20

It Was a Bit of Both

Thank you all so much for the reviews and your time. Your alerts and making me and my story a favorite is a wonderful feeling. The characters belong to Charlaine Harris but the story idea is all mine. Without further delay, enjoy.

When she opened the door, I caught an unnecessary breath. She was dressed in a t-shirt that came down to her knees. Her robe was thrown on haphazardly and her hair was thrown into the sloppiest ponytail I'd ever seen. To me, in that moment, she was the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen. I wanted to take her in my arms and never let her go but I didn't do that. I did what a gentleman does when he has disappointed his lady. "I apologize for the way the evening ended with us," I said. "I wanted to give you more."

With the door open, she turned away from me and walked to the couch. "It's okay," she said as she flopped onto the couch. She covered her mouth as she yawned. "I'm not mad about it. There is so much going on that there's no way in the world we'll have time for a date. Not right now. I more than understand. You don't have to apologize to me." She stared at me from the couch and smiled.

As she smiled, I waited. She knew full well that I couldn't come in unless she invited me. I made her mindful of that the night that she asked me to bond with her. If she doesn't … and then I knew. She'd already made it possible for me to enter to her home. I took a step forward and entered her home without a problem … without a single hesitation or pause.

Her smile broadened as she watched me walking towards her. "I was wondering how long it was going to take you to figure it out."

"Too long," I replied. In seconds, I sitting on the couch next to her. I was silent for a moment because I didn't know how to express my thanks to her for defending me to the king this evening. It turns out that I didn't have to say a word.

"You were with the king tonight, weren't you?" she asked. She sat crossed legged as she turned to face me. "I thought that I heard you in background when he called me. I could feel your amusement and irritation. He must have been feeling some type of way about the way that I was speaking to him. He deserved it. He had no right speaking and thinking less if you. He needed to know that he was wrong."

"He was and it pleased me. I apologize for that as well … for him calling you," I said. "I would have never given him your phone number. I have since decided to fire the vampire that has done so but only after she's been questioned. I will do what is necessary to keep you safe. I have made a promise to you and it is one that I intend to keep."

She shrugged her shoulders. "I know that. I knew that you didn't give it to him. He probably would have found it sooner or later anyway. You don't have to fire anyone because me." She cocked her head to side and stared at me. Her ponytail swung lazily over her shoulder. "Everything that I said to him, I meant. I didn't like how he questioned me about the type of vampire that you are. I don't like how he tried to make me doubt you. I didn't like it at all. I just wanted you to know that."

"I know that," I assured her. "And Sookie, though it may have pleased me to hear you mouth off to the king as you'd done, you must be mindful of how you speak to him. There are consequences that one may suffer for such disrespect."

She sneered. "He wouldn't touch me."

"No," I agreed. "He wouldn't touch you." He would want to punish her but that would not be an option. Not for me.

She understood my meaning instantly. Her eyes widened with realization. "I won't do it again."

"Thank you."

"Is he really going to help us?"

"So he says," I answered. "I have an idea as to why he's so willing to help us."

The look on her face told me that she was far from flattered at receiving the king's attentions. "I don't like him at all. I don't trust him. Anyone that will kill one of his own vampires for something that he'd done is up to no good." She then had a look of unease on her face. "What he said to me this evening … about your sexual escapades, I won't let his nonsense affect me. I'm not that weak minded. And if you did go to the bar to meet with someone else, I'm not angry. You and I aren't a couple. We're just getting to know one another." She shrugged her shoulders as she looked down at the couch. "If you're seeing someone else, it's okay. I just wanted you to know that."

I could feel that she didn't mean it. She didn't like the thought of me going to meet another but I didn't speak on it. "Thank you," I replied. "But I did not go there to meet with anyone. I went there to take care of some business and the king just so happened to be there waiting for me. He was hoping that you would be with me." I began to chuckle. "You seem to have this touch … this spark about you that draws beings to you."

She soon stared out into nothing. "Hmm," she said. "Maybe that's what he means."

"Who?" I asked.

She fanned off the comment and said, "Just something that my grandpa has always said. Did he believe me when I said that I was helping to look for Pam because she's my friend?"

I chuckled. "Yes because he didn't believe me when I made that same declaration. He was quite surprised when you clarified my reasons."

"Great minds think alike, huh?" She playfully bumped my shoulder. "I want you to know that I really do like Pam and I am doing this because I like her and because of you. I think that I know what she means to you and how her kidnapping has made you feel. Plus, I want to help you."

"I know," I assured her.

She was soon settled deeper into the comfort of the couch. "So, what brings you here tonight?"

"There is much that you need to know." I filled her in on the things that I'd learned from Thalia. I didn't tell her about the conversation that Thalia and I had about her but she was advised of the important parts of the conversation. She was made aware of the surveillance system and the betrayal. "Thalia has discovered that Maxwell was not among the dead. His blood was planted to make me believe that he was but he is our traitor."

I could see the exact moment Sookie's heart fell. I could feel it as the disappointment of what Maxwell has done course through her. "I thought that he was her friend. He pretended to be loyal to you both. How could he betray you like that? What he is getting out of this?"

I had to use the three most hated words in my vocabulary. "I don't know," I answered. "I sometimes wish that I had more children. Pam has never betrayed me. She has always been with me and she's never let me down. This would not have happened had I surrounded myself with more of those that I trust. Those of my blood. Maybe I should rethink my choices."

She scooted close to me and placed her hand on mine. "You can't blame yourself for what Maxwell has done. He had a choice and his choice was to betray you. The others, the vampires, Weres, and humans, they didn't betray you. They remained true to you. To you and Pam. Out of those that have died, only one has done the unthinkable. You haven't failed her."

I permitted myself to smile at her words. She was right. The others gave their lives for us … for Pam. Just as the others did, Maxwell will pay with his life. There is no need to rethink my choices. There is no need to let one traitor destroy what I have so meticulously built. The relationships that I have with the others will not be affected due to Maxwell's stupidity. He is the one that is going to pay for his treachery.

"Eric, do you know why he would do that? What would make him betray you?"

I shook my head no. "I do not. I have been an outstanding sheriff to my subjects. I wouldn't have them do anything that I wouldn't do myself. I have shown them nothing but respect. I have defended them even when they have been wrong. They've had to face punishment a time or two but they never had reason to fear or betray me. I don't understand what had to have been going through Maxwell's mind for this to happen."

"Jealousy?" she asked.

That could be a viable reason but that's not Maxwell. "No," I said as I shook my head.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "He did this."

There would have been a time when I wouldn't have been able to bring myself to believe that Maxwell would ever do anything to betray me or Pam. That time has since passed. "I have known Maxwell for many years and he's never appeared to begrudge me of anything that I have achieved. He has always appeared to be proud of me and my accomplishments. He is a vampire from my past. A vampire that I believed that I could trust. I met him in England. The year was 1834, I do believe."

Her eyes lit up when she heard the year. "Wow," she whispered. "That was in interesting era. My grandpa told me a lot about that time. The kings and queens were fascinating. The clothing … the laws ... the stories. I can't believe that you were there. I'll bet that your memories are outstanding. Was Pam with you during that time?"

"She was." I beamed as I thought of Pam. "She had been made vampire for quite some time and she was a little more than I could handle."

Sookie began to laugh. "I can see that."

"She hasn't changed very much," I confirmed. "She was so spoiled. I gave her everything that she'd ever wanted. I still do. She is so very important to me, Sookie. There are many makers that release their children after some time has passed but Pam and I have an unbreakable bond. In more ways than one, she is my child."

"I can see that," she said. "When you two are together, it's hard not to see what you mean to each other."

And that troubled me. That is why she was taken.

"Before she could fight, I protected her against everything. In the beginning, she loved being catered to and defended but as time passed by, she wanted to be able to fight and defend herself. She wanted to be prepared for anything." I then chuckled. "Maxwell turned out to be that anything. It was something that I know that she wasn't prepared to face."

The smile was soon gone from her face. "How did you two meet … you and Maxwell?"

I smiled at her. "It was during the rule of King William IV."

"William," she said as she rolled her eyes.

I laughed. "Yes, William." I shook my head in disdain which in turn made her laugh. "Maxwell was with his maker during that time. She was the most beautiful woman in the land … so they say. I never had the pleasure of meeting her. She was killed during her daytime rest by a human man that she'd taken into her home. I helped Maxwell in getting the revenge that he wanted. There have been times when he's helped me. He and I were what I would have considered friends. I believed him to be trustworthy. I was mistaken." I looked at her. "That is why this treachery is shocking to me, Sookie."

She leaned in and kissed my cheek before returning to her previous position. "I'm sorry that this has happened to you." Her eyes then widened. "I have been so rude to you. Gran would have a conniption fit if she was here right now. Please forgive me." She jumped up from the couch and ran to the kitchen. I heard the refrigerator open and her little feet padding back across the room. Showing me the blood that she had in her hand, she asked, "Would you like one? I can pop it in the microwave for you if you'd like."

I smiled as I shook my head no.

Her face fell. Whispering, she asked, "Have you already fed?"

"I have not."

"Okay," she said as she returned it to the refrigerator. Joy strummed through her as she came back to sit with me. "I'm so sorry about that. I'm usually a better hostess. Umm, are you hungry? I can feed you if you are." She tilted her head to the side as to offer me her neck. "If you are …"

To the gods I wanted to, I wanted to feed from her and make love to her. I wanted all of her. Every inch of her but now is not the time. "I would love to taste you, Sookie, but that is not why I came here tonight."

"I know. I just should've offered when you first arrived. Gran would be so mad at me for losing my manners." She shook her head in annoyance at her slight. "Oh, yeah. I have something to tell you. I found something out tonight from my dad. I went to the police station to see him after I left the restaurant." She told me about the man and the woman that had made themselves comfortable in my child's home. The woman could have been the Dawn Greene that Thalia was speaking of earlier but I haven't a clue who the man is.

"Did your father describe the woman to you? Do you believe it possible to be Dawn Greene?"

"It's possible that she's the one that was at Pam's house this morning. I'm going to go to the police station tomorrow morning and see if Detective Bellefleur will tell me anything. And if he doesn't," she said. "I'm going to have to use some of that old Stackhouse charm." A disgusted look appeared on her face. "I hate shaking his hand. He has the sweatiest palms."

"Do you believe that he will help you?"

She nodded. "I do. He's always been a good friend to my dad and if he doesn't, there's always a way around it. A handshake will show me all that I need to know. I'm not worried about him not helping us. He's just bad with faces. For the longest time, he used to call me Jeanie because I look like his cousin on his mom's side. She has red hair, green eyes, and freckles. She's mighty pale and very tall and thin with bucked teeth. Several people have told him that we look nothing alike but he swears that we do. Go figure. I've always wondered how he became a cop." She scrunched her nose up at me as she smiled. And just like that, the playful look was gone from her face. Worry began to course through the bond. She looked as if she had something to say but she wasn't sure if she should.

"Tell me what bothers you," I replied.

"I don't want to make this about me."

"Tell me."

"Me," she said as she chuckled. "Does Maxwell know about me … what I can do? I know that I never told him. I didn't know whether you or Pam told him because you trusted him so much. Not that I would blame you if you did. I just want to know so that if anything ever comes up, I'll be prepared."

"He does not," I assured her. "Only Pam and I know. The other vampires just know that you are mine."

"Good," she said as she yawned again. "That's good." She removed this ugly green and blue afghan from the back of the couch and spread it out over her legs. She then did something that I never expected. She rested her head on my lap. "Tell the truth. You really came over to check on me, didn't you? I think that you wanted to check me since there's a vampire that's been outside of my apartment building since I came home."

I laughed heartily at her comment. "You are quite right," I confessed. I touched the afghan as I frowned at it. "You know that is the ugliest thing I've ever seen."

She didn't even ask what I was speaking of as she laughed. She automatically knew. "I think that it's beautiful." She snuggled deeper into the comfort of the afghan and my lap. "My gran made it a very long time ago. She wasn't too crazy about it either but because it was the first one that she'd ever made, she kept it. She didn't like it so I took it. It's not so bad if you really look at it without looking at the surface. It's soft and comforting. The colors blend well and my gran made it with her own two hands." She looked up at me and said, "To me, it's beautiful. I see what others don't see."

Without thinking, I leaned down and kissed her. It was sensuous and devastatingly soothing. The feel of her warm lips against mine made me feel almost alive. I closed my eyes and melted into her. And I didn't want to let her go. For the first time, I felt content and at ease. I didn't feel that I had to be on alert or worry about those that needed me … even if just for a moment. I knew that the feeling wasn't going to last but it felt nice to have for just a fleeting second.

She smiled against my lips as she slowly pulled away from me. "I like feeling you," she whispered. "I don't feel so lonely anymore."

"Neither do I," I whispered. I caressed her hair as I looked down at her. "How long have you been able to feel me?"

"It happened the day after we shared blood," she said. "I woke up and I could feel you all around me. You were so close to me that I thought that I could reach out and touch you even though you weren't there. It is a really nice feeling." She gazed up at me with a smile in her eyes. "Will you stay until I fall asleep?"

"I will."

She kissed me once more before closing her eyes. "Goodnight, Eric."

And within minutes, she was sleeping. I carefully carried her to her room. Once I'd removed her robe, I placed her under the covers and tucked her in. I removed the notebook that she had on her and I noticed that she'd already begun listing off suspects. I noticed that each suspect was someone that was at the scene before I'd arrived. I also noticed that Bill was on the list. I chuckled as I put the notebook on her nightstand. I leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Sookie," I whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow tonight."

"Okay," she said. "Goodnight. Take the spare key in the drawer by the door. I want you to have it." With that said, she was sleeping once again.

I blurred from her room and stared down at the side table that sat by the door. I opened it and there it was. The key. There was a piece of paper sitting next to it that read my name … Eric's key. I had a key. She'd given me a key to her home. My heart swelled with admiration as I put the key on my ring as I prepared to leave. Just as I'd locked and secured her apartment, my cell phone began to ring. It was Thalia. "What do you know?"

"We've found one," she said. "We've found a vampire. He was lurking in the woods out behind Pam's home this evening. He looked lost and was covered in dirt and blood … Were blood. He must have gone to ground close by. I'm not sure of what he knows but I'm questioning him now. Before anything happens, I'll wait for you. We're at Fangtasia."

Fury swept through me as I walked swiftly to the elevator. "I'm on my way."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Thalia had the vampire hanging from the ceiling. It was nothing elaborate. His wrists and ankles were wrapped in silver and he was just hanging there. There were bloody tears streaking along his cheeks. I stared at the vampire and wondered why he was crying. There were no visible signs of torture … other than the silver roping wrapped around his wrists and ankles. I didn't say a word as I looked to Thalia for an explanation.

"I guess I've scared him a little," she volunteered. "I may have said a few things that have put him on edge. I didn't think that he'd start bawling like a baby. I assumed that he could handle a little preview of what could possibly happen to him." She was doing her best to hide her amusement at the vampire's discomfort and fear but she failed miserably. "This is the first time I've ever had this happen." She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head in utter disbelief. "I kind of like it."

Though it pleased me to see her happy, I needed answers. "What does he know?"

She shook her as she answered me. "Nothing. Whenever I ask him a question, he gives me his name and the year that he was made vampire. He will tell you that he took Pam because he wanted to. He will tell you that it was just something that he needed to do. Go on, ask him something."

I stood in front of our prisoner. "Who is your employer?"

"My name is Donovan and I was made vampire in 1983. I took Pam because I wanted to. I just felt the need to take her. She is mine now. It was something that I had to do."

"Told ya," she said. "Ask another. An easy one."

"As a vampire, we have makers. Who is yours?"

He stared into my eyes and repeated. "My name is Donovan and I was made vampire in 1983. I took Pam because I wanted to. I just felt the need to take her. She is mine now. It was something that I had to do."

Thalia was standing next to me when she spoke again. "Only a maker can make another vampire behave like this." She lifted Donovan's chin and stared at his face. "Before tonight, have you ever seen him around?"

"I have not," I replied.

"Maxwell has no children."

"None."

She held Donovan's hand in hers. She studied his fingernails and the palms of his hands. "He didn't kill or take anyone," she said as she looked up at me. "He's just here to throw us off."

Using my head to point at Donovan, I asked, "Do you know of his maker?"

Thalia laughed outright as she said no. She looked at Donovan and asked, "Is your maker the one that did this to you?"

Donovan's face was blank as he answered her question. "My name is Donovan and I was made vampire in 1983. I took Pam because I wanted to. I just felt the need to take her. She is mine now. It was something that I had to do."

"What do I do with him?" Thalia asked. The disinterest in her voice was profound. "I don't want to torture him. It would be no fun. He knows nothing but I do have something else for you … once we're done with this." A look of distaste appeared on her face as she looked at Donovan.

"Kill him," I said.

She sighed. "I knew that you were going to say that. I do agree with you. I guess that is the humane thing to do since he has no earthly clue as to what is going on in this world." And that's what she did. She took the knife from the tray that was next to him and that was that. He exploded into nothing.

We both looked at our feet as the remains of Donovan landed on our shoes. I began to shake the remains of Donovan from my shoes as I asked, "What else do you have for me?"

"Come," she said.

I followed Thalia up the stairs and into Pam's office. The scent of her filled my nostrils. For the first time in over three hundred years, I would have to go a night without having my child by my side. I wasn't going to have to hear her complaining about the vermin and how much they irritate her. I wasn't going to have to hear how she hated dressing like Morticia Addams. I wasn't going to see her smile at me as I walked into her office. And I missed that. Maxwell and his employer will pay dearly for what they have done.

Thalia sat at Pam's desk and turned on the computer. "I tried to get into your office so that we could do this there but your door was locked." She placed a disc in the drive and clicked play. "This is from a neighbor's house … the guy that lives across the street. Guinevere met with him tonight. He … allowed her to have access to his surveillance equipment. This is what she found."

Cloaked men in black surrounded the front of Pam's home. They were holding weapons and they were moving with precision and finesse. They were professionals of the highest caliber. They moved around the outside of Pam's house without stumbling … tripping … falling. Five of them went inside. The others continued to surround her home. "They are well prepared," I said as I studied the video. "They appear to know every inch of her home. Humans?"

"Humans," she confirmed. "I couldn't believe it either. Anyway, I think that Maxwell killed Pam's humans; the ones within the house, her most loyal. Once she was locked inside her room, he did what he needed to do. Those humans that were outside of her house, they are the ones that laid in wait for the Weres to arrive. Guinevere found silver and wooden bullets within the piles of vampire corpses as well as the Were bodies. Why and how they were ripped apart, I don't know. That appeared to just be overkill. Poor dogs."

I crossed my arms over my chest as I continued to stare at the screen. Pam and Maxwell didn't emerge from the front door. I'm not too surprised at that fact. Maxwell wouldn't want to be seen. It seemed that we stared at the screen for hours until we privy to what happened next. The police officer that Sookie knows was standing on the front porch of Pam's house. And just as Sookie's father said, a man in a robe answered the door.

Thalia and I leaned closer to the screen. "Do you know him?" she asked.

"I have never seen him before tonight."

She glanced at me over her shoulder. "I know that he's not a lover of hers."

"He is not," I confirmed.

She reached to the right of her and handed me a picture. "This is him," she said. "I've made copies and passed them out to the sheriffs. My children have them as well. He will be found, old friend. Fear not."

I laughed. "I fear nothing."

She spun around in the chair and asked, "What is going on, Eric?"

"I don't know." I repeat. I hate those three words more than any words in the English language. But all was not lost. "Tomorrow, we will begin our hunt for our enemy. And we will kill them."

Thalia's fangs ran down as she stood. "I am with you. No mercy?"

"No mercy."