chapter twenty-one

Merlotte’s was busy when Bill and Rachel walked in. Sam looked up and smiled at them.  Bill put his hand up and Holly came up and seated them. “How are you doing tonight?”

“Very well thank you Holly, could I have a TrueBlood,” said Bill.

“And I will have an Abida light and could I get a basket of fries and some ranch dressing?” she asked.

“You sure can,” said Holly. “I’ll bring you your drinks. Bill what type did you want?”

“AB negative if you have it,” he said.

“Coming your way,” she said. She scooted off to drop off the order for fries and to get the beer and blood.

“Are you okay Rachel?” asked Bill.

“Yeah,” she said. “It was really nerve wracking.”

“You did beautifully,” he said.

“Well, it didn’t hurt that I could get away with telling the truth,” she said.

“I will never ask you to be untruthful unless you have to be,” he said.

“I appreciate that, I am not much of an actress,” she said. Sam came over with their drinks.

“Here you go, house red for the gentleman, Abida light for the lady.”

“Thank you Sam, the bar seems to be really busy,” said Bill.

“Yes,” he said. “I got stocked back up on the food and the beer and whiskey. The alcohol came unexpectedly. I suspect Eric.”

“Well, he wants your business to be successful, he is the lease holder,” said Bill.

“That is true,” said Sam. “How are things going with…”

“We gave our official interview this evening,” said Bill.

“Yeah, Andy came around and did our interview here while we were setting up this morning,” said Sam. “Think she…”

“We have to have faith she is where she expected to be,” said Bill, carefully.

“I guess so,” said Sam.

“Be careful of our other interested parties,” said Bill.

“I am always on the lookout for them,” said Sam.

“Any strange vampires and shifters, let me know,” said Bill.

“Sure will,” he said. Holly appeared with Rachel’s fries. She laid them on the table in front of Rachel who salted them liberally. “Well you all enjoy.”

Eric drove through the secured neighborhood and watched Sky’s reaction to it. “It seems like the very last place you would find a thousand year old vampire,” she said. He smiled.

“That is just what I wanted to hear,” said the vampire. “I wanted to be inconspicuous, well as inconspicuous as I can be.”

“Yeah, you stick out like a cock roach on a wedding cake,” she said. He laughed

“I suppose I do,” he said. He pulled in to an unassuming ranch style fieldstone house. He pulled out his remote control and opened his garage door and drove straight in. He turned off his car and they both got out, Eric opening the trunk and grabbing Sky’s cases. He walked over to the key pad on the door and pressed in his code, sharing the code with Sky. He walked in and toed off his shoes and Sky did the same. He sat the bags by the door for the mean time and watched her as she looked around at his house. He had replaced the couches and chairs and the coffee table. She looked at the art on his walls and the hard wood floors.

“I didn’t expect it to be so nice and stylish,” she said. “It looks like a great place to relax on a rainy night and read or watch TV. Do you watch TV?”

“I watch some things on TV but I like movies,” he said. “Through there is a guest room and my office and a small bathroom. Then there is my bedroom. Would you like to see it?”

“Sure,” she said. He walked over to her and opened the steel security door of his room and turned on the lights and led her downstairs.

“When I bought this house in the early ‘50’s this was the ‘game room’, “he explained. “I had the sliding doors replaced with a concrete and cinder block wall and I had a bathroom installed and I sent for my bed.”

“Sent for your bed?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “It was given to me centuries ago.” When they came into the room, she was fascinated. She looked at everything, from the same wood floors that were in the upstairs to the hide rug and the marble in the gigantic bathroom.

“Good god, Eric, I could do laps in that tub,” she said.

“I loved the Roman baths. My maker was Roman and he took me to Rome and I loved the baths,” he said. “The only thing I loved about Rome.”

“You didn’t like your maker?” she asked.

“I was relieved when he finally let me go,” said Eric.

                “Where is he now?” asked Sky.

                “A fairy gave him the true death. Sookie did the same favor to Bill,” said Eric. “Though, I definitely could understand if Bill was extremely grateful. She was a miserable bitch.”

                “That woman he killed was his sister?” she asked.

                “Not his biological sister, his vampire sister, she had the same maker,” said Eric. He watched Sky looking at his big bed. “Would you like to take a bath?”

                “With you?” she asked.

                “No, I thought I would make you bathe alone,” he said.

                “Smart ass,” she said. “I would love to take a bath with you.”

                “Does the lack of windows bother you?” he asked.

                “No, I rather expected it,” she said. He took her hand and led her into the bathroom. He slowly began to undress her.

                “I thought we could go on ahead and finish the blood bond before we bathe,” he said softly, his fangs snicking out. “That way we can just relax in the water and be stoned on each other.”

                “That is a rather nice effect,” she said, letting him make her naked. He cupped her breast.

                “Your breasts are so sweet and your nipples remind me of ripe berries,” he said, lowering his head to kiss and suck one and then the other. Her hand went to the back of his head, her fingers in his hair. He raised up and kissed her mouth and put his hands in her curls. “Do you want to put your hair up?”

                “I better,” she said.

                “There are hair bands in the cup on the sink,” he said. She turned and wadded her hair up and banded it in a messy sort of knot. Eric undressed while she did it. He walked up to her and pressed himself against her. “You are so beautiful.” He kissed her neck and reached around the front to her breasts. She turned to him. He lifted her up and sat her on the bathroom counter. He pulled her to him and kissed her. He moaned deep in his chest as he invaded her mouth. She pulled him closer to her and he released her. She nibbled his neck and his shoulder and he pulled her legs around his waist.

                “Eric,” she whispered.

                “Now,” he whispered. “Now, hard.” She kissed the spot and then opened her mouth and bit hard on his shoulder. He gasped and relished the sharpness of her mouth and the hard sucking. He bit down on her at the same time, drinking her in as she sucked him out. When his wound healed, he pulled out of her shoulder and licked it til it began to heal. She pulled his head back and kissed him hard. She was thrusting against him, wanting him. He picked her up and took her back into his bedroom and laid her on his bed. He watched her as she moved up the mattress, her hair escaping the band. He followed her and opened her thighs and got between them. She put her legs around his hips and flexed toward him.

                “Now,” she said, demanding him. He flipped them so he lay on his back and she was on top of him. She aimed him and slid down over him and began to make love with him. She was strong and healthy and free with herself and her body. She pulled his hands over his head and her hands circled his wrists and she moved against him. She looked into his eyes, which was something he loved. She was wild, thrusting and grinding herself against him. She nibbled on his skin and made him moan and struggled with him as he flipped her back over on her back and shoved forward. She growled and bit his lips and he grazed her with his fangs drawing little drops of blood. Sky’s capacity for pleasure was unmitigated and he encouraged her. When he came, she came with him, the both of them crying out. He shivered against her and they fell away from each other but Eric gathered her against him.

                “Wow, you were…” she said, a little dopey.

                “It was…you were magnificent, a Valkyrie,” he said, working his fingers gently through her hair, releasing it. He rubbed the red fiery curls on his pale chest. “My Sky.”

                “You are mine,” she said.

                “And you are mine,” said Eric.

                Latesta’s interview with a vampire was not as satisfying as Sky’s. He stood there, desperately trying not to piss on himself. When he called De Castro with the news Sookie Stackhouse and her little cousin Hunter was apparently dead, De Castro told him to fly to Vegas, promising him if he did not appear he would not like the escorts he would send to collect him.

                He stood there as the vampire walked around him. He did not move. He just stood still on the theory if he was still, De Castro would not be interested in attacking him. Living to see the next 15 minutes was his goal. His life could be measured with a stopwatch.

                “So, let me get this straight. I do admit I am an old-fashioned guy, having been made in the 1640’s. You were told to keep track of Sookie Stackhouse and her cousin that you were to acquire both. You let the little boy slip through your fingers by allowing who I now know was Judith Vardamon get the boy and then allowing him to be taken by Northman and Compton. Then you communicate with me and let me know that you have the location of both and you will be able to get them both. ‘Fishing in a Bucket’ was the expression you used. Then, you get an important tool killed during the firebombing of his business. Then you tell me there was going to be a party. You wait until the party breaks up and you sit there and watch the subjects go up in an explosion. You have not heard from Judith, whom I fear has met the true death, and for some reason, my guardians are not interested in working for you. They say you waste their potential. At first I doubted them, but now I am beginning to believe them,” said the vampire.

                “It looks like a propane gas leak. The fire marshal carried away the tank and mechanism that hooked the fuel to her house,” said Latesta.

                “An accident. A providential accident. Most…fortuitous,” he said. “And what reward do you think you should receive for this?”

                “I understand you are disappointed, but I can still help you get to Northman and Compton,” said Latesta. “And besides, they have not seen one scrap of a human body in the wreckage.”

                “The house burned down did it not? I understand the house was so decimated all that was left was the floor and it revealed a light tight area for vampires to rest in,” said the king. “What makes you think they simply did not burn away?”

                “Perhaps they did, but I think we should keep her in our sights. It would not surprise me if Northman and Compton were hiding her. My sources say she withdrew a great deal of money. She could be anywhere,” said Latesta. “I still have very loyal friends in the bureau. They could keep their ear on the ground.”

                “You and your friends could not hear an elephant fart before it shits on you,” he said. “You are the most remarkably stupid fuck-up I have ever met. No wonder they got rid of you at the FBI.”

                “Tell me what I can do to make this up to you,” he asked, trying not to sound terrified.

                “Get out of my sight, this is going to delay my action by months,” said De Castro. “But stay in contact. I may call you at a moment’s notice.”

                He wasted no time getting out of Las Vegas.

The day of the memorial, Bill and Rachel were dressing together in the bathroom. She was smoothing on a little powder and he was tying his tie. She washed her hands and dried them and went over to help him straighten his collar. “There you go,” she said.

“You don’t have to come with me this evening, you didn’t know Sookie,” said Bill.

“I know you and I know Eric, sorta, and I know Sam and Luna and Jason,” she said. “Unless you are uncomfortable with me there, with all those people who knew you dated Sookie and now you are bringing a girlfriend to her memorial service.”

“No, sweetheart, not at all. Just I have dealt with death all my existence. I know humans become sad and confused about death,” he said.

“Not me,” she said. “Death is natural. My gran said death was a gentleman and he knew how to treat a lady.” Bill said nothing, just leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. He knew different, death was no gentleman, sometimes death was a bastard.

Eric was holding Sky’s hand as he listened to the minster talk about the gates of heaven, the angels wrapping their arms around the souls of the saved and the great and glorious day when all hearts were opened and all secrets known and all God’s Children would have wings. Then Jason got up.

“My sister was not the best loved person in Bon Temps. In fact there are an awful lot of you out there who tormented her and shunned her because of her special gift. You know who you are and you should be ashamed of being here. But there are other people who loved her, loved her the best way they could and though they didn’t always do a great job of it, they tried which was a lot more than some of you ever did. She made her peace with you in her own way and her own time and that makes it all good, debts are paid.

“She loved other people and she loved this town although there were lots of times this town did stuff to let her know they could do without her. I heard some radio show guy talking about how Sookie was busting hell wide open. But they never saw how generous she was, how she opened her home to people who didn’t have a home, gave friendship to people who had no friends, giving money to the fire department, to the mental health center for abused children and she never passed a Salvation Army kettle without dropping something in it. She helped Sam when haters threatened to close his business down and she still is, ain’t she Sam?” Sam nodded. Jason went on extolling his sister’s virtues when Bill tracked a large black car going slowly down the cemetery road and on to his house. Bill looked at Eric. He nodded minutely.

“I want to thank a few guys for getting this memorial fixed so soon and getting it up here and getting the base built and poured and even paying for it. Bill, Eric, Alcide, Sam, she cared a lot for you guys, and you all have done right by her. Thank you.” Jason turned and Hoyt helped him move the sheet off the stone object. It was a pair of angels with a little boy angel in between them. Everyone who mattered to Sookie knew who the figures were though some did not know who Preston Pardloe was.

There were a couple of prayers and Tara said a few things but finally it was over and Sky handed Eric a bunch of lilies and Rachel some roses to Bill and the two vampires stood side by side and laid their flowers on the pedestal of her monument and then stepped back. “It looks as though De Castro received your message,” said Eric.

“Yes,” he said. Bill motioned to Sam. “Sam, can you take the girls to Merlotte’s. Eric and I have an unavoidable meeting.”

“Your enemies come at you with smiles,” said Sam. “From Goodfella’s, about mobsters.”

“But wisdom beyond measure,” mumbled Eric.

“Sure, we can take the girls,” said Sam. Bill and Eric went to the girls.

“Sam is going to take you to Merlotte’s. An unexpected visitor has come to pay his respects and he will want to do this in the sole presence of vampires,” said Bill. “We will meet you there in an hour.”

“Of course Bill,” said Rachel. She kissed him on the mouth.

“Be careful big guy,” said Sky. He leaned down and kissed her.

“I’ll only be a little while,” he said.

When the girls took off with Sam, Bill and Eric went to meet their king. He was in black and not smiling. In fact, he looked very angry.

                “Your majesty,” said Bill, bowing.

                “That will do,” said De Castro. “I came to talk to you about Sookie Stackhouse.”

                “We just came from her memorial service,” said Eric. “You missed it, it was lovely.”

                “I could vomit,” said De Castro. “How long is this going to go on?”

                “I don’t know what you mean,” said Bill.

                “She isn’t dead, you are hiding her,” said De Castro. “I want you to produce her in 24 hrs or I will tear you apart.”

                “She did not survive the explosion,” said Eric. “Her house is a scorch mark. Her brother is rebuilding the family home on the place where it once stood.”

                “Why should I believe you?” asked De Castro.

                “Because we are telling you the truth,” said Bill. “Eric had to extend a loan to Jason Stackhouse to rebuild. Her insurance was not enough. Do you think Eric is a philanthropist?”

                “He must be, he has rented Vic’s Roadhouse to a shifter who has not paid a nickel of rent,” said De Castro.

                “Actually, he has,” said Eric. “And sooner than I anticipated. He sent me a check for one thousand dollars and gave me a two thousand dollar cash deposit. Far more than I anticipated.”

                “How sure are you the woman and her little cousin are dead?” asked the king.

                “We will never see her again,” said Eric quietly. “Now, if you will excuse me, we are holding a wake in her honor at Sam Merlotte’s.” He turned and left. The king looked at Bill.

                “And you Bill? I remember you swearing to die for her,” said the king.

                “She died by misadventure, it was beyond me to save her, by the time I got here, the house was gone,” said Bill. “I, too, am on my way to the wake.”

                “Will you be all alone?” he asked.

                “Sookie and I were no longer lovers but that does not reduce my affections for her or my sense of loss with her death,” said Bill.

                “Very well,” said De Castro. “I hear Bubba has met the true death.”

                “He did, unfortunately, at the hand of a Take Back the Night member,” said Bill. “We will be taking him home to Tennessee this weekend, to see him buried and give his human family his considerable fortune.”

                “A great loss,” said De Castro.

                “He was a friend to our kind,” said Bill.

                “Good evening Bill,” said De Castro.

                “Your majesty,” he said, bowing. De Castro got back into his car and Bill watched him drive away. He went to his own car and got in and headed out to Merlotte’s.

                Eric relaxed visibly when Bill came into Merlotte’s. He sat down beside Rachel and India came with a warm TrueBlood AB neg. “Thank you, India. Are you accompanying us to Tennessee for Bubba’s lying to rest?” asked Bill.

                “Yeah, Pam said I needed to let you know so you could arrange for my seat on Anubis Air,” she said.

                “Better late than never, I actually took a chance and bought your ticket,” said Bill.

                “Bill, our Pam is going usher India into the life after death,” said Eric.

                “Congratulations, India, you will make a wonderful member,” said Bill. “When do you have the eternal kiss?”

                “Just before Samhain,” she said.

                “Auspicious date. I envy you, having the choice, my afterlife was so difficult because I was not allowed to choose. You will have a more affirming experience,” he said.

                “I think so,” she said. “Of course, I will be related to Eric. Can I get you girls something to eat?”

                “I would like a po’ baby and a cup of chowder and a basket of fries to share,” said Sky.

                “Make that two,” said Rachel.

                “One basket to share?” she asked.

                “That will work,” said Sky.

                “And beer?” she asked.

                “White wine,” said Sky.

                “Same here,” said Rachel. “So we are all going to Bubba’s funeral?”

                “Yes, I have been working with the King of Tennessee for four nights now, by way of E(E)E, who does eventing for supernaturals,” said Bill. “And Eric is doing the benediction.”

                “Don’t you have to be a reverend?” asked Rachel.

                “I am a reverend, of the Church of the Loving Spirit,” said Eric. Sky snickered. Rachel grinned.

                “What denomination is that?” asked Rachel.

                “Non denomination, progressive,” said Eric. Sky snickered again. He looked at her and pursed his lips but then smiled. “Okay, so I am not a reverend. I did it so I could do marriages when called upon by vampires, though now I suppose I could do humans and vampire marriages.”

                “No, I think it is great,” said Rachel. “So what do you wear to vampire stuff, I mean this is pretty high level stuff, right?”

                “Let’s just say you can’t be too elegant,” said Bill.

                “Then I have to go shopping. Feel like a trip to Baton Rouge?” asked Sky.

                “That sounds great,” said Rachel. “Wanna go Friday, we have to fly out Saturday morning.”

                “That will work, I will treat you to lunch at the China House,” said Sky. Bill and Eric looked at one another.

                “Well, we have been effectively left out,” said Eric. Bill shrugged and feigned disappointment.

                The next morning, the girls headed out, ready for some retail therapy. Eric and Bill both had offered the girls money but they turned it down, gently. They were women with their own incomes and they were proud of that fact. Eric and Bill, both men from another time when men provided for the women in their lives were stymied again. They would have to get used it. Most modern women were pretty self sufficient these days.

                “So how are things going with Eric?” asked Rachel, settling in the front seat of Sky’s car. She welcomed the break from being at Bill’s house. She would have returned to work a couple of days ago but Bill was antsy about her going.

                “In some ways, it is fast and I like it. But some ways, I want to grab him and make him talk to me,” she said. “Men, whether they have a pulse or not, they do not like talking. Of course, it has only been five days since she left. I don’t begrudge Eric a period of mourning, but I hate his silence.”

                “Maybe a change of scenery,” said Rachel. “Bill says after things settle, he and Eric will not be in such close counsel with one another.”

                “Well, no matter what they do, let’s you and I make a pact we won’t let their problems be our problems,” said Sky.

                “So, do you know anything about this making ceremony?” asked Rachel.

                “It is actually a new concept. Some vampire wrote it and sent it out to the vampire publications, suggesting that regularizing the way they make a vampire would become less of an issue. It isn’t like they are snatching someone up and making them, they actually have to have permission to make a vampire. Pam told me she had been waiting for nearly a year for permission.”

                “What is she like?” asked Rachel. “I have only spoken to her once or twice.”

                “Well, she is very liberated and she is very into Eric. Apparently their relationship was sexual at first but then he sort of let her explore her sexuality and sometimes they shared companions but then she went away for a long time and when the vampires came out, he called her back to help him with Fangtasia,” said Sky.

                “Do you like her?” asked Rachel.

                “She seems okay,” said Sky. “I think she is essentially done with humans, I mean she is like a lot of vampires who do the part time blood part time synthetic blood diet and all that, and she is friendly and has a sense of humor. She figures I am a better class of woman than the fangbangers he used to carouse with and while she really liked Sookie, she sort of likes me. Does Bill have children?”

                “No,” said Rachel. “And to be honest, I am sort of glad about that.”

                “Well if Bill was older and he had made children a long time ago, it would be different, but if Eric had only made Pam maybe 20 years ago, I would have had a problem, I think.”

                “So Pam is like going to drain her and then give her the blood and they what…sit up and wait to see what happens?” Sky laughed.

                “Well, from the basic ceremony, and from what Eric told me, they will be dressed up in nighties, like they are having a honeymoon. Eric will tuck them both in bed, because he is the parent and we will witness her being drained and then Pam will give her blood and then the two will go to sleep.  We will leave them alone in a dark room and they will sleep till the sun goes down the next day and India will be given real blood and synthetic blood so she will get used to both,” said Sky.

                “Wow,” said Rachel.

                “Yeah, I guess that is going to be real different,” said Sky. “Has Bill told you his making story yet?”

                “Kind of, he had a bad maker and came to hate her and then she made that Judith he killed and she was crazy, and he really hated who he was for a long time,” said Rachel. “But he says this is better. Do you know Eric’s story?”

                “I know his maker was a Roman and he was a thousand years old when he made Eric. I know he was with him for a long time and I know a fairy killed Eric’s maker and Sookie killed Bill’s maker,” said Sky.  “He sold Eric to a vampire, a Queen, into an arranged marriage and he killed her to get away.”

                “No wonder he is troubled,” said Rachel.

                “Yeah, I know I should give him a break and give him time to decompress but I am afraid if he does that, he won’t want me,” said Sky.

                “Are you kidding, you should see the way he looks at you,” said Rachel. “He looks at you like you are a goddess, like some woman who stepped out of a Frank Frazetta painting and fell into his arms.”

                “He is…so intense, and he can be so wild and rough and strong and then he can be gentle like a child almost. Sookie was crazy to leave him,” she said. “I never say anything about her to Eric though. I think it hurts him.”

                “I never really mention her to Bill, unless he mentions her,” said Rachel. “I could never match up to her, I mean she was a fairy…I still can’t wrap my head around it. And I couldn’t wrap my head around vampires till I was at a club with some friends, having a drink and there was this guy looking at us and he walked up to us and I noticed he was drinking LifeFlow, remember that brand they had out when they first came out?”

                “Yeah,” said Sky. “It is hard to imagine what more there could be out there. So, when are you moving back home?”

                “Monday,” said Rachel. “Bill is not happy about it, but I need to go to work and I need to be back in my house for a while. You know, this thing was fast for me and Bill too.”

                “I am going home Monday too, Shreveport is a long way for me to drive to go to work and I have some meetings next week, meet the colleagues and go over the expectations of each class,” said Sky. “I have to submit my lesson plans for the first year, that isn’t too hard, I have been teaching for six years, so all I have to do is sort of clean a few up and shorten some up. But I will give Eric my weekends.”

                “Bill is leasing the offices by my building, he is setting up that call center out toward Minden, for his registry, so if he wants to spend the night with me, he can just walk over,” said Rachel.

               

                The girls spent an enjoyable day. Sky bought a couple of dressy outfits and some new under things and Rachel bought a dress for the funeral and a dress for the making ceremony and a new nightgown in lavender. They went to the China House and ate till they burst and then ordered extra to bring home and heat. They were home a little after the sun went down.

                “Did you buy some pretty things?” asked Bill.

                “I did,” she said, setting the bags on his bed, showing him what she bought.

                “Sweetheart, I want to invite...I would like it very much…that is if you want, I would like it if you would come live with me,” said Bill.

                “Oh…” she said. “Well. I don’t know Bill, I mean I love the house and I love sleeping next you, but I love my house too and I miss it. Can I think about it a while?”

                “Of course,” he said. “Until then, take this key, it is the key to this house and you can come and go inside it whenever you like.”

                “Well, take this then, “she opened her purse. “This is the key to my house, and you should come and go as you like in it.” Bill slid it into his pocket and kissed her.

                “I have a couple of meetings about the call center and I am meeting with Alcide Herveaux about the remodel job I want on the office by your building and then I will be home. You may be asleep, so I will go on and get in the travel coffin so the Anubis people can take care of me for the flight.”

                “You aren’t afraid you might get lost and rerouted to Cincinnati?” she asked.

                “I have been to Cincinnati, if they do that, I will be one angry vampire,” said Bill. “No, this is a chartered flight, and my coffin will be in a special bay instead of baggage.”

                “Okay, “she said. “Hey, if you have time, wake me up for a little while when you get home.”

                “I will,” he said.

                Rachel had to admit, she missed the sounds of the panthers screaming around Bill’s house. She did her little bit of laundry and set out her outfit for tomorrow to travel in, grey rayon silk pants that felt like pajamas and a white silk blouse and a pair of heels and she packed one of her new outfits, a dark blue dress with a matching silk sweater. The dress for India’s making was a wine color and it was a little shorter than she was used to but Bill seemed to like it. She would stop at Shoe World and have a pair of pumps dyed to match it.  It was June 27, and she was happy with her life. She sat down to write her mother.

Dear Mom,

          I am sorry I have not written to you in a long while. The truth is I have met someone and I am in love. I know, it sounds incredible, considering I never fell in love in high school and all the men I dated for so long, I never got to the point where I loved them.

          I would have written sooner Mom, but I had hoped I would get the chance to come down and talk to you and dad about it. See there is something you need to know and I think I need to maybe come down and tell you more in person.

          I would love you to meet him, he is so wonderful and so sweet and I know he and dad would just get along like house fire. His name is Bill Compton. He is local and he is a businessman and he is fairly well off. He is very bright and he was married but she died and he has been alone for a long while. He is a little older than I am, 30. He is really romantic and he is very smart.

          And the best part is he loves me. He wants me to move in, but I am not quite ready to give up my own territory yet, but we exchanged keys. We are going on a trip to Tennessee with two other couples for our first trip together. He is taking me to Beale Street to dance. I can’t wait.

          Well, I better go. I will call you sometime soon and when I have a day off, I will drive down. Dad can make us his beer brats and tater tot casserole. Kiss him for me, then kiss yourself.  I love you mom.

Rachel

                She folded her letter. She had tap danced around the main fact Bill was a vampire but in essence she was totally truthful. She went and had a shower, and stretched out on the bed she shared with Bill. She grabbed her bedside book and went back to the adventures of a wild woman of nobility and a crafty vampire pirate with a heart of gold and a never-ending libido.

                As Rachel was settling into her torrid romance, Latesta was standing in the periphery of Sookie’s yard. There were already construction stakes in the ground and a Herveaux Construction back hoe parked to the side, ready to break ground. He stepped out and began to walk around. There were some tiny scraps of fabric and the odd bit of paper, but it appeared there was nothing left around the site. He walked a little deeper, following the line of brush and weeds. A white scrap attracted his attention. He bent over and picked it up. It was a folded piece of paper. He opened it. There were some scorched areas but he could read the words. It said things like:  no matter where I go, no matter how far, I will always love you Bill and Eric. Latesta smiled. De Castro would be happy to see this. Sookie Stackhouse was alive and well and those assholes knew where she was.

                It had been a hectic day for both girls and it was not even eleven in the morning yet. The transports from Anubis Air had arrived very early to pick up both the vampires and the humans. Among their entourage were Sky, Rachel, India and Mr. Cataliades. They were ushered into the plane under tight security and settled on board. There was no hassle with luggage or the travel coffins. Bubba’s coffin was draped in black and Bill and Eric had standard plain-brushed steel travel coffins but Pam had a wood grain one with a steel core. India screeched like a harpy to make sure her coffin was put on board without a scratch. 

                Mr. Cataliades, the girls found out, was a lawyer to the supernatural world. They knew he was some sort of supernatural but Bill and Eric had been reticent to tell them what exactly he was. He was friendly and chatty. He asked after them, about their lives, their work and their positions in the lives of the vampires on the flight. He seemed satisfied with their answers. He had done the legal work for India for the time she would have the ceremony, as required by the new law, and he had a wonderful upbeat attitude about the world in general.

                “Are they the only Bon Temps vampires who will be at the funeral?” asked Sky.

                “Oh no, but Eric is as of now the highest ranking vampire is the state. There is no regent, so by reason of his age, he is the de facto leader of the state for the vampires though this may change,” said Cataliades.

                “What do you mean?” asked Rachel.

                “It can change any time based on the desire of King Felipe De Castro. He is the sovereign of the state,” said Cataliades. “Not to worry. Area five is the most lucrative area with Eric at its helm. I am surprised De Castro has not moved Eric to New Orleans to whip those vampires into shape. There is never enough money being made despite the chances to exploit it for the vampire community. Of course New Orleans is its own kingdom by all rights.”

                “How do you mean?” asked Sky.

                “Well, because of the celebratory culture. The only law we could not pass was the gaming law to allow vampires to own and operate casinos. This is easily contravened by putting the names of trusted humans to be the official owners. But this slows things down a little. Eric could really have New Orleans jumping,” said the lawyer.

                Rachel discovered to her chagrin Cataliades firmly believed if you bring a novel on a flight, you should read it aloud. She was reading that popular lady porn at the behest of Sally and she turned red at the prospect of reading it aloud. Cataliades was more than happy to take the book from her hand begin reading. Rachel was in a perpetual blush for the rest of the flight.

                Boarding in Shreveport had been simple enough but landing in Tennessee was a bit more complex. Cataliades merely told them to stay with the coffins and not be moved regardless of what they say until he went out to make sure the hearse for Bubba’s coffin was there and the transport for the rest of the coffins were sorted.  Finally things were organized and they were on their way.

                Memphis was a wonderful city in Rachel’s estimation. For some reason, the city was especially friendly to vampires. Maybe it was because like Louisiana, the vampire capital was not in the human capital and Memphis was Vamp Central for Tennessee. There were SUV Limos all over the city with coffins in the back.

                “This is huge,” said Sky.

                “Yeah, good thing Eric got us rooms when he did, otherwise we would be camping out in local vampire’s houses,” said Cataliades. “We are staying at the Blood Rose. Eric reserved a floor for all of the Louisiana vampires. King Felipe is staying at Scarlett House. That is an exclusive vampires only Hilton family Hotel.”

                “Wonder why he isn’t just staying at one of the ordinary vampire lodging places,” said Rachel.

                “That is a very important question to ask,” said Cataliades. “It is to reduce De Castro’s risk. He is a bit paranoid I would say. At any rate, there are some very friendly vampires staying in our hotel. Hopefully, Eric and Bill and Pam will be able to network.” Sky looked at Rachel. There must be something brewing.

                Sky played twenty questions with Eric, which he tried to distract her from. He knew she knew a lot about his world, maybe more than was safe for her, but she was tenacious.

                “Making useful contacts with the monarchs of other kingdoms is always lucrative,” said Eric nonchalantly. 

                “Then why isn’t De Castro staying in a mixed accommodations hotel?” asked Sky. Eric rolled his eyes and shook his head. He would have to have a discussion with Cataliades about keeping his mouth shut. He stretched back out on the bed to try to distract Sky.  “That is not going to work. Tell me.” He pulled her on the bed with him and kissed her deeply and ran his hands over her. She kissed him back but when he let her come up for air she clambered astride him and pulled his hands over his head and held him by the wrists. “Tell me.”

                “I appreciate that you like me for my mind but couldn’t you objectify me and use me just this once,” he said.

                “Tell me, and then I will be more than happy to use you and cast you aside,” she said, looking down at him.

                “Have I ever told you your eyes are greener than the Dowager’s jade crown?” he said.

                “Tell,” she said. He rolled his eyes.

                “De Castro does not have that many friends, which is something I am counting on,” said Eric.

                “What are you up to?” she asked, squinting her eyes at him.

                “No damned good,” he said, pulling her down for a kiss.

                The funeral was for tomorrow night but tonight was the wake. It was being held at a blues bar called the Bucket of Blood. Despite the less than respectable name, it was actually an upscale establishment. There were vampires and humans all over the place, chatting and mingling and drinking good wine and whiskey and expensive synthetic blood and snacking on finger food. Sky and Rachel accompanied Bill and Eric as they navigated from one little pod to another. Bartlett Crowe and Russell Edgington were there.

                “Where did you boys ever get these lovely things,” said Bartlett, gushing over the girls.

                “Miss Westnight is a business owner, she operates a health and body center and quite a few of our kind patronize her business,” said Bill.

                “And Miss Faulconer is a teacher, a professor, she teaches vampire topics,” said Eric.

                “If I had a professor who was as lovely as her, I would have attended lectures more often,” said Russell. “Barty, you should really sit down with Miss Westnight, you know how you have talked about having a human vampire outreach center.”

                “Yes, the one in Virginia has done extremely good work,” said Bartlett. “What do you do with your center Miss Westnight?” He pulled Sky into the conversation and Russell pulled Eric and Bill aside.

                “Is it true our friend Sookie as met the true death?” asked Russell.

                “It is your majesty,” said Eric.

                “You have my condolences. I knew you were not just throwing her back to Bill. No offense to you, Bill,” said the king. “That was heavy handed what De Castro did.”

                “It is past,” said Eric resolutely.

                “Perhaps to you,” said Russell.  “But I understand from his regent in Oklahoma he is quite unconvinced Sookie is definitely dead.  In fact, he could become quite ugly.”

                “That would be unfortunate,” said Bill.

                “What do you know about the Deadacrat movement?” asked Russell.

                “They are sycophantic humans who are courting the vampire political agenda. They get some laws passed but mostly they take our money and give us nothing,” said Eric.

                “That is my impression as well,” said Russell. “I frankly have no contact with them, but I know some monarchs do.” He gave Bill and Eric a meaningful look. “We should plan to get together, have supper with Stan Davis and a few others, and discuss our common troubles.”

                “Have you met  Brenda Lynne, she is one of the newest vampire entrepreneurs ?” asked Eric.

                “No I have not,” said Russell.

                “She has a lovely establishment. Four star human dining, a live cellar, private meeting rooms,” suggested Eric.

                “I will invite Stan myself,” said Russell.  “I thought I would invite a few others, friends with common causes we can sort of brain storm.”

                “That would be excellent,” said Bill. “But let’s keep things…intimate.”

                “Intimate is my middle name. After the service then?” he suggested.

                “I will make all the arrangements,” said Eric. “We should mingle.” When Russell moved on, Bartlett began to wrap his discussion. The girls were happy to see Bill and Eric returning.

                Latesta flew into Tennessee that night and called De Castro. He was delighted when the king agreed to meet with him. He was staying in a Day’s end along the highway because there was not even coffin space in Memphis. He drove his rental car to an ordinary human bar and sat down. It did not take long for De Castro to appear. “Hurry up, I am expected somewhere else,” he said.

                “Sookie Stackhouse is alive,” said Latesta.

                “How do you know?” asked the vampire.

                “I went to sniff around where her house once stood. I was just looking for any evidence that would tell me she might still be here, and I found this. It looks like a note she wrote to Bill and Eric. She says she will always love them, no matter where she is or how far she goes.” Latesta took out the scrap of paper and unfolded it and laid it front of De Castro. He leaned forward and read it.

                “This is much better,” said the king. “Keep looking and listening.”

                “I will,” he said.

                “Expect some money,” said the king. “And get out of Tennessee. I don’t want anyone to see you here.”

                “Yes, sir.”

                The black limousine glided effortlessly through the gates of the most famous house in Memphis. The humans had been told the family was having a fundraiser and the only ones who were to attend were those who had been specially invited. Eric was dressed in black, looking very handsome and in some ways clergical. His hair was neatly brushed back and Sky had tied it back with a wide black ribbon. Rachel was in her dark blue dress and Sky was in a dark grey dress.  Bill looked like a young Republican, which made him smile since he was a Democrat, in a navy suit and red tie.

                The area where the tombs were was screened by a privacy drape. Bill saw John Quinn directing his E(E)E employees to take places to facilitate the officiates, which appeared to be Eric and Russell Edgington and  Felipe De Castro. Quinn supervised the laying of the rose blanket over the coffin and there were huge red candles dipped in black wax at the corners of the coffin. The family, his wife and daughter were shocked and red eyed. The girl had been a baby when he died the first time. She was a woman with his second death.  Eric went to them and shook hands and then presented them with the check representing his earnings for the work he did for his new community.  Quinn stepped over to Eric and said it was time. Eric went up and stood at the head of the coffin. Behind him was a darkened candle array.

                “Our friend was not meant for our world. He was, however, a good friend to us all. He took up duties with enthusiasm and he had a subtle humor we appreciated. He delighted us on occasion with his voice, as he did when he was not a member of our special society. He was loyal and brave and gave his life to protect a friend. We honor you now for your selflessness.

                “Rest Elvis Aaron, may you find the comfort and happiness in the next world you could not find in your former life or in the life you shared in common with all of us. Those of you who wish, may now step up and light a candle in memory of our friend.” Eric turned and lit a taper candle and lit one of the candles behind him. He stepped away to allow others to step up. Sky observed some vampires make the sign of the cross. She wondered about the power of a motion so strongly ingrained that even in this life, that they still made the sign.

                After the service and the array was blazing with candles, Eric was speaking to Desmond Cataliades and Russell Edgington. Felipe De Castro approached the group and put a hand on Eric’s shoulder and led him away. He spoke to Eric in a very congenial way and then walked away. You could not have mistaken the look on Eric’s face for anything but surprise.