chapter forty-

three

                The next morning, Rachel and Sky and the other humans who were heavily involved with the trial went right to work. Rachel and Sky were quickly learning who’s who in the politics of the situation. Some of the humans were interested in the center and discussed with them how their monarchs might be able to get centers started in their own kingdom and sat with Sky and Rachel one on one to get help from them with grants and letters of request and how to approach the two natured in their home states. The three human attendants to the Pythoness were there, and they observed everything and collected their materials. Sky and Rachel imagined they were simply keeping the Pythoness abreast of what they were doing.

                “Tell us about the Queen of this state,” said Rachel.

                “Well,” began Des. “That is quite a story. She was named at birth Elizabeth Goode and her mother was Goody Goode, who was hung as a witch during the Salem Witch Trials. But that is not all. Though the human records do not have it, the vampires have told this tale amongst themselves. In the middle of the trial, a vampire came to sit in on the trial. You know Cotton Mather?”

                “Cotton Mather is a vampire?” asked Sky.

                “Yes, he is actually the maker of both Red Rita and Endora. Endora, then Elizabeth Goode was in jail with her mother, Goody Goode. Story has it Goody Goode was to be hung, but she conferred with Cotton Mather, who she knew was undead and begged him to take Elizabeth out so she would be safe. He did. He and Rita took her back to upstate Massachusetts. He made her vampire and she married Cotton’s son, Increase, also a vampire. Cotton met the true death in 1863, during the Civil War and Increase met the true death in 1894 during the vampire range wars. Elizabeth came back to Massachusetts to take hold of the reigns. There was no royalty and there was no authority to keep the vampires in check,” said Des.

                “So what is that like?” asked Rachel. “I mean, vampires without authority are a pretty wild bunch I suppose.”

                “There were factions and families, sort of like the gangsters of the thirties and forties and they were ruthless. Endora brought with her a whole army of vampires to settle the matter and they began setting up the kingdom. They have a very complex system here, and the old ways they set up are the exception to the rest of the vampire world. For example, you know how it works for your kingdom, the sheriffs and the seconds and the regent. Well you could go into any kingdom and with few exceptions, that is the way it is done, you will see the whole set up repeated from kingdom to kingdom.”

                By the time lunch came around, the girls felt a little more informed about the trial and the stands that the monarchs had taken in regards to Eric’s friendship. The girls also learned more about the humans who were involved with the Deadacrat movement and had made lists of the senators and congress people who were submitting these bills to the various legislative branches. These politicians in the human world were taking money from a vampire who was paying them to restrict the rights of his fellow vampires in the human world.

                “This is a lot like the mob, they liked the people to stay traditional, not learn English and live in these Little Italy’s so they can feed off their own kind and the only way they can be protected is by leaning heavily on their monarch,” said Dezzy.

                “This happened when the vampires first came here,” said Diana Stanton, the human companion and accountant for Stan Davis. “Stan told me when the European vampires first came here there were range wars, for lack of a better word.”

                “How long has Stan been here?” asked Rachel.

                “A couple of hundred years. He lived in Eastern Europe for a long time, but came over for the opportunity in the new world. He has been king only a couple of years and this last year has been hard on him,” said Diana.

                “Why?” asked Sky.

                “De Castro. He wants Texas. He wants the oil and the land. He has sent problem vampires into Texas, causing human scrutiny into his affairs and Texas has the most well developed vampire incarceration scheme in the US. I hear they are planning new vampire prisons all over the country. The plan is to have ten super max vampire prisons in key places, two or three in each territory,” said Diana.

                “Most small police stations do not even have vampire law enforcement,” said Rachel. “They are pressuring our town to put in two vampire proof cells. Bon Temps can’t afford it.” 

                “They will have to do it whether they want to or not. The vampires are going to be taxed a special tax only they have to pay to hire vampire police officers and have vampire proof holding cells until they can be remanded to larger facilities,” said Dezzy. “I will email you the information I have received.”

                “Thank you, that will be helpful,” said Sky.

                “Well we better get ready for the trial,” said Rachel        

                “What is that like, a trial in the vampire world?” asked Sky.

                “Humans are rarely permitted to observe, but we will be there because we are with vampires,” said Dezzy. “It will be exciting.”

               

                Rachel was rummaging around in her bag when Bill woke and slid out of bed and sped to her in a dash and pressed his hips against hers. “Good evening sweetheart,” he said, stroking her silky panties.

                “Well, you are all bright eyed and bushy tailed, as my dad says,” she said.

                “I don’t feel very fatherly toward you at this moment,” he said. He leaned forward and kissed her between the shoulder blades.  She turned to him and he put his arms around her.

                “Well, how do you feel Mr. Compton?” she asked coyly.

                “Let me take some time out and show you Mrs. Compton,” he said. He picked her up and put her back on the rumpled bed. He stood there for a moment and looked at her. “You are so beautiful, so perfect.” He laid down beside her and pulled her against him.

                They had their supper in the main dining room and when Quinn announced it was time for the trial to convene, everyone stood up and began to file into the court. Everyone processed as last night with the exception of the Pythoness. She now had Britlingen with her and this was the first time Sky and Rachel, and many of the other humans, had a chance to see them. Sky looked at Rachel. Rachel raised an eyebrow indicating she shared Sky’s silent opinion, they were the strangest women they had ever seen.

                The Pythoness was dressed in royal purple, like a toga, and her white hair was glossy and hung down on her shoulders. She looked like an escapee from an ancient painting of Roman or Greek patricians. She settled herself in the large chair and the Britlingen took up positions behind her chair. Isaiah Boone was unhappy with this state of affairs, he felt helpless in the room full of vampires.  De Castro was stoic, but there was a flicker when he saw the Britlingen. He could not believe Boone had actually given up his beloved Britlingen.

                Quinn the weretiger called the court to order when the judges filed in and took their seat on the stage above. The ornate stake was still on the center of the table. The only thing that was different was the presence of seven humans who were sitting behind them. They must be the judge’s assistants. Quinn’s voice rumbled again. “The court is meeting and the judges are being seated in the matter of Filipe De Castro King of Nevada, Arkansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma and Louisiana, being brought by Eric Northman, Regent of Louisiana. “

                Both vampires and their counsel stood up when Quinn said their names. Bill and Christian Baruch stood up as well. So, Baruch was De Castro’s second. That was interesting, seeing as how he wanted Louisiana and resented it De Castro had chosen Eric over him, regardless of his ulterior motive. Quinn then ordered a reading of the formal charges Eric had sworn out against his King. After the charges  were read, everyone sat down and the testimony began.

                Rachel was fascinated. For all the times she had asked her dad if she could watch him in trial, her father never allowed her to go and though she would have enjoyed it much better if her man wasn’t in mortal danger, she was interested in how a vampire trial would be conducted. She had her computer ready to write the testimony and watch the surrounding vampires and their reactions. Bill had his iPad out and hooked up his key board so he could take notes as well. He turned slightly and looked at Rachel. She smiled nervously.

                Filipe De Castro looked somber and serious. Eric looked confident. Sky closed her eyes and sent him confidence vibes and he looked at her. He did not make any motions to her but turned back to listen to his first witness, King Stan Davis, testify to the troubles he had with his neighbor and what he had been forced to do to gain control of his kingdom again. He spoke of rogue fledglings and Sino AIDS and vampire blood being peddled.

                “But aren’t those problems common in most every kingdom these days since your kind came out of the coffin?” asked Simon Maimonides.

                “They were problems in my kingdom, yes,” said Stan. “But when my sheriffs brought these young vampires in to answer questions, they were discovered to be from Louisiana.  I learned they had been brought to Nevada for a period of time before being sent to  my kingdom and were told to do whatever they could to disrupt my kingdom and to infect as many fellow vampires as they could with Sino AIDS.”

                “And you learned this how?” asked Maimonides.

                “We confiscated their cell phones. Some had lap top computers with this information on it. I have submitted all this information to Regent Northman and I have submitted this information to the court.”

                “And we have looked at it. How are we to know you did not manufacture this information?”

                “I can’t imagine you think me that clever,” said Stan. “Or that imaginative, that I would actually have my vampires and humans waste time manufacturing this and using it to prove my situation. I did collect the bulk of this material in the last six months, but truthfully, this has been going on since De Castro took over Louisiana. My sheriff’s records will attest to that.”

                Rachel shook her head. Maybe this was not a thing vampire would think of, but she knew her dad would never have allowed Stan to say all of that. Perhaps it was different for vampires. She continued to listen to the counsel and Stan Davis. Finally, Desmond Cataliades stood.

                “Do you have a grudge against King Filipe De Castro?” he asked.

                “No,” said Stan. “I don’t think he is a very good king. If he were, he would get a grip on these vampires but it is not up to me to remark or reprimand another sovereign for the way he or she runs their affairs so long as it does not affect my kingdom. I will even help a monarch who is having difficulty, but I don’t simply dump problem vampires into another kingdom.”

                Monarch after monarch in the Amun territory stepped up and spoke against King De Castro.  When Red Rita Morgan got up to testify he leaped up and attacked her and beat her in the face. Sky had never seen a vampire actually bruise like that before and she screamed, trying to protect her face. Eric and Bill stood up but Desmond Cataliades held them back and protested to the Ancient Pythoness.  When order was restored, one of the judges stood. “Ancient Pythoness, this is an outrage. Even if De Castro is found innocent of the charges levied by his regent, we demand justice,” said Betty Jo Picard.  The Pythoness held her hands up for silence.

                “I have never witnessed so insolent a trial,” said the Pythoness. “Filipe De Castro, you will pay this court one million dollars, to be given to a general fund to support the outreach programs for the vampire community. At least they can teach others how to behave in this court.”

                “Pythoness, while my client’s actions were ill advised, he has the right to reprimand his own regent, she was put in a position of trust and she has turned her back on her oath. Had she a legitimate claim against her king, Regent Morgan should have made her own charges.”

                “Damn him then, an’ I will, “she said in a thick Scottish accent. The Pythoness held her hands out to silence her.

                “Joining this consolidated claim is sufficient,” said the Pythoness.

                “Then I share the burden of responsibility with my fellow Regent Eric Northman. I cannot allow him to shoulder the entire burden of the formal charges,” said Regent Morgan. 

                “Consider this as my word, Red Rita Morgan will shoulder the responsibility and also share the same fate as Northman should he lose the case. Move along, Regent Morgan and do not waste this court’s time,” she said. The Pythoness was aggravated with all of them, but to be fair, her ire was mainly towards the king of Nevada.

                “I can tell you the kingdom of my responsibility has been over burdened. Arkansas is a poor kingdom and yet we pay incredible tithes to our king. I don’t mind a fair tithe. What I cannot stomach is the way my kingdom of responsibility has been handicapped by De Castro. Arkansas does not have much, what it has though is scenery and I wished to invest in a human/vampire/ two nature venture. It was a modest but lucrative one, a retreat for everyone to hunt, relax, be ourselves, among others that understand us and our needs. We have to cooperate with all the beings in our kingdom. My king was short sighted and could not see how lucrative this would be. He detests two-natured. To punish my zeal for the project, he added extra levies against my kingdom and I am now broke. Had it not been for Eric Northman, I would not have been able to attend this trial,” said Morgan.

                “Is this true?” asked the Ancient Pythoness.

                “This was a folly, like the plan to have a hospice in Louisiana for vampires with Sino-AIDS. No vampire would avail himself to this sort of plan,” said De Castro. Eric leaned back and motioned for Sky to come to him. She got up and moved quickly to him and he whispered to her. She nodded emphatically and picked up the thick bound  notebook and opened it.

                “Ancient Pythoness, will you listen to my wife?” asked Eric.

                “This is beyond the limit, humans interfering in our legal rituals?” asked De Castro.

                “Is this relevant Regent Northman?” asked the Pythoness.

                “It is,” said Eric. Sky stood up with the book in her hand.

                “Ma’am, when Mrs. Compton and I were formulating our plans for the Tolerance Center and trying to decide what services were definitely needed, we were in contact with a human group who was working with the vampire community. These humans noted the sufferers of Sino-AIDS were often dying alone, unseen and heard of in the open and in their homes, simply wasting away. Since the opening of the Tolerance Center, we have networked and made money available to regrant to other groups serving the vampire community and we are happy to announce Marc ____ has opened the first vampire hospice in the old St Lucien fever hospital. It is fully staffed by vampire physicians and there are other organizations  which have been contributing, offering comfort and aid to these the most unfortunate of your community.” Sky went back and sat down with Rachel who grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

                “So, humans have more compassion for our people than their own kind, including their ruling kings,” said the Ancient Pythoness.

                “The rates of infection have been exaggerated,” said De Castro lazily. “Besides, it has been our way to let the weakest of our kind die off to keep the population strong. That is why vampires must have permission to make new vampires.”

                “They don’t always ask for permission. I have given the true death to three vampires in my regency for making vampires without permission,” said Red Rita Morgan. “For money, they will turn any human vampire with little or no instruction about their new life and their new responsibilities. These fledgling vampires are lost; they don’t know how to deal with the change.  I know for a fact, Eric Northman refused a vampire and for a hefty bribe, De Castro put pressure on Regent Northman to give permission.”

                “Is this true?” asked the Pythoness.

                “Yes,” said Eric. “Charlotta Phillips, the wife of the Lt. Governor of Louisiana is vampire and there was a push to give her permission to make her husband vampire but Charlotta is a poor maker and I have records of her being reprimanded for selling the gift and for making vampires and abandoning them. I too agree that allowing weaker vampires to die strengthens the community, but I also believe in responsible making. A responsible maker would teach their progeny how to avoid Sino-AIDS, avoid killing their blood meals, avoid harming humans. When I refused her, she went over my head to De Castro, and she was given permission to make her husband.” Rachel shook her head again. Eric did not mention the Deadacrat movement. Maybe there was a reason, so she kept her mouth shut.

                “Did you accept a bribe to do this?” asked the Ancient Pythoness.

                “No,” said De Castro. “But she did make a donation to a pet project I have in Oklahoma.”

                “Do you think me a fool?” asked the Pythoness.

                “No, Pythoness,” said De Castro.

                When Red Rita was finished with her testimony, she sat down. The court was quiet as the Pythoness listened to the whisperings of one of the judges.  They looked toward Sky and then at Eric and then at De Castro and back to Red Rita Morgan. The Pythoness nodded and the judge, Sandy Seacrest of Nevada, sat back down.

                “The Judges have asked that humans not be allowed to speak anymore in this hearing. I hesitate to do this, we are coming into a new age, though one of our judges does not believe the new age is necessarily tonight. I will call this evening’s proceedings closed until tomorrow night. I remind both parties they are still under the authority of the court and I bid you good evening,” said the Pythoness.

                Sky leaned back against Eric’s chest in the big bathtub. He squeezed her against him. “So do you think they will toss out mine and Rachel’s testimony?”

                “For some reason, I don’t think this move is about you and Rachel,” said Eric.

                “Rachel and I are the only ones who have contributed to the court,” said Sky.

                “But it was Sandy Seacrest. She was the contact person between the Louisiana vampire community and the king of Nevada before Victor Madden became the regent.  She was a very sensible person and easy to work with,” he said.

                “I wish I could say something, something that will soften the blow of whatever they might say about you,” said Sky. “Do you think they will bring in information from that nasty little tabloid book about “The Beast of Shreveport”?” she said, tweaking his thigh.

                “If they are protesting human testimony, I don’t see as how they could introduce that book as evidence of anything,” said Eric. “That may be what Sandy is trying to prevent. What you informed the court of was simple numbers, statistics, you said nothing about me.”

                “True,” said Sky.

                “Let me up, I have an idea,” he said. She leaned forward and drew her legs up so Eric could get out of the warm tub. He wrapped and towel around his shoulders and went to the suite and grabbed his cell phone.

                Bill’s phone rang. He got up from the table and grabbed his phone from the dresser top. “Compton,” he said.

                “Bill, Sky and I were chatting and she asked about the request of the court,” said Eric.

                “Rachel and I have been talking about it,” said Bill.

                “Sandy was a very reasonable vampire. Sky wondered if they were thinking about introducing information from the book that was written about me by that reporter.”

                “Interesting thought,” said Bill. “Would that constitute human testimony?”

                “It could, I think. Is there any way you can put Rachel on your chat and have the window open so she can message you about information that came from the book, since she read it for us?” asked Eric.

                “Sure,” said Bill. “I will set her up now.”

                “Does she have the book with her?” asked Eric.

                “Let me ask,” he said. “Rachel, sweetheart, do you have that book the reporter wrote about Eric?”

                “‘The Beast of Shreveport’ book? Yeah, I have it,” she said. She rummaged around in her bag and pulled it out. It amused Bill to see she had marked it with tiny colored placeholders to mark certain things.

                “She has it Eric and she has heavily marked it,” said Bill, smiling at Rachel.

                 “Tell her to make sure she brings it with her and if she hears anything that sounds like something from the book, then she can warn you,” said Eric.

                “I will, good thinking on yours and Sky’s part,” said Bill. He hung up and sat back down.  “Sweetheart, I am going to send you a link and I want you to click on it and fill out the membership and get an account.”

                “What is it?” she asked.

                “It is my special chat group I have, I need you to be able to silently chat with me in court, “ he said.

                “About what?” she asked.

                “I need you to warn me when you think questions are coming from that book,” he said. “If the Pythoness has been asked to bar any human testimony, then this would be construed as human testimony.”

                “It is also hearsay,” said Rachel. “There might be an argument this is a dying declaration, but it would be sort of tricky.”

                “Let us worry about that, just message me if questions come from information culled from the book,” he said. “There, I sent you the link.” She opened the email, followed the link, and filled out the membership and Bill waited for it and accepted it.

                “VampWife?” he asked.

                “Yeah,” she said. “Is that okay?”

                “It is,” he said, an amused look on his face. “Now, message me.” Rachel thought about what she wanted to say and grinned as she wrote her first message. Bill watched the chat box and saw her message.

                VampWife: Wanna fool around?

                VampChatLeader: Sure, I’ll meet you in bed. I’ll be the one in the fangs.

                VampWife: Oooooo see you there.

                She shut down her computer and Bill was already there, having shut off his computer and stripped faster than she could see him. She pulled off her clothes and scooted onto the bed. Bill pulled her down against him and kissed her. “Fangs please, you said you would be the one in the fangs.” Bill extended his fangs and she smiled. She kissed his mouth and licked his fangs a little. “I love the fact you are a vampire.”

                “My little fangbanger,” he growled.

                “I am not a fangbanger,” she pouted.

                “No you aren’t,” he said. “But you are mine.”

                “And you are mine,” she said. “Does the mine rule work both ways?”

                “It does for me,” he said. He stroked her long black hair.

                “Do you miss Sookie?” she asked.

                “No,” he said. “You are my wife and my heart. I suspect I have not missed Sookie for a very long time. Sort of like… I was in love with what I remembered of her, and even for a vampire, those memories could be subjective.”

                “You don’t ever wish I were blond, taller and curvier?” she asked.

                “No, I like everything about you. I like that you are small and delicate and dark,” he said. “I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

                The next evening, Bill and Rachel and Sky and Eric shared a table with Russell Edgington and Bartlett Crowe. They chatted easily with the two Kings and told them all about the Tolerance Center and told them about the two natured joining with them. Russell was delighted. He had been working with the werewolf population for some time, though the Pack Master had been an ass. “And how is Alcide Herveaux?”

                “He is doing great, he built mine and Sky’s houses,” said Rachel. “And in record time too.” Bart then engaged Rachel in a description of the Arts and Crafts/Tudor style home they had built. Sky scanned the crowd and noticed Filipe De Castro talking to his lawyer. Sky stroked Eric’s hand briefly to get him to look at her and he followed her gaze to De Castro. De Castro looked up and smiled at him and nodded at him.

                “Prick,” muttered Eric as he turned to look at Sky. “You look particularly radiant this evening lover.”

                “You always put a smile on my face,” she said. Quinn stepped up to the table.

                “Yes?” said Eric, turning to look at Quinn. Sky could tell her husband had no love for the weretiger. She didn’t know why, but that was a tale for another day, she suspected.

                “I came to let you know, the ladies will be allowed to go into the courtroom early to set up their computers, that way as soon as the Ancient Pythoness is seated we can begin immediately.

                “Very well,” said Eric. “Heidi, you and Pam escort the ladies up to our suites and let them get their computers so they can set up.”

                “Sweetheart, take my iPad with you and just turn it on, I will get myself online when I sit down,” said Bill.

                “Okay,” said Rachel. She stood up and kissed Bill on the mouth and Sky did the same, squeezing her husband’s shoulder as she walked away from them. Russell and Bart watched the warm exchange.

                “I have to say, Eric, you and Bill are well matched,” said Bart. “I never thought Sookie was worthy really of all the attention you gave her.”

                “They are perfect wives for us, they are talented and intelligent and they work with us,” said Eric.

                Pam and Heidi walked briskly down the hall with Rachel and Sky. Everyone was on edge and when Palomino approached them from out of nowhere, Pam hissed at her. “Peace, Pam, I have to warn you, De Castro is up to something, so be careful.”

                “I will pass it on,” said Pam. Palomino nodded and walked on by. They hurried the girls a little faster toward their suites and they grabbed the computers and bags and headed back. The conference room was empty except for a few hotel staff, filling pitchers of water and blood at the tables. Two humans apparently working for the King of Nevada were setting up the computers needed by his lawyer and they were looking surreptitiously at Sky and Rachel and Pam and Heidi who were guarding them as they set everything up. Rachel turned on her computer and then turned on Bill’s iPad and she logged into the chat and reduced it on her tool bar and then she pulled out the book. She had taken a little time and covered the book in plain paper because she did not want anyone to notice that she had the book while the testimony was being given.

                A waitress from the hotel asked the girls if they could bring them anything special, and they ordered sodas. The waitress left and Sky and Rachel sat down and made themselves comfortable. The humans who were setting up for the King of Nevada left the conference room.  The waitress reappeared and se their sodas on the tables in front of them and left.

                They did not have to wait long before the vampires who were the judges filed in and sat down while their humans were busy hooking up their computers. Rachel enlarged the chat room and noticed a couple of vampires had logged in. She touched Pam who leaned forward and looked. She looked at the judges and said nothing. She pulled out her phone and texted Eric.

                “Pam texted me, there are friends in your chat room with your wife,” said Eric.

                “Are they speaking to her?” he asked. Eric typed and looked at the screen.

                “No,” he said.

                “Tell her not to respond if anyone should attempt to communicate with her,” said Bill.  Eric nodded and typed it in.

                “She said she will not,” said Eric.

                Finally, there were people coming into the room. They were mostly the spectators. These were not merely the vampire companions, they were serious humans who worked with the vampire royalty of their state. Sky and Rachel saw Dezzy and she nodded in their direction and there were a few others. Soon the conference room was full and settled with only low murmurs of discussion. Bart and Russell came and sat down behind Rachel and Sky, beside Pam and Heidi. They patted the girls on the shoulders and smiled confidently at them. Finally the litigants came in. Rachel had to squelch a desire to giggle. It would be all too easy to see Judge Judy come in and listen to the two sides. Had it not been so serious, she would have whispered this to Sky.

                Eric and Bill sat down at their table with Cataliades and De Castro sat down with Maimonides. Sky could not figure out why Desmond’s brother would defend that leech. She hated De Castro with a passion. Her hate must have sent waves to De Castro because he suddenly looked at her and sneered at her. Sky put her hand on Eric’s shoulder and he turned to her. He patted her hand and turned forward.

                The Ancient Pythoness came in. She was dressed in the same purple toga/robe thing she had been wearing last night. For some reason she looked tired. Sky looked at Rachel and she looked at the Ancient Pythoness and noted the same thing. She looked at Sky and shrugged. Rachel went to the keyboard and typed.

                VampWife: The AP looks…weary.

                VampChatLeader: She does.

                “This court is in session,” said Quinn. “Mr. Cataliades, do you have anything further?”

                “No, not at this time, but I reserve the right to rebuttal questioning,” said Desmond.

                “Very well, Simon Maimonides, you have the floor,” said Quinn.