As he bowed low, swearing fealty, his grief buried deep within him, he knew one undeniable truth; he would not kill Felipe de Castro. No, that would be too merciful. Instead, Felipe would suffer in ways that no one could begin to fathom, a slow unraveling of everything he held dear.
The first time Eric had laid eyes on Bill Compton after the takeover, he knew Compton was the instrument through which Nevada had stealthily infiltrated Louisiana. Compton's indignation spilled forth in yells questioning Eric's continued existence. That brought a smile to Eric's face, a flicker of satisfaction in the midst of his grief and rage.
Victor had expressed similar indignation at Eric's survival, all the while plotting to capitalize on Eric's eventual demise. The vampire had no shame in admitting he had hoped to take Eric's assets for himself. After months of failed machinations to undermine him, Victor had found himself woefully disappointed when Felipe ordered him to leave Shreveport in a fit of frustration. Eric had sent less than half of his usual tribute, cleverly blaming Victor's interference as the reason for his diminished offerings. Even from New Orleans, Victor had continued to make futile attempts to undermine Eric, persistent but ultimately fruitless. Eventually, Victor was forced to give up when Eric made a vague remark during a sheriff's meeting regarding the tribute Felipe received from Victor. How could it be that the sheriff of the capital was bringing in significantly less than Eric's little hole in the wall? Soon, Victor had far more pressing concerns than trying to eliminate Eric.
Threadgill's involvement in this scheme emerged five years later when Jennifer Carter had unexpectedly reached out to Eric with alarming revelations about the correspondence between her king and Compton. Bill Compton was effectively doing with Threadgill what he had previously done to end Sophie-Anne's rule. The promises made by Nevada had proven empty, and Bill, weary of his stagnant position at court, had turned to Threadgill in search of ambition and power.
Threadgill's marriage proposal to Sophie-Anne was little more than a smokescreen, a distraction that had drawn Eric's attention away from the real threat. This granted Nevada the freedom to plot without the worry of Eric's watchful eye. Jennifer had feared for the vampires in her state, believing that Threadgill's insatiable ambition and unhealthy desire to outmaneuver Felipe would lead to disaster. And she was right. Louisiana had already lost so many of its vampires, vampires not easily bested, Sophie-Anne, the Saxon twins, Andre, and Rasul, among others. If Threadgill dragged Arkansas into a takeover, it would mean annihilation for the vampires there. Threadgill lacked the resources and the numbers for such an undertaking. Yet, he remained undeterred, willing to sacrifice every vampire to fulfill his ambitions. He envisioned inheriting two states brimming with vampires once he had eliminated his rivals.
Jennifer Carter was not about to stand idly by and let that happen. With a heavy heart, she revealed Threadgill's role in Sophie-Anne's death. Though her actions could be classified as treason, she knew it was for the greater good, even if it pained her to take such a drastic step. If Eric had decided to report her, she would face certain death. She took a gamble, fully aware of the potential consequences, but her conviction was enough to win Eric's cautious respect.
For a year, Sookie had concocted a plan that placed her at the very center of it all. It was a plan Eric could never allow to come to fruition. The thought of leaving her in Victor's hands sent chills down his spine that he hadn't felt since his mortal days. When Compton's betrayal revealed itself, the possibility for a more advantageous arrangement emerged. An asset like Sookie would be an irresistible temptation for Compton, one he could not resist.
But it turned out that Compton was not attempting to betray Felipe; rather, he was trying to make himself indispensable by ensnaring Threadgill. Unfortunately for Compton, even that was considered treason in their world.
Fortunately for Eric and unfortunately for Felipe, he could not travel with a large contingent without raising suspicion. The three vampires he had brought with him were instructed to wait outside the warehouse, as Felipe wanted no witnesses to Threadgill's demise. With a sense of grim anticipation, Felipe entered the warehouse alongside Eric, exuding the confidence of a vampire who believed he had nothing to fear.
However, that confidence quickly evaporated as the glaring overhead lights illuminated the warehouse, revealing a scene that defied his expectations. Panic surged as he whirled around to find not only Eric but also Pam, Thalia, Sookie, and a blonde boy he recognized as related to Sookie, and a couple of others from the area. The faces were familiar, yet the names eluded him. There would be no escape. The three vampires he had brought with him were surely meeting their true death.
"The thoughts going through your head mirror the very same ones that plagued me when I knelt down and swore fealty to you. How? When? Where? Who?" Eric's voice was cold and commanding as Chow and Thalia seized Felipe, ripping his cape from his shoulders, dragging him to the remaining table, and chaining him down. "You four killed my child," Eric's voice thundered through the warehouse, his fury shaking the very walls.
"Your child? Who?" Felipe's anger surged as he struggled against his bonds, disbelief mingling with rage.
"Sophie-Anne," Victor interjected, his voice a whisper filled with malice. Sophie-Anne was his child." The words hung heavy in the air, and Felipe stared at Victor, his mind grappling with the implications. Disbelief seeped into every fiber of his being.
"No, that is not possible," he stammered.
Bill's manic laughter erupted, a sound that grated on the other three nerves. "A unanimous reaction. Four out of four," he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If only you had listened to me when I told you I was being set up."
"Oh, shut up. You weren't framed; you were conspiring with me to do exactly what you did to Sophie-Anne; to take over Louisiana. You came to me, you deluded asshole," Threadgill barked, clearly fatigued by Bill's incessant outbursts of maniac laughter.
"I was setting you up," Bill shot back, a maniacal grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, I was aware of that too. You are not that clever. Everyone knew how a few kiss-ass words had you falling over yourself to betray the very vampire who saved your life, who was paying for your freedom until the day she met the true death." Threadgill's words were laced with contempt as he directed them at Compton.
At that moment, Bill closed his eyes, the weight of his actions crashing down upon him. He had realized long ago that Sophie-Anne had respected him, had been honest to a fault, and had never misrepresented herself. The regret of his betrayal, of his role in her death, became a wound that would never heal. Death couldn't come soon enough.
"He would never have had reason to contact me had you honored our agreement," Threadgill murmured, his voice cutting through the tension. Felipe had no retort; Threadgill spoke the truth. Despite the brief interaction with Sophie-Anne, Threadgill had played his part. It would not have cost Felipe much to allow him the bar and casino he desired near the Quarter, a building that rightfully belonged to Sophie-Anne. Allowing Threadgill to claim it would have served Felipe's interests, yet his greed had blinded him, as he wanted Threadgill's plans for himself. In the five years since, the building still sat abandoned.
"Do you two have nothing to say to each other?" Eric asked, amusement evident in his tone.
"Of course, they don't," Sookie interjected, her voice laced with sarcasm. "We merely hastened the inevitable, and they both know it." A chuckle escaped her lips.
"You will have an eternity to ponder whether it was worth it," Eric's voice was calm, almost serene, as he loomed over Felipe.
"Had I known she was your child, I would never have come near this state," Felipe pleaded, desperation seeping into his voice, though he knew it would do him little good.
"No, had you known she was my child, you would have killed me and my other child," Eric replied, his voice steady as he met Felipe's gaze with unwavering resolve.
"She made me proud every day of her existence. You took her and so much more from us because your greed knew no bounds. You will suffer, and you will pray for true death, but it will never come. Enjoy the relative peace you will have here for the next few months while we pretend we have no idea what happened to you and Threadgill. We both know the other two are of no consequence to the Council." With that, the vampires began to file out.
"Relative peace? I don't think so," Sookie groused, her tone sharp and resolute. Neither Threadgill nor Felipe understood the screams of pleading that erupted from Victor or Compton as Sookie's hands ignited with a supernatural glow. It was now clear she was no mere human—after all, no human possessed the gift of telepathy. The pain that coursed through them was unlike anything they had ever experienced, a torment that eclipsed any previous suffering. Thanks to the wards surrounding the warehouse, their cries went unheard, trapped in hell.
Jennifer Carter had chosen to keep her distance during Eric's confrontation with the four traitors. Though she had no doubts about her actions, he was grateful for her decision. Eric had been aware of her intentions; he lied to Jennifer, assuring her he would deal with Threadgill soon. Yet, Eric had no intention of granting any of them the mercy of a true death. They deserved far worse.
"There you go," Eric said, handing over a stack of papers. "It's all registered and filed with the county office. The deeds to the building are in Jason's name, and he will testify to that if anyone comes asking questions."
"Thank you, Eric. I set out to save the vampires in my state, but this is an added bonus that is wholly welcome. You didn't have to do any of this, so thank you. If ever you need anything, do not hesitate to call." With a grateful smile, she took her leave.
"She is right; you didn't have to do any of that," Pam whispered, her voice laced with admiration.
Vampire establishments attract humans like moths to a flame. Eric had done what Felipe intended to do by giving them the building he promised. Jennifer would open the casino and bar with investment from Eric, and the profits would be split in half. He had also granted permission for the 'Fangtasia' name to be used in a bar in Little Rock. This would help Arkansas generate income, boosting the vampire community and the state's economy. On paper, it would appear as though Threadgill and Felipe approved the deal, and Felipe's sudden disappearance would be shrouded in mystery. Threadgill would be seen as a victim of a takeover gone wrong orchestrated by Jade Flower.
Eric was surprised it took Sandy eight days to show up at Fangtasia. "Sandy," he greeted, looking up from his desk.
"Sheriff," she returned, her expression grim. "Felipe… we believe he has met the true death." Eric leaned back in his chair, disbelief washing over him.
"When I left New Orleans ten days ago, he was perfectly fine. He was flying back to Nevada that evening. What the hell happened?"
"We are not entirely sure," Sandy sighed, her tone distinctly human. "He stayed in New Orleans three days longer than intended. He informed me of his change of plans but didn't provide an explanation. On the fourth night, his valet found his secure room open, and there was no sign of him. Sebastian is also nowhere to be found." Sandy's frustration morphed into questioning as she observed Eric's confused expression.
"No, Sebastian came with me. When I left New Orleans, Felipe asked me to bring him along. He is currently living with Sookie and her grandmother."
"The telepath," Sandy said, her confusion evident. "What happened?" she whispered.
"Have you informed the council?" Eric pressed.
"Yes, but here's where it gets interesting. Threadgill has also gone missing." Sandy's expression suggested she believed the two disappearances were interconnected.
"No, Threadgill isn't missing. Jade Flower attempted a takeover for reasons I don't care to know. The human owner of Threadgill's safehouse went missing, clearly abducted to facilitate access to the safehouse. Jade timed the takeover for when Jennifer Carter was finalizing a deal to use the name Fangtasia. She orchestrated an attack on Threadgill's residence, convincing him he needed to go to the safe house. She completely overlooked a young vampire when she attacked Threadgill at his safe house. She drove a chair leg into Flower's chest from behind." Sandy stared at Eric in disbelief. "Jennifer was sitting exactly where you are when the call came. She informed the Council, and she was given the state. Jennifer Carter is now queen of Arkansas."
"Right, this is what I get for listening to gossip." She groused. "The Council gave me a week to find Felipe, or he will be declared as having abdicated the throne. I'm afraid that declaration came yesterday. Louisiana will be handed over to you as regent until a new monarch can be appointed. You should be receiving a call from the Council soon." Her frustration at the lack of progress in finding Felipe was palpable.
Felipe's decision to keep Sandy in the dark had turned out to be a blessing. After Victor, it seemed Felipe had lost trust in those closest to him in Nevada. Eric found himself flabbergasted by the trust Felipe seemed to place in him. Yes, he had worked to build that trust, and handing over an asset like a telepath certainly went a long way in earning him credibility. In truth, Eric realized the trust between Felipe and Victor was paper thin to begin with. If all it took was for Sookie to say she had heard a thought for the trust to disintegrate. Their alliance was evidently destined for failure; Eric simply hastened the inevitable. They had only triumphed because none of the players trusted each other.
"Do you want to talk to Sebastian? He might be able to shed some light on what happened or why Felipe sent him away in the first place," Eric offered.
"Had I known about him before the week was up, I would have. But now it makes little difference. Even if I find Felipe today, he is no longer the monarch," Sandy grumbled. "Anyway, Sheriff, I doubt we will be seeing each other soon." With a sharp nod, she departed.
The call from the Council arrived two days after Sandy's visit. Vampire bureaucracy was as slow as that of humans. "Please hold for the Ancient Pythoness." Something in Eric's chest clenched with fear.
"Northman, if I had any intention of revealing your actions, I would have informed Sandy Seacrest where to find Felipe. I owe you and yours a debt of gratitude for your actions. I will recommend Thalia as queen of Louisiana, as I'm certain you do not want the role." Eric was frozen in a state of disbelief, the phone still pressed to his ear even after the call had ended. He didn't let go of the handset until Pam barged in, having sensed his apprehension.
"Eric," she said, concern etched across her features.
"The A.P. called to thank me for my actions. She owes me and mine a debt of gratitude," he whispered, still reeling in shock.
"Of course, she owes us a debt of gratitude. We likely saved the vampire world from those four idiots," Pam quipped, leaving him in a state of stunned realization. He hadn't for a single moment considered the A.P.