26

It's Too Late for That

Thank you, everyone for reading and reviewing. Thanks for making this story one of your favorites. And thank you for alerting as well as making a favorite author. That is amazing and freaking awesome.

I hope that y'all enjoy. I hope that y'all have a great week. Oh, and soon, Sookie's dad will gain a bit of redemption. I promise.

When I got to the bar this evening, I had another message from Bill waiting for me on my desk. Why am I not surprised? I stared at the envelope before opening it. I knew instantly why he'd sent me a message. I knew that it had to do with Sookie. I would normally be upset but I know that when it comes to Sookie, I have no reason to be upset. Though she is not yet my lover, I know that she is mine in every way. I chuckled as I sat at my desk and opened the envelop.

Good evening, Eric.

I meant to mention this to you last night but it slipped my mind. As you may have guessed, it is concerning your intriguing human. I noticed that Ms. Stackhouse left my business card on the table last night. I know that as your king, you will do as I ask. You will be sure to give her the card when she returns to work this evening. I want to make sure that she knows that I am and will be available to her whenever I am needed but only when you are not available to her. I implore you to not take this as a sign of disrespect. I want to make sure that Ms. Stackhouse has all that she needs and that she remains safe and knows that she is a priority in my kingdom.

Your king,

William Compton, King of Louisiana

I shook my head in utter disbelief. He doesn't believe in giving up. Why he belieaves he has a chance in hell with Sookie, I will never understand. She has given him no reason to believe that she he even has an inkling of a chance with her. His tenacity and the blatant disrespect for the relationship that I have with Sookie is completely astounding. He obviously has very little to no self-respect. Just as I placed the note in my desk, there was a knock at my door. I knew who it was. "Enter, Palomino."

She came into my office with her head down. She closed the door silently behind her. She stood behind the chair with her hands resting on the back of it. Her shame was clearly on her face. "Good evening, Sheriff," she whispered. Her head was still bowed.

"Sit," I ordered.

"Yes, Sheriff."

Her head was still bowed when she sat down.

"Look at me," I ordered her. "Do not cower before me. I have never given you cause to, so do not do it now."

Her back straightened as she looked me in my eyes. "Forgive me, Sheriff. You have always been good to me but my head wasn't bowed because of fear. It was because of shame."

I could see the honesty in her eyes. Yet and still, it wasn't enough. "And your shame is justified. Why would you give him, our king, any information about Sookie?"

Palomino appeared to be stumped by the question. She said as much. "I don't understand the question, Sheriff."

"Why. Would. You. Give. Him. Any. Information. About. Sookie." I rested my arms on the desk as I stared at her. "Was that simpler for you? Did you understand that?"

The look on her face told me that I should already know the answer to that question. "She is an employee and he is the king. The king asked for a list of your employees. I did what he requested of me. I had no choice in the matter, Sheriff. I didn't tell him that Sookie was working for you to look for Pam. I told him that she works at the bar. I told him that all I know is that she's yours. I didn't tell him anything else about her because I know nothing else of her. He didn't believe me."

"Explain," I ordered.

"He asked me who she was and how you'd met her," she began. "I showed him the ad that Pam put in the paper hiring for help. He asked me why you would want a human working so closely with you. I told him that I didn't know. I told him that I'm just the bartender and that's it. I told him that you don't share those things with me. That is something that you and Pam did together. Hire her, I mean. He is fully aware that I know nothing of her."

I believed her. I've known Palomino for many years and she's always been an honest vampire. In our world, that's quite the rarity. Because she's lost her maker, Heidi, during the attack on Pam's home, I know that she will do what's necessary to find her maker's killer. She would have turned over every name she had if she believed that it would help find her maker's killer. There is no deceit in her eyes. She is loyal. That's how Heidi raised her to be. And to preserve her maker's legacy, that's how she will remain.

My phone began to play Camptown Races. I eyed Palomino as I answered it. She dropped her head as to hide her smile. My underlings always find my choice of ringtones amusing. I looked down to see that it was Sookie. She was letting me know that she is done meeting with Sam and she will wait for me at the bar.

Once I'd replied to her message and tucked my phone into my pocket, I looked at my underling and said, "All questions about Sookie are to be referred to me. I don't care who asks you about her, you talk about her to no one. Speak of her again to anyone and you will be punished."

"Yes, Sheriff," she replied.

I stood from my desk and led the young vampire from my office. As I walked out into the bar, it felt good to see that the bar was filled with patrons. The drinks were flowing and the dance floor was packed. It's always nice to make extra money. Pam will enjoy the shopping spree that I will take her on once I have her back with me. All of that aside, there is one thing that I hate. I hate it when vampires come to my bar requesting to meet with me and they haven't made an appointment. Like now, for instance.

"Eric," Victor Madden announced as he walked towards me. He had two other vampires with him. I could only assume that they were his bodyguards. The weaklings always need bodyguards. Victor is no exception. "How have you been, old friend?"

Victor and I have never been friends. We have never been associates. I have never cared for him. Victor is a vampire of low standards and even lower morals. He has no concept to the meaning of honesty or integrity. Victor is out for Victor and to hell with anyone and everyone else. He opened a bar just on the outer edge of my area in the hopes of seeing me fail. He believed that he could close me down and take me for everything that I've ever worked to have. Alas, he has failed.

"Victor," I replied as he stopped in front of me. "Why are you here? Are you looking for your patrons? Or maybe you need tips on how to run a thriving business. If that is what you seek, you will not find it here."

He laughed. "No, I am not. As a matter of fact, I'm doing fine. My business is doing fine. All is well in my world," he replied. "Not that you seem to care."

"I do not," I assured him.

He walked to a table and pointed at the seat. "Do you mind?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

Victor unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down anyway. I wanted to kill him but because has done nothing to warrant death, I could not. He looked up at me and smiled. "Come on, Eric," he said. "Sit down. I just want to talk. It's about your child."

"What about her?" I asked as I remained standing.

He unnecessarily cleared his throat before speaking. "I want to offer you my condolences. I'm sorry to hear about your vampires and Pam. I know how it is to lose a child. I know what you must be feeling."

His easy words did nothing to ease my suspicions of him. I know that he's up to something. I'm at a loss as to what it could be.

"Your silence lets me know that you don't trust me," he finally deduced.

"You are correct, Victor." I looked at the clock on the wall behind his head. "Do not come to my bar with this bullshit story. I know what type you are, Victor. Tell me why you are here. You are making me late for planned obligations. I have people to see, places to be … other things that I must attend to tonight. You weren't on the list of things that I need to get done."

A knowing smile appeared on Victor's face. "The people that you must see," he began. "It wouldn't have the blonde minx with whom you've been keeping company, would it? I hear that she's quite the eye candy. I've heard that you have taken quite the shine to her." He began to look around the bar. "I would love to meet her." He then looked up at me and asked, "Where is she?"

I said nothing.

"I take it that I won't be meeting her."

I glared at the vampire. "Now."

"As you wish," he said as he tugged at his suit jacket. "I've come to offer you my condolences and support in finding your child. As I previously said, I know what you must be feeling. Having to go through such a loss has to be heartbreaking."

I've known of Victor Madden for many years and not once have I heard mention of a child. It has always been believed that he is far too selfish of his life and blood to make another life. He would never want to be responsible for another. He's killed many vampires because they got in his way or because they had something that he wanted. No. Victor wasn't there to see me to offer me kindness. He was there to gloat.

"I don't need you or your assistance, Victor. I more than have everything under control on my end," I assured him. "If you're done." I made a move to leave Victor behind but he stopped me.

"There is something else," he said to me.

"What is it, Victor?"

He stared up at me as if he was still expecting me to sit down. I remained standing. He decided to follow suit. He pulled his suit jacket tight just before buttoning it. "I hear tell that the king was in your bar last night. I hear that he has offered to help you with seeking vengeance against those that have taken Pam from you. Is that true?"

My interests in Victor's visit suddenly peaked. "Why do you care? Are you afraid? Do you have something to hide?"

Instead of answering the question, he laughed. "It just surprises considering he's never been the type to help anyone else unless there's something in it for him. I'm assuming that there's something you have that he wants. I can't help but wonder what it is."

Stepping in closer to Victor, I asked, "That's why you're here? To question the reasons why the king has offered his assistance? When he returns, I will be sure to let him know of your distrust of him and his actions. I'm sure it's something that he'd like to know since you are living in his state."

A bit of his smugness slowly faded away. "Oh, don't get me wrong, Northman. I trust our king. I trust him wholeheartedly and explicitly. It surprises me that he's offered to help you with finding Pam." He glanced down at the table before glaring at me. "I will take my leave."

"Good," I replied.

I watched Victor as he began walking away. He stopped for a moment and with his back to me, he said, "There's no reason why you have to mention our conversation to the king. I only wanted to be a good neighbor and friend and offer my help. You do understand, don't you?"

"I do."

Glancing at me over his shoulder, he said, "Between us then?"

"Goodbye, Victor."

He chuckled before he and his goons began to walk away. "Eric."

"Victor?" I called after him.

They stopped and turned to look at me. "Yes, Eric," Victor answered.

"You would not have the nerve to betray me, would you?" I asked. "You have no cause to want to take my child, do you?"

"I would never," he protested. He almost looked appalled at the very idea. "I have no cause to take Pam away from you. Everyone in the vampire world knows what she means to you. I am the last vampire with whom you should be concerned."

I walked to where he stood. "Let's hope that you are speaking the truth."

He laughed. "Good evening, Eric."

I didn't believe him at all but there was nothing that I could do … not yet. I let my underlings know that I had a meeting to attend. "I will return later. Thalia will be here in an hour and she will be in charge. Do as you're told and you will survive the night." I left without saying another word.

I'd planned on driving my car but it didn't come to be. I could feel Sookie's fear and extreme anger. I took to the sky to get to my future lover's side. She hasn't been in this world, the supe world, long enough to have to fear for her life. No one knows what she can do. Her secrets are safe with me and I'm sure that her family wouldn't betray her. I had to get to her as quickly as I possibly could.

Twenty minutes. It took twenty minutes for me to get to her when I told her that I'd be there in ten. Fucking Victor Madden. I should've left him. I shouldn't have given him my time. I should've turned him away and made him make an appointment like the rest of the underlings in my area.

I followed her emotions to the wooded area behind the shifter's bar. The muffled sounds of Sookie called to me. The smell of fresh blood permeated the air as well but it was not the sweet smell that is Sookie. Knowing that it wasn't hers filled me with relief. I landed with a thud in the wooded area and there she was. She was underneath the body of a big, bald man. He was no longer moving but she was. She was stabbing and crying.

"Sookie," I said as I approached her.

Quinn still had the knife in the side of his neck when she looked at me. She sobbed as she tried to push him off her. It was obvious that she didn't have the strength to move him but she tried. I rolled the body off her and stared down at her. Her arms were now out at her side as she squeezed her eyes closed and cried. Her eye was swollen and her lip was bloodied. Her dress had been ripped open but the rest of her was intact. He didn't defile her. I looked at the now dead man and wanted to kill him all over again.

John Quinn.

I lifted Sookie from the ground and carried her into the back room of the bar. Taking my phone from my pocket, I called the shifter. "Come to your office."

Sam was with us in seconds. He saw who I was holding and ran to where we were. He reached for her but I turned away. He wasn't worthy of touching her. "What happened?" he asked as he looked up at me.

I held her closer to my body. "That is what I was going to ask you. She said that she was going to stay inside until I arrived. I found her out in the woods with a dead man on top of her."

"Quinn?" he asked. His voice was soft and fearful.

"Yes," I hissed.

Sam winced as he looked at her. "She was in my office when I left her. She was going to stay in here and wait for you. She came here to question me about Quinn. He'd cornered her earlier today at the police station."

I listened as Sam filled me on what happened with Sookie and Quinn earlier today. Someone hired Quinn to take her. To harm her. And I knew that it wasn't Bill. He wouldn't cause harm to someone or something that he wants and he wants Sookie. Someone knows what she is and what she can do. That someone wants her for themselves. I couldn't help but wonder once more why Victor came to my bar.

"What about her family?" I asked the shifter. "Are they aware of what's going on?"

He nodded. "Yeah," he said. "They were supposed to keep their distance of Sookie. They wanted the perp to think that Sookie has been cut off from her family because of her life with the vampires. They were to have no contact with her. Everyone followed through. Everyone but her mom."

Anger filled me as Sam told me about the impromptu visit that Sookie's mom made to her apartment today. She knew that Sookie was in danger and she still went to her home. The woman willingly put her daughter in danger. "Where is she?"

"I don't know," Sam admitted. "But look, Eric. She can't go home. If her mom is behind this, who's to say what's waiting for her at home. I spoke with her dad earlier tonight and he wants her to stay with you. If someone is trying to get to her, she can't go home. Even if she has guards, there's no guarantee that they will survive who's after her. She needs to be with you. I agree with her dad. She needs to stay with you until this situation has been resolved."

I looked down at Sookie as I held her in my arms. "Were her guards with her when she arrived this evening?"

Sam nodded. "She sent them away. She told them that she wasn't going to leave the bar until you got here. She told that they needed to get ready for tonight." He stared into my eyes and asked, "What's happening, Eric? What have you gotten her into?"

"Don't concern yourself with that, Shifter," I stated.

"If you do anything to hurt her …"

Sookie shifting in my arms interrupted his ridiculous comment. "I will contact you soon. I must get her to safety."

"Yeah," Sam said. "What about Quinn's body? Do you want me to get rid of it?"

I shook my head no. "I'll send one of my underlings to get it. I feel that we're going to need it."

Without waiting for a response, I left the bar and took to the air. I carried Sookie to my home.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sookie came into the living room wearing my robe. The swelling of her eye was going to look worse in the morning. Her busted lip was going to be even worse. It caused me great pain to see her in such a way. "I wish that I could …," I began.

She shook her head no. "But you can't do that."

"I know."

She me gave me a half-hearted shrug and a smile. "Thank you for coming to get me. I wasn't sure that you'd had enough of my blood to find me."

I touched my heart and said, "You are here now. I will always feel you."

A look of relief appeared on her face as she smiled at me. She was soon sitting on the couch with me and resting her head on my shoulder. "I didn't know if I could do it. I didn't know if I could kill him."

I wrapped my arms around her. "This is my fault. I was late. I should've come sooner. If only I'd …"

She looked up at me. "Don't blame yourself. You wouldn't have made it on time either way. He had me." She rested her head back on my shoulder as she began to tell me what happened. "I was going to go out in the bar with Sam and wait for you there. I didn't want to be alone in his office. I was going get an order of fries and wait. He grabbed me from behind and pulled me from the bar. I tried to scream but his hands … his hand was so tight over my mouth. He was so strong, Eric. He was so strong. He didn't remove it until he had me in the woods."

'I told you that I only wanted to get to know you. You decided to play hard to get. Did you think that faery was going to keep me from getting to you? Is that what you thought? You poor, dumb girl. You were wrong. I still want to get to know you.' Quinn began to nuzzle her neck. 'Is that okay with you? Can I get to know you now?'

She fought against him but he was just too strong. His arms tightened around her. 'What do you want from me?'

'You and everything that you have to offer,' he whispered in her ear. "You are a very popular young lady. It seems that you should've been the one that was taken instead. You have so much more to offer."

Sookie took in what he'd said. The person that has taken Pam now wanted her. They know what she can do. They know that she's a telepath. Someone has told what she can do. Her thoughts went to her mom. She wanted to know what was in Quinn's mind but she couldn't tell. Her fear was getting in the way.

"Please let me go," she begged.

Quinn laughed in her ear. "Nope," he declared. He closed his eyes as he began to rub himself against her. She glanced at him over her shoulder and that's when she made her move. She stomped his foot and elbowed him as hard as she could in his stomach. She then turned around and kneed him his treasure chest. When he went down, she went running.

"I got him good," she told me. "I wanted to laugh when he dropped to his knees and howled out in pain but I didn't have time for that." She looked at me from the corner of eye and said, "The look on his face was quite funny."

Even after all she's been through, she finds humor in the worst situations.

The need for humor was quickly gone. She scooted in closer to me as she verbally shared her fear with me. "I ran as hard as I could, Eric. I ran as fast and as hard as I could but he got me," she whispered.

'Sookie!' Quinn yelled after her. 'You're not going to get away from me! I will get you!'

She looked behind her because he knew that he was right. He was going to get her if she didn't run faster. She needed to see how close he was to her. As soon as she looked back, she knew that it was a mistake. If she hadn't looked, she may not have fallen. She tried getting up but she couldn't. She thought of the many times she would yell at the dumb blondes in the scary movies. She would yell for them to get up. She always thought that they had more than enough time to get up. She always thought that they'd gotten what they'd deserved because they didn't try hard enough to get up. She knew know that she was wrong. She tried crawling away but it didn't work. He was soon on her.

"If I hadn't looked behind me, he may not have gotten me," she said. "I should've ran harder … faster but I didn't, Eric. That's why he got me. He was on my back quicker than I would've thought possible. He had me." She sniffled as her breathing became hurried.

Quinn had his arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer to him; grinding harder against her. He pressed her tighter against him as he moaned. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, 'You shouldn't have done that. You don't know this but I like the chase. It makes it so much more fun for me. For you, not so much. Forgive me if I get a little rough.'

Sookie was determined that she wasn't going to go down without a fight. She wasn't going to let him take her. She wasn't for him and he wasn't going to have her. She reached behind her and elbowed him in the jaw twice in the hopes that he'd loosen his grip. She only needed a little give and she could get away. Just a little give.

It didn't work.

He flipped her over and punched and slapped her in the face as hard as he could. He believed that he'd knock her out but he didn't. She still couldn't go out like that. She's a fighter. She lay there as he ripped the top her dress open. He smiled as he looked down at her … rubbing his hand against himself. "Beautiful and a virgin," he said. "This is my lucky night."

'Don't do this,' she begged him. 'I'll tell you whatever you want to know. I'll tell you what I can do and what I am. Whatever you need of me, I will do. I will help you. Please don't do this me. You don't have to do this to me. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you. Please.'

Smiling down at her, Quinn said, 'It's too late for that.'

And that's when she heard the voice.

"You have your weapons, Sookie. Use them.' It was Claudine. Her faery godmother. 'Don't succumb to this. You're a Brigant. We don't give up. Don't let him take what he doesn't deserve. You are not meant for him. Give him what he's earned.'

"As he began to fiddle with his belt buckle, I slowly placed my hand under the side of my dress and I felt for my sheath. Just as he began to remove his pants, I took my knife and stabbed him in the neck." She sat up and stared at nothing. "He was so surprised after I stabbed him. He grabbed the side of his neck with one hand. I thought that he would give up but he didn't, Eric. He continued to try and rip my dress off me. I continued to stab. The knife went through his hand and back into his neck and that's when I held on tight and twisted the knife as deeply as I could." She mumbled something incoherently as she looked down at her hands. "I killed him. I didn't want to kill him but I had no choice. I had to." She looked at me and asked, "You know that I had no choice, right? You know that I had to?"

"You had no choice," I assured her. "You did what you had to do."

She looked at me. Tears streaming down her cheeks. "I killed him. He fell on top of me and I couldn't stop stabbing him. I wanted him dead for what he tried to do to me. And now he is." She sighed as she wiped the tears from her face. A look of determination appeared on her face. "I killed him."

I cupped her face in my hand and kissed her forehead. "I wish that you didn't have to do that. You should have never had to go through that … to do that. You shouldn't have had to kill."

She looked at me and smiled. "It's too late for that."

In her eyes, I could still see the girl that walked into my bar that first night. She was still excited and anxious to start working her new job. She wanted to help those that needed her. She wanted to do what was right regardless of what it meant for her. I could still see the determination in her eyes. She is determined to do what's right. Even after all that she's been through, I could see the same wide-eyed, excited girl that walked into my bar.

"It's too late for that," I agreed. "Sookie, Sam told me that you would need a place to stay for a while because of what's happened with Quinn."

She shook her head no. "We don't have to talk about that right now. We need to go and meet the Colonel after, right? He did call you, didn't he?"

"He did."

Her eyes dropped to her hands once again.

I could tell that there was more going on with Sookie. I wanted to ask her but her anguish stopped me. Something was hurting her but she couldn't bring herself to tell me. I didn't want to pry because of what she'd been through tonight but mark my words, I am going to find out.

"When you're ready, I'm here."

She tried to smile but failed.

"Sookie," I began.

She stood up from the couch and smoothed her hands over the front of the robe. "I need to go home so that I can get some clothes. I have to get ready for our big meeting tonight." She smiled once again. "This is going to be so exciting. We are going to be one step closer to finding out who took Pam. She'll be back home before you know it. She'll be back home and scaring the heck out of anyone that gets in her way. Or even if they don't get in her way."

I knew that before I said it, she was going to say no but I said it anyway. "You don't have to go. We can handle Dawn on our own."

"Pshaw," she said. "I do have to go. It's part of my job. I'm not going to let them stop us from finding Pam. And anyway, Jake and I captured her. I can't let him have all of the glory, now can I?" She winked at me. "Come on. And since we're talking about our enemies, what's up with all of those boxes?"

Keeping her in a calming mood, I said, "I felt that you needed something to keep you busy."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You got that all wrong, buddy. We are going to be busy. There's no way in the world I'm reading all that stuff by myself." She looked up at me and said, "William is the most boring king in history so far and I haven't even read past the first three pages. I'm not sure if I can handle it all on my own. The agony of it all." She reached for my hand as we prepared to leave. "I can only imagine what he's like when he's all business. I'm so looking forward to tonight."

Following her from the living room, I laughed. I played along with her. I wanted her to think that everything that happened tonight had been forgotten. It has not. I will find out who has done this to her and they will pay with their life. There will be no mercy.

It's too late for that.