh. We did nothing but listen. I wanted to ask Eric what we were listening for but I figured he wanted me to use my telepathy. And I was but nothing was coming through. Other than the vampires and the almost dead human that were holed up in the abandoned house, nothing was going on.

"A spy has told me that he has heard some things," Eric finally shared. He was still staring at the house as he talked. "It is believed that someone wants to take Pam to get to me. A vampire of great standing from what I comprehend."

I turned around to face him fully. "Why would someone be after you?"

"I am an old vampire, Sookie," he said. "There aren't very many vampires that are my age left in this country. Most of them live in Europe and would never set foot in this country." He chuckled. "It is beneath them."

"Hmpf," I said. "America's not so bad."

He looked at me from the corner of his eye and smiled.

"Why are they after you?" I asked again.

"I am also a fierce fighter," he said. "My age and strength scares many vampires that hold high positions in our world. The kings and queens that have held their seats for many years want to keep holding those seats. The thought of an elder moving into their areas terrifies them."

I knew what he was saying to me. I know now why he needed me here with him. "How long have you been in Louisiana?"

"Since the reveal," he answered. "Six years now."

"Do you want to reign over a kingdom?" I asked. "Do you want to be king?"

He slowly shook his head no. "It is something that has never interested me."

"So, why are they sending someone after Pam? Is it because you've been here too long? Do you move a lot?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "You are very smart, Sookie. And yes. It is because I've been here for too long. I never stay in one place for too long. No one place has ever made me want to stay for very long. I'm always on the move but something made me stay here." He stared into my eyes and said, "Maybe that something is you."

"Maybe," I agreed. I looked back at the house.

For the next thirty minutes, Eric and I didn't speak to each other again. That is, until another car suddenly pulled in the driveway of the ratty house.

"It's a human. It's another woman."

Eric sat taller in his seat … which almost seemed to be quite impossible.

"She doesn't want to be there but she was sent there," I continued. "Her mind is so rushed that I can only get bits and pieces of what she's thinking. She has some instructions for them. He's going to be really pissed if they eff up this time."

I could hear Eric's fangs click into place. "Can you see who 'he' is?"

I shook my head no. "Nope," I said. "But he is from Louisiana, Eric. She keeps thinking that she can't wait to get back to him." I suddenly got out of the car and ran to the driver's side. "Move over."

Eric just looked over at me.

"Move over," I repeated as I began to get in the already crowded seat.

Eric slid to the passenger's seat with such ease.

I cranked the car and drove down the road just a ways before turning back around. I parked behind the cover of some trees as we waited for the woman to come out of the house. "She gave them an envelope," I said. "She said that everything that they needed is in there."

"Do you know what it says … the letter?"

I shook my head no. And with that said, I pulled up at the end of the driveway … with car still running. I reached into his glovebox and took out the outdated map. I quickly unfolded it and looked at Eric. "Don't get out."

When I reached for the door handle, he grabbed my arm to stop me. "I can't let you go in there without me, Sookie. You have my protection."

"I'm not going in," I promised. "Trust me."

He stared at me for a moment before removing his hand from my arm.

With the rumpled map in my hands, I got out of the car just as the woman was backing out of the driveway. I began waving my arms back and forth as I ran up to her window. She frowned at me as she let the window down just a smidge. "Yeah?" she said.

I brushed a stray hair from my brow and I raised my map. "My GPS died and I have to use this map. I am trying to get to Baton Rouge and I am completely lost. Could you please let me know where I am and where I need to go? I have a big job interview tomorrow and I don't want to miss it. I'm supposed to meet a very important vampire there at dusk and I don't want to be late."

With the looks that she was giving me, I could tell that she didn't believe me. I could also see in her mind that she didn't believe me to be a fang banger. "This is my first time being around vampires and I want to make a good impression. I really need this job. Please," I begged her. "I desperately need this job. My family needs the money. Could you please help me?"

She finally believed me. She got out of the car and took the map from me. She placed it on the hood of her car and began explaining to me what I needed to do to get back on track. "Do you have a pen?" she asked.

I whipped one from my purse and handed it to her. "Right here."

As she talked and drew on the map, I let my arm rest lightly against hers. She was working for someone in New Orleans. I couldn't see who it was. I could see the faces of those that were around her. They were sitting at a table. There was only three of them. I could see the faces of the two other vampires but not the face of the vampire that employs her. It was as if his face had been blurred from her memory. If I wasn't aware of glamor, I would find that to be odd.

"I know that it seems like a long route but you'll get there on time. I promise you," she assured me. "You won't be late for your appointment if you follow my directions to the letter. You'll be there in no less than four hours."

I hugged her as I feigned excitement. "You don't know how much I appreciate this. Thank you so much."

I still couldn't see the vampire's face.

She smiled at she lightly patted me on the back. "It's okay." She then turned around and looked at the house. "You need to go," she said when she gave her attention to me. "You don't need to be out here alone. This is not a safe place."

I took my map from the hood her car and thanked her once again. "Thank you," I called out as I ran to Eric's car.

She pulled away just as I'd gotten into the car. Eric was watching me as I folded up the map and put it back in the glovebox. When I leaned over him, his fangs clicked into place. He inhaled the scent of my hair and pulled me close to him. "I want you."

I suddenly felt nervous and crowded in the small yet powerful car. I didn't know what to do or say so I began rambling off what little bit of information I got from the woman. "The vampire that she's working for is in New Orleans. I couldn't see his face but I could see the faces of the two vampires that were with him. They were men. I'm not sure but they could possibly be the vampires that are in that house. The lady that I was speaking with, she was in there with them. She belongs to the vampire that's in charge." My nervousness began to subside as I continued talking. "I think that whatever they discussed in front of her, was glamored from her mind. It had to have been. Because I touched her, I should've been able to see everything that they'd done. I should've been able to hear everything that was said but I got nothing. He must not trust her."

The passenger's seat was soon leaned all the way back and I was on top of Eric. Don't ask me how he did it, but he did it. He had my body pressed against his and he was nuzzling my neck. His strong arms were wrapped around my waist.

I stared into his eyes. "We're supposed to be working," I whispered.

"We are," he said. "Kiss me, Sookie."

I licked my lips as I looked down at him. I didn't want my first kiss to be at a stakeout. I wanted it to be some place romantic. I wanted it to be unforgettable and mind blowing. I wanted it to be the best kiss of my life. And it was.

My heart was racing at the very thought of kissing him and my breathing was unsteady. Though I didn't know what to do, I wanted to do it. I brushed my lips over his. I traced my finger along his handsomely, rugged face. I noticed the scar that was over his right eye as I studied his face. I traced my finger over the scar as I wondered how he got it. I wondered if it was from the battle that he'd fought to regain control of his father's kingdom. I wondered if he even notices it anymore. I smiled as I noticed the flecks of a darker blue that sparkled in his eyes. And just like that, my lips met his. The warmth of his kiss sent electricity through my body as I melted into him. He forced my mouth closer to his as his hand cupped the back of my head. His arm tightened around me as the kiss deepened. I couldn't believe that it was happening. I couldn't believe that I was having my first kiss with Eric Northman in the front seat of his car at a vampire stakeout. I couldn't believe that one kiss could make my head spin and heart pound relentlessly in my chest. And I couldn't believe, that just like that, it was over.

I placed my fingertips to my swollen lips as I stared down at him. I wanted more.

"You are mine," he growled.

I couldn't speak so I nodded.

"Fuck, she smells sweet," the bald vampire said as he stared into the car at us.

My hair covered Eric's face as I looked out into the night.

The darker vampire appeared from behind him as rubbed his hand over his … thing. "I want some of her." His fangs dropped into place.

"You can't have any," I said to him. "I'm not for you."

Eric's arms tightened around me. My hair still covered his face.

The dark vampire leaned closer to the window and stared into my eyes. "Let down this window, girl, and come to me."

I smiled as I gave him the finger. "No."

I could feel Eric smiling against my hair.

"Don't make us kill your companion," the bald vampire threatened. "We are not above murder."

I was soon in the backseat of Eric's car and he was facing my would be attackers. "I'm glad to hear that," he said as he got out of the car but not before locking me in. "I can kill you both without consequence."

And before I knew it, blood was covering the passenger side window.