Bill Compton stood on the edge of the woods, the cool night air stifling as he waited for Sookie Stackhouse to show up. The night before, his cunning plan with the Rattrays had unfolded as he had hoped. Yet, Sookie, that infuriatingly stubborn woman, had refused to accept the blood he offered. Instead of gratitude, she had recoiled in offense as if he had thrust a snake into her hands.
Bill couldn't help but think how perfect the plan had seemed when he discovered Sookie could not read his mind. Her shock at his quiet thoughts had been a revelation and a blessing. For some reason, the mental barrier between them seemed to draw her closer, and he had thought it would make his task easier. But now, standing alone in the woods, he found himself questioning everything.
As the clock neared eleven, he saw Sookie emerge from the bar, accompanied by the shifter, Sam Merlotte. Bill thought he might wait with her for a brief moment, but as he watched, Sam turned and walked away, leaving Sookie alone. He felt a surge of relief mixed with anticipation. It was now or never.
Denise Rattray came crashing into the scene, her fist aimed directly at Sookie. To Bill's astonishment, Sookie dodged the punch with the agility of a seasoned fighter, countering with a swift blow to Denise's jaw that sent the woman sprawling. In seeking to defend his wife, Mack Rattray rushed in only to receive a fierce elbow to the ribs. Bill stood rooted to the spot, his mouth agape as Sookie Stackhouse, the waitress from Merlotte's, unleashed a flurry of strikes that turned the Rattrays into a tangled mess of limbs and fury. Sookie had clearly reached her breaking point, and tonight, she was determined to end her encounters with them once and for all.
Finally, unable to simply watch any longer, Bill intervened. "Sookie, they are not worth it. Please, you do not want to go to prison because of these two," he said, calm yet firm.
"No, just knowing they will no longer be on this earth will get me through even a life sentence," she snarled, her eyes blazing with fury as she prepared to deliver another kick. But Bill, in a swift motion, scooped her up and carried her toward her car, ignoring her protests.
"Enough. I will take care of this," he said, his tone brooking no argument. After a moment's pause, Sookie sighed, her anger dissipating as she finally relented, giving him a grateful nod before climbing into her vehicle.
Bill watched her drive away, disbelief washing over him. What would it take to get my blood into her? The question echoed in his mind, a haunting refrain that suggested this mission would be far more complicated than he had anticipated.
Meanwhile, in the darkened confines of the woods, Eric Northman observed the scene unfold from a distance, a bemused smirk curling his lips. "You can't get a slip of a girl to take your blood?" he teased Bill, his voice dripping with amusement as he leaned against a tree.
"You were a soldier… shoot her from a distance, then heal her." Pam snarked.
"Pam," Eric warned, shaking his head with mock severity, "we are not trying to harm the girl."
"Well, what do you call getting a couple of drainers to beat her up or at least try?" Pam shot back, her tone sharp as she leaned against the other side of the same tree, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Digging his hands into his pocket, Eric dug out his phone to call King Felipe, his expression growing serious. "Sheriff," Felipe's voice came through with a cheer that felt out of place given the circumstances.
"Your majesty, I have Compton here… he appears to be struggling to get his blood into the girl," Eric reported his tone even.
"I take it she can't be glamoured either?" Felipe deduced with a hint of frustration.
"No, your Majesty, it was the first thing I tried," Bill admitted, the weight of his failure evident in his voice.
"Eric, do you have any suggestions?" Felipe asked, clearly exasperated.
"Get her to Fangtasia," Eric suggested coolly. "It would be helpful if it were her idea."
"What would that achieve?" Bill interjected, his voice tense with concern at the thought of Sookie being in Eric's orbit.
"I believe the threat of taking her from you because she is not in any way marked might just do the trick," Eric replied, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Of course, it will help if she believes I am rather evil and will be less than kind to her should frighten her enough to accept your blood as a mark."
"You heard him, Compton. Get the girl to his club." The king's voice echoed Eric's sentiments with a finality that left no room for debate. Bill's insides boiled with frustration, and he bowed his head as though Felipe were in the room, feeling the weight of his failure settle on his shoulders.
"This is the first chance he's had to prove his usefulness in years, and he seems to be failing," Felipe growled, annoyance creeping into his tone.
"Indeed," Eric mused, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Keep me informed." Felipe was off the line before Eric could respond, leaving Eric contemplating why Compton failed in such a simple task.
As Eric returned to his Corvette, he couldn't help but reflect on the current state of affairs. Sophie-Anne, the queen of Louisiana, had proven to be a mixed blessing. While she was a good monarch in some respects, her insatiable greed was a constant source of irritation. Year after year, tribute percentages increased, and Eric had learned to navigate the treacherous waters of vampire politics with a cunning all his own.
The takeover by Nevada had caught him off guard; he had always expected threats to emerge from the surrounding states. Arkansas had been on his radar for years, but the danger had come from an unexpected source. Eric's swift surrender to Victor had been a calculated move. He recognized that a hopeless fight would only lead to unnecessary losses. When the opportunity arose to swear fealty, he had seized it.
Felipe, as greedy as Sophie-Anne, had granted him a semblance of autonomy in his territory. However, the first month had been challenging, with Victor hovering over him like a hawk. Eric had sent a reduced tribute to the king, a clear message that his productivity was suffering under Victor's scrutiny. To his relief, it had worked, and Victor had been ordered to leave him alone.
"Guess who is here and is apparently mainstreaming?" Pam's voice broke into Eric's thoughts, her usual bored tone replaced with genuine intrigue. He followed her gaze and spotted Bill Compton walking into the club, Sookie in tow. Eric's amusement grew.
"Bill Compton, it has been a while." Eric's voice dripped with condescension as he summoned him, pleased to see the civil war veteran gripping Sookie's hand as he led her toward the dais.
"Yes, well… I've been…" Bill stammered, clearly flustered.
"Mainstreaming," Eric cut in, relishing the opportunity to poke at Bill's pride. "I heard." He turned his attention to Sookie, feeling a thrill at the sight of her. She was captivating, her scent sweet and intoxicating. "I see that it's going well for you."
"Yes, of course, Eric, this is my friend…" Bill attempted to introduce her, but Eric interrupted with a smirk.
"Sookie Stackhouse," he said, the name rolling off his tongue with a sense of familiarity.
"How do you know my name?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"I never forget a pretty face," Pam interjected, her interest piqued. "You're in my vault."
"Great, that's just great," Sookie replied, sarcasm lacing her words. "It's nice to meet you." She turned her attention back to Eric, her curiosity evident.
"Miss Stackhouse, I understand you've been asking questions about some of my customers." Eric's voice shifted, a serious undertone emerging.
"Yes, I have," she answered, her determination clear.
"If you have anything to ask, you should direct your inquiries to me," he said, his tone authoritative.
"Alrighty." She pulled out photos from her bag, her excitement palpable. "Do you recognize either one of these women?" she asked, handing him the pictures.
Eric studied them for a moment, a smirk playing on his lips. "This one offered herself to me… but I found her too pathetic for my attention," he replied, glancing between the pictures and Sookie. "Now, this one, however…" He licked his lips, savoring the memory. "I have tasted."
"Well, thank you. That is all the time I need to take," Sookie said, snatching the pictures back from him with an air of finality.
"I'm not finished with you yet," he barked, his tone sharp. "Please, sit." The insincere smile that followed only added to her unease.
Sookie hesitated, glancing at Bill for guidance. He nodded, and she reluctantly took a seat next to Eric. "Soo… Bill, are you quite attached to your friend?" Eric directed the question at Bill, his gaze never leaving Sookie.
"She's mine," Bill growled, the possessiveness in his voice palpable.
"Is she?" Eric asked, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Tell me, Miss Stackhouse, are you his?"
Before Sookie could respond, Bill interjected, his voice tense. "You know the rules…"
"Yes, I do, and I don't detect any evidence of your claim," Eric replied smoothly, his gaze still fixated on Sookie. "I have a nose for these things," he added, relishing the tension in the air.
"What is he talking about?" Sookie cut in, her confusion was evident.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with," Bill snapped, a flash of irritation crossing his features.
"But you should, Miss Stackhouse," Eric said, his smile now genuine, though it did nothing to ease Sookie's discomfort. "In our world, a claim means nothing without evidence… and here, I detect none."
"Eric, this is none of your concern," Bill growled, clearly agitated.
"Yet it seems to concern me," Eric retorted, his amusement growing. "In fact, it's quite fascinating. You see, someone could easily come along and snatch her up."
"Eric, this does not concern you," Bill growled again, cracks forming in his composure.
"Let's go, Sookie," Bill said, his voice strained as he attempted to assert control over the situation.
The moment they were out of sight, Eric vamped into his office, followed closely by Pam. "What the hell was he doing?" Pam demanded, her frustration evident.
"It would appear everything but the very thing he's supposed to do," Eric replied, a frown creasing his brow. Bill Compton had the perfect opportunity to secure Sookie Stackhouse, yet he had squandered it.
"He could have wanted to be the one to tell her. She appears to be the kind of breather who will ask him questions about what just happened," Pam speculated, though her tone was skeptical.
Eric collapsed in his seat, annoyed at Bill's actions. "He is turning a simple job into a fucking circus performance." Eric raged.
"You have to wonder why," Pam mumbled absentmindedly.
Eric looked up at his child. "Indeed." If Compton was a traitor, he needed to nip this situation in the bud before it spiraled out of control. Eric picked up the phone and called Felipe.
"Compton is working for either his own gain or someone else. He subverted every attempt to talk about tying himself to the girl." He recounted the conversation verbatim, the implications of Bill's actions weighing heavily in the air.
"Son of a bitch," Victor muttered, his expression darkening.
"You understand my concern?" Eric pressed.
"I want Compton arrested now before he does any more damage," Felipe ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
"Thalia and Pam are on their way." Pam was out of his office before he'd even issued the order.
"How do we salvage this… I mean, with the telepath?" Victor asked, worry etched on his features.
"I believe the truth or some aspects of the truth would do. I will have my man in Compton's home right after the arrest to search for evidence of his treason. I believe whatever evidence he had, he took when he left court," Eric replied, his mind working through the logistics.
"Give me two nights to come up with something for the telepath. If Compton is really a traitor, her services will be imperative now more than ever," Felipe agreed reluctantly.
"I will also suggest you not stay at court. My penthouse is free, and I will tell the staff to expect you. Be discreet about your stay there. I have two trusted employees to handle your accommodations," Eric added, his voice low and serious.
"Is that necessary?" Felipe questioned, a hint of skepticism in his tone.
"The minute Compton is arrested, someone will know… if he is indeed working for someone. We cannot risk a rash move being made. You are not in Vegas; here, you are not as protected or secure," Eric explained.
"I agree," Victor conceded, surprising Eric with his cooperation.
"Make the arrangements," Felipe instructed with a sigh, the weight of the situation settling over them.
As Eric finished his call, he had only an hour before dawn. He wanted to see Bill before he retired for the day. "What is the meaning of this?" Bill barked the moment he entered the basement, agitation radiating from him.
"This." Eric held up the evidence of his communication with Threadgill, a triumphant smile on his lips.
"It is not what you think," Bill insisted, desperation creeping into his voice.
"Then tell me… Bill, what do I think?" Eric asked, his amusement evident. He had been waiting for an opportunity to end Compton for years, and now it seemed he had finally found it.
"He was trying to recruit me… I was simply playing along until I had everything to present to the king," Bill asserted, confidence returning to his demeanor.
"Is that right?" Eric asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.
"Yes, Sheriff, that is the absolute truth," Bill maintained, though doubt loomed like a shadow over his words.
"And I don't believe you," Eric said, the finality of his tone leaving no room for discussion. "Victor will be here tonight… I suggest you think of a better excuse for your treason." With that, he left Bill in the basement, the echoes of his protests lingering in the air.
"Do you believe him?" Pam asked as he exited the basement, her curiosity piqued.
"No, his story does not explain some of the correspondence," Eric replied, his mind already racing ahead to the next steps.
"What about the telepath?" Pam pressed.
"I will think of something. I'm hoping if she doesn't hear or see from Compton in a couple of nights, she will grace us with her delightful presence." Eric's eyes gleamed with determination as he plotted the next move in this dangerous game of vampire politics. The stage was set, and he would ensure that the outcome favored him. They always did.