chapter twenty-

six

The Day of Halloween

Sky felt better after last night. She got up and dressed and called Mustafa Khan to come get her at ten and take her back to her house so she could get her car. She picked out her long hair and rubbed the hair dressing into it. Since the bond, her hair was nearly alive.  She pulled her hair back and saw one of Eric’s fang marks peeping out of her collar. She smiled a little and even blushed as she thought about Eric and his behavior when he came home. He was magnificent, like a wild creature, gripping and pulling her and kissing every inch of her, making her scream and tremble. Afterwards she could not move she was so thoroughly and lovingly exhausted. She could only tangle herself around him and fall into a dreamless sleep. The only thing she remembered before she fell asleep was the sensation of him stroking her hair. She wadded her hair up in a messy sort of bun and slid into her black sweater with a cast of Halloween monsters on it, including a fangy looking Dracula style character. Pam bought it for her as a joke, but she thought it was perfect. She slid into her blue denim hip huggers, which Eric loved and put on her tennis shoes and grabbed her purse and went out.

Mustafa Khan did not have a sense of humor she was aware of but he saw her sweater and laughed softly at it. “I cannot believe you are actually wearing that thing Pam bought you.”

“She bought it for me, I am wearing it,” she said, getting in the were’s car. “It even has the wolfman on there. Did you celebrate Halloween as a kid?”

“I did, I dressed up as a mad scientist,” he said.

“Cool,” she said.

“What did you dress up as?”

“You are going to laugh at me, I know Eric did,” she said.

“Why, what did you dress as?” he asked.

“A vampire queen,” she said. “My mother always wanted me to dress up as a princess, but I always wanted to dress up as a vampire, so in a fit of rebellion, I wore fangs with my princess costume.” Khan laughed.

“Well, in some ways you are the queen of a vampire,” said Khan. “He is very happy. Far happier than when he was with Sookie.”

“Is he?” she asked.

“Yes, he is far more content, even with his troubles,” said Khan. “But he is getting ready for the first move of an important chess game. He will win.”

“I think he will too. He has not told me much, but he seems to be making every preparation,” she said.

“Do you wish to visit the new house?” he asked.

“No, I can come by on my way home and check it out,” said Sky. “But things are moving along. Faster than I could imagine.”

“They are indeed,” said Khan.

Khan let Sky out and then drove on op the street to park his car. He was still sort of spending time outside the store, letting his presence be seen. Eric knew there were still people watching the store and he wanted to show his guard was not entirely down. Sky smiled at the window dressing Rachel had done. She had gotten plastic skeletons and dressed them up in yoga clothes and had them doing yoga poses. She had hung jack-o-lantern lights around her picture window along with spider webs. Rachel was dressed in a black skirt and sweater with two black cat eyes on it and witchy leather boots and a conical hat.

“Hey Witch Hazel,” said Sky merrily. Rachel laughed.

“I cannot believe you are wearing that sweater.”

“That is what Khan said. Eric said for me to wear it,” she said. “He said it would please Pam.”

“She has a twisted sense of humor,” said Rachel. “Is everything ready for the fete?”

“Yes, Fantasia is all decked out and Pam and India are going to have a vampire costume contest. In her word, ‘To see how the breathers do the vampire thing’. She is one twisted sister.”

“Who is judging it?” asked Rachel.

“Thalia, and Indira, India and Maxwell Lee.”

“That would be something to see, Maxwell Lee, the most conservative vampire I have ever met, and Thalia the meanest vampire alive,” she laughed.  “How is India adjusting to her new life?”

“She is doing great,” said Sky. “She is bartending at Fangtasia. She loves Pam of course.”

“I think things will definitely change for vampires,” said Rachel. “But you look fantastic, you absolutely glow.”

“Thanks,” she said. “Do you have time for lunch? I thought we could go to Merlotte’s. I need some chicken fried steak.”

“That sounds good,” she said.

“I’ll catch up with you then,” said Sky. “I have some errands I want to run here in town. Would you like to run to Spendide’s with me after lunch? I can take you by the house so you could see it.”

“That would be wonderful,” she said.

Jason was wrestling the couch into the house. They had finally finished and were surprised when Alcide told him he could move in. Michele had been packed for weeks. Of course, she was big as a house. He dared her to lift anything heavier than her water bottle.  Luna was there too, but Jason would not let her help either. He and Sam and Hoyt and a couple of his buddies from Hot Shot was helping him move stuff to the house. Some of the stuff had come from Bill’s house. Jason was not sure he liked that much, but he did like the fact they were old and around the age of the original house, so he took them from Sam, with thanks.

“How are things going with your house?” asked Michele.

“Well, we got all the rooms painted and we got the floors all sanded and ready to be stained and sealed. We got the wall taken out of the pantry in the kitchen and we are getting that area ready for the cabinets and the counter space and Sam got me a dishwasher but he needs help installing that,” said Luna.

“I can come and do that for you,” said Jason.

“It won’t put you out?” asked Luna.

“Hell no,” he said.

“What are you going to do with your parent’s house?” she asked.

“That girl, Amelia, she and her boy friend want to move back up here. So, they are going to move up here and rent my mom and dad’s house off me,” said Jason.

“What is she going to do for work?” asked Luna.

“She has a job back with Greg Aubert,” said Jason. “And her boyfriend is getting a job at Divine Styles, that new place downtown, the one Eric Northman owns.”

“Well that sounds like a good plan for them then,” said Luna.

“It does. You know I even had vampires asking about the house. Apparently, they really like Louisiana,” said Jason.

“I don’t know how the citizens will like that,” said Sam.

“Well, so long as they mind their manners and pay their bills, I could care less. But they felt that making my house light tight would be too much trouble, so they leased that big old house out across Magnolia Creek past the church there.”

“That old Addam’s Family looking house?” asked Michele.

“Well, they restored it, dumped a whole lot of money into it, built on to it. It’s a grander house than Belle Rive,” said Jason. “You would never know it was full of vampires.”

“Where are they all working?” asked Sam.

“At that call center Bill has up,” said Jason. “They already had moving money. I guess they pooled it or maybe Bill chipped in. Alcide had a crew up there fixing it up. He said there were 12 bedrooms in that place and everything was real fancy. Even fancier than Belle Rive. Said even humans would be living there.”

“Well, like you said, so long as they are good folks and spend their money here, I am all for it,” said Sam. “Luna honey, we have to go get cleaned up and go to work, this is a big night.”

“Michele and I will see you guys there,” said Jason.

Merlotte’s was already a mad house even though it was just lunchtime. Holly sat them at a two top, apologizing for not being able to sit them at a booth. The girls didn’t care. They were excited for the day. After they gave Holly their orders for cold sweet tea and the chicken fried steak dinners, they settled in.

“Did you see anything in Splendide’s you wanted?” asked Rachel.

“Yes, I bought three pieces. I bought an old bureau I want to use in the bathroom and I bought an old farm table for the kitchen, and I bought a chiffarobe to make an entertainment center of,” she said.

“I love that place, I bought a lot of things for my house there,” said Rachel.

“Have you and Bill decided when you would be getting married?” asked Sky.

“Well, we are going to stay with my parents for Thanksgiving so they can meet him, and I guess after that, we will start thinking about dates,” said Rachel. “How are things with you and Eric?”

“They are doing really good. I mean, okay, I was mad at him for keeping certain stuff to himself. But we are going to be okay… My parents come down yesterday.”

“Really? How come you didn’t bring them down so I could meet them?” Sky drew in a breath.

“It would have been hard for me to do with a black eye,” she said.

“What? What happened?”

“My parents came up to take me back to Baton Rouge and when I refused, my dad punched me in the face. That guy, the one the guys are keeping an eye on?” Sky didn’t want to say his name aloud. Rachel nodded. “He told my dad all this stuff about Eric, you know, like what was in that book?”

“Man,” said Rachel. “And he hit you?”

“Well, it was not the first time he has done that in my life,” she said.

“Oh, Sky, I am so sorry,” said Rachel.

“Well, Eric healed me and he took me to his house and he comforted me and all that,” said Sky. “Eric is my family now.”

“I bet he was madder than hell,” said Rachel.

“He was, but I asked him not to do anything to dad,” she said. “He’ll never bother me again. You are really lucky your parents are willing to at least meet Bill and they don’t judge him just because he is vampire.”

“I know how lucky I am,” said Rachel. “Look, I think this will all work out. Eric is crazy about you and he is building you a virtual castle. Say, did you hear about Andy Bellefleur?”

“No,” said Sky.

“I hear he is running for Sheriff, apparently everyone got really mad about what happened at the fourth of July parade and how Sheriff Dearborn just slapped that boy’s hands and cut him loose. So, according to Halliegh, he sat down with her and asked how much money they could spend on a campaign,” said Rachel in a low tone. “I know I will be voting for him.”

“Well, I can’t vote for him, but I will be happy to have a bumper sticker on my car and help with fund raising. That was terrible. I keep shuttering what might have happened if Eric had not caught that jar of acid and it broke on Luna,” she shivered at the thought.

After lunch, Rachel followed Sky to the building site. A virtual army of stonemasons was cladding the cinderblock security wall, the concrete pourers were building the forms for the circle drive, and the remaining patches of asphalt were being dug up and piled into a refuse container.  They parked in a roped off area and walked carefully on the stepping stone walk Alcide had laid just so they could get from one place to another without going hip deep in mud. He was eating a sandwich, looking at the plans. “Hi Sky, Rachel, I am just feeding my face. It is good you are here, you can take a look at some stuff and sign off on it. Then we can start marking off the places where we will be putting up walls and I wanted to show you how we want to put some lights in the spaces between the framing for the second floor and the walls.

“You guys have the floors down on the second floor?” she asked.

“Yeah, surprised me too, but they managed to get it down and we have subflooring already down, so you can walk around up there, but we are waiting for the planks to arrive, they are coming in from Mississippi,” said Alcide. “Then the designers have left you some paint samples for you to choose from.”

“Okay, can we go on in? Let you finish your lunch?”

“Grab a hard hat,” he said.

Both women put their hard hats on and went into the house. The floors were sanded and there was a temporary ladder up to the second floor. There were electricians and rough plumbers there. The electricians were busy, the plumbers hanging around, waiting to be told where and what. The window people were measuring the window holes and there were the sounds of people upstairs.

“This is going to be beautiful,” said Rachel. “I love the brick work.”

“I do too, but it is so dark, so I plan to have some naked brick but I want to paint most of the walls a pale color to add some light,” said Sky.  “The very back area I am going to have three guest bedrooms with a small bathroom for each. Then I want to build a wall there with archway openings on each end and there is the kitchen with an island and then about half way of there, I want a fire place that will look through both the kitchen dining area to the living room and then I want to have little spots here at the windows and have the front wall, where the door is, to be covered in shelves and have the same features upstairs.”

Alcide came in about then with a pad and pencil and a laser measuring tape and wrote down the specifications and then the three of them went upstairs. It was beautiful even with the floors unlaid. Sky looked around carefully.

                “The back end will be for the bedroom. I want the upstairs landing here to meet the front door. Eric wants a steel door to the room but I want it to look like wood, and rustic, like you might find in a castle. I want the bedroom to be separated by a see through fireplace, like the one downstairs, so the bather can enjoy the fire. Then I want a private loo. A toilet and pedestal sink.”

                “How about a pocket door in wood that would mime the bedroom door?” he suggested.

                “That would be great,” she said. “Can we have that wall clad in brick?” she asked.

                “Yeah, we may even have enough brick outside to actually clad most of the wall,” said Alcide.

                “Well, just clad it as much as you can, and make it like the wall actually fell away and we can paint the walls with the same color I want throughout the house. Then, I want a double sink here, against this opposite wall. Alcide made a note of it. “And a huge tub, as large as you can get it, in an oval.”

                “Okay,” he said.

                “This area, I want two offices. I want an eight by ten office here, then I want an eight by ten office here and the center I want bookshelves and each side of the door that will lead to the walk out,” she said.

                “Okay, that does it for me. I will have these drawn up and email the drawings for you to approve and we can get started,” said Alcide.  “Here are your color charts, you will want to talk to the designer about what you want to paint. Now the landscapers will be here on Monday, so you can talk to them about what you want. Now, Eric spoke of a swimming pool. He will have to see the pool man himself. But the landscapers can build your ponds and all that for your gardens and whatever you want to plan.”

                “Very nice, thank you so much Alcide, you have gotten so much done already, I can barely catch my breath,” she said.

                “Well, Eric said it was imperative we get things finished before Christmas,” said Alcide.

                “Well you are more than on your way,” she said.

                Sky and Rachel parted ways, Sky back to Shreveport and Rachel back to Bon Temps. Rachel went home and let herself in. She went up and checked on Bill. He was sleeping away, on his back, the covers away from his chest. She went to him and leaned over and kissed one of his nipples and covered him up. She went back downstairs and grabbed her bowl and poured candy into it and then poured the rest in a large paper bag. She grabbed the bowl and her conical hat and put it on the table by her door and went and got her pumpkins. She and Bill had carved them last night. She nicked her thumb and that led to all sorts of sexy fun ending up them making love in the kitchen floor. She and Bill had made love in just about every room in the house and on nearly every surface. He made her feel so wild and free. In private, Bill was not the taciturn man he was in public. He smiled a lot and laughed aloud and in bed, he was very candid and sometimes naughty. Her face blushed at the things they had tried and the pleasure. She had never known so much pleasure.

                She took her pumpkins outside and set her candles in them and went back and grabbed her artificial leaf garlands in orange and red shades and wound them around the pumpkins. She carefully put her little black cats between the pumpkins and went out on her path and looked at the decorations and the effect they had on the house. She went back in the house and went upstairs and into the room. The sun was starting to go down and she wanted to be there when Bill woke. She put the conical hat on and laid down beside him, hitching up her skirt to show off her white and red stockings and black garters with the big velvet bows on them. She watched him stir and then wake, his eyes fluttering open. He stretched and turned on his side and looked at her.

                “Hmmmm,” he said, running his hand up her leg to the garter. “What have we here?”

                “Want a treat little boy? And what are dressed up to be?” she said playfully.

                “I am a horny vampire,” he said, snicking out his fangs.

                “What sharp fangs you have,” she said.

                “The better to bite you with, my little witch,” his hand explored further. “What have you got down there?”

                “A treat,” she said.  Bill began to move his fingers against her.

                “What kind of treat?” he asked, his voice husky.

                “Why don’t you go down there and find out for yourself, Mr. Compton,” she said. He smiled at her and raised her skirts higher.

                “Oh my,” he said.

                “Peasants didn’t wear a lace bustier and silk stocking and those high heels,” observed Eric.

                “Well, if you don’t like it, you can come and take it off me,” she said, tossing her hair back, revealing the lacy see through cups. The sheriff had his supper but he was not against dessert.

                “But I am already dressed,” he said. Sky laughed.

                “You can be undressed before I blink,” she said. “Well, maybe you think I am a bad girl and I don’t deserve a Halloween treat.”

                “Come here,” he said.

                “No,” she responded. She picked up the blouse that went with her costume and put it on, pulling it off her shoulders a little, then stepped into the skirt and secured the wide belt around her waist. Eric sped to her and slid his arms around her. He kissed her neck and grabbed a fistful of her hair and gently pulled her head back.

                “You wench, I should take you right here, right now, bent over, holding on to the bedpost,” he said. “Begging me for mercy.”

                “Filthy mouth Regent Northman,” she said. “You are not a gentleman.”

                “I never said I was red headed woman,” he was pulling up her skirt and running his hand between her thighs. He made her squirm, holding her tight against him then stopped abruptly. “I will finish with you later.” He slapped her playfully on the hind end and let go of her skirt.

                “You are not nice,” she said, pouting.

                “I will be tonight,” then he proceeded to tell her exactly what sort of Halloween treat she could expect from him.

                The street Rachel lived on was like one of those old fashioned Charlie Brown streets with big oaks and elms and old fashioned wrought iron street lamps which lit up the shady street. Every house that was giving away treats was lit up and Rachel’s neighbor was blasting those old monster favorites: the Monster Mash, One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater and the ghostly strains of the Tubular Bells.  Pumpkins and lights made the street festive, full of magic. Everyone on the street knew Rachel’s new boyfriend was a vampire. The parents watched him warily when their children went through her garden gate and up the path to her porch where she and Bill sat on the top step, the bowl of candy between them. One little boy with a pale face and a cape was staring at Bill.

                “Hey Ethan, want a sucker?” asked Rachel. He nodded and came up the steps. 

                “What are you dressed as Ethan?” asked Bill. He smiled and showed off his plastic fangs. Bill acted terrified. Ethan smiled wider. Bill dropped a candy bar in Ethan’s bag and the boy ran down the stairs and out the gate.

                “Mom, mom!!! That vampire gave me a candy bar!!!” he exclaimed.

                “Well good honey,” she said. “You all have a great Halloween.”

                “Happy Halloween!” called Bill after them.

                Fangtasia was rocking and rolling and it was packed. Eric had parked in the back, let himself in with his key, and led Sky through the bar. There were new vampires there, the contingent from the new nest and a representative of Felipe De Castro. Eric turned to Sky. “I am going to sit you behind the bar with Pam. You can help her while I am having a conversation with this vampire.”

                “This is the night,” she said, taking a breath.

                “Yes,” said Eric. “Don’t be afraid.”

                “I’m not, be careful,” she said. Eric walked her behind the bar and whispered in Pam’s ear and she nodded. He gave Sky a confident look and Eric walked up to the vampire and invited him into the office. When the two went into the service hall, Felicia and Heidi made their way toward the office.

                “What would you have me report to our King?” asked the representative. He was a strange vampire Eric did not know. He suddenly felt an incredible shock of energy through the bond. It was sweet, fierce, and full of love, protection, and confidence. His Valkyrie, his red haired woman was sending him her energy.

                “Tell our king it would be an honor to serve him as his regent, and thank him for the time he has given me to think things out,” said Eric. “And please tell him I have met with some vampires in the more troubled parts of our kingdom and I will be clearing up the troubles shortly.”

                “I shall do that,” said the vampire. He made an honorific bow. He placed a box on the desk. “That is the ring of office. You are acting Regent until this majesty arranges for your investment.”

                “Thank you,” he said. The vampire bowed again and turned and left. Eric picked up the box. It was a plain gold ring with De Castro’s family shield on it. He slid it on his right ring finger. It had begun.

                Eric made some calls as soon as he knew he was alone. They were to the royals who had sided with him. Everyone was ready for what was to happen next. When he finished, he came out of the bar. Pam looked at him and he nodded. He looked at Sky. She had a visible look of relief on her face. He came up to her. “Thank you for that,” he said, kissing her gently.

                “You are welcome,” she said.

                “So you are…” asked Pam. Eric showed her the ring. She smiled. “How sweet, you and DeCastro are going steady,” said Pam. Sky squelched back a laugh.

                “Both of you so disrespectful,” said Eric. “Just, relax, enjoy the night and we’ll have a meeting tomorrow night.”

                “Okay, we can contact the locals via email,” said Pam.

                “On the secure service,” he reminded.

                “No shit Eric, I thought I would write it on the bathroom walls,” said Pam. Once again, Sky covered her mouth.

                “No respect from the women in my life,” he said shaking his head. He turned and India was fighting her face. “Sons, I should have made sons….women.”

                Rachel and Bill were on the sofa, the tv on with Frankenstein in the DVD player but no one was watching. They were tangled up in each other, their clothing askew when sirens screamed up the street. Bill raised up and listened.

                “Stay here,” he said. “I’ll come right back.”

                “Don’t go Bill,” she said. “Someone may be waiting for you out there.”

                “It’s okay, I’ll be careful,” he said. “Lock the door behind me.” Bill sped out at vamp speed and Rachel went to the door and locked it. She went to the front window and peered out. Police cars and a fire truck were racing down the street.

                Bill came to a halt at the place where the fire trucks were. “Shit,” he swore. He spotted Andy Bellefleur.

                “We got the call five minutes ago. It’s a loss,” said Andy. “It’s in your building too.”

                “Rachel will be so upset,” said Bill. “Was it a citizen call?”

                “No, it was a call made by the Take Back the Night Liberation Front,” said Andy. “I am filing this as a hate crime.”

                “It will go to the FBI,” said Bill.

                “Yeah,” he said. About that time, the ceiling fell through. “Was Sky at home?”

                “No, she was at Eric Northman’s bar tonight,” said Bill.

                “She was lucky,” said Andy. A fireman stepped up to them.

                “Both buildings are goners, we are just trying to keep it from spreading,” said the fireman.

                “Do what you have to do,” said Andy. “You better go home and tell Rachel the bad news. I will call her insurance man and let him know.”

                “Thank you Andy,” he said.

                “Tell her I am real sorry,” he said.

                Bill knocked and Rachel let him in. “Sweetheart, it’s your shop,” he said.

                “What about my shop?” she asked

                “They burned your shop, the Take Back the Night group. They burned your shop, and my offices they called it in to the sheriff’s department,” said Bill.

                “I need to go there,” she said.

                “No, there is nothing you can do Rachel. It caved in, they are just trying to keep any more businesses from being damaged. Andy said he would call your insurance guy and he said he would report this as a hate crime,” said Bill. “Just stay here with me. Let me get you a glass of wine.”

                “Oh Bill, I put everything I had into that place,” she said. “I painted and laid carpet and bought things for it. I just wanted to help people and be a part of this town I love so much and now it is gone.”

                “I know dearest. I am sorry. I have brought this on you,” he said.

                “No you didn’t, don’t you dare think that, you are the best thing that ever came into my life. I will always bless the night you came into my shop.”

                “You know what I thought about the first time I saw you in your shop?” she shook her head. “You were putting away those wonderful smelling candles and you were so beautiful. You were wearing that pale crème skirt and cloth shoes and that sleeveless summer sweater and you had your hair pulled back with a clasp. You had to stand on your tip toes to put those candles up and I wondered what your hair would look like loose on a pillow.” She wrapped her arms around him and put her cheek against his chest and she felt his arms squeeze her and his hand go to her head. She could smell the light smell of smoke and his cologne and his special vampire scent.

                “I love you Bill,” she said.

                “I have to call Eric,” said Bill. “He can let Sky know the fire has destroyed her apartment.”

                “Thank God she was not home but in Shreveport,” said Rachel.

                “Go pour yourself a glass of wine and I will be right there,” he said. He took the stairs and went into his office. He took out his phone and dialed Eric.

                “Northman,” he said.

                “I am sorry to trouble you, but Rachel’s business and my offices were burned tonight,” said Bill.

                “Take Back the Night?” asked Eric.

                “Yes, Andy said they got a terror call at the police station.”

                “It has started,” said Eric.

                “You are...”said Bill, hesitating.

                “Yes,” he said. “Tell Rachel she is not to worry, that everything will work out.”

                “You should tell Sky she has lost her possessions,” said Bill.

                “I shall tell her. Tell Rachel everything will be okay, “

                “Thank you Eric, and congratulations,” said Bill.

                “I will be having a meeting tomorrow night,” he said.

                “I will be there,” said Bill. Eric hung up.

                “What is it Eric?” asked Sky.

                “The Take Back the Night group has burned Rachel’s business to the ground tonight. You have lost everything,” said Eric.

                “No, I lost a few clothes and odds and ends. Rachel has lost everything she worked for,” said Sky. “We should go to her.”

                “Bill is with her, dearest, I don’t want you anywhere but with me. They did this because of what happened here tonight,” he said.

                “How would they know?” asked Sky.

                “Because my king, working in the shadows, ordered it done,” said Eric. “I will see to it Rachel is taken care of. Right now, I have to get you home.”

                “Here grandpa, take my keys, don’t take your car, they would know your car blind folded in the dark,” said India.

                “Thank you granddaughter. Pam, make sure everyone knows about this as well, that everyone has to be very careful,” said Eric a bit sarcastically.

                “I will,” she said.

                “You are the Sheriff of Area Five now, you have a responsibility to the vampires in your area,” he said.

                “Yes Eric,” she said, making a slight bow.

                “Come Sky, let’s get you home,” said Eric.

                Rachel was asleep on the couch. She had laid there in Bill’s arms and fallen asleep. He picked her up and took her to bed and undressed her and put a tee shirt on her and slid her into bed, covering her up. He left her and went into his office, his door left open so he could see her while she slept. He turned on his computer and opened up the secure chat room. There were many already there. They were simply given numbers so if anyone hacked Bill’s computer, which was unlikely, they could not identify the monarchs and sheriffs talking to him.

                Vamp 1: Sorry about your human companion’s business.

                Chat Vamp Leader: Thank you. This means the action is beginning.

                Vamp 2: It is. What does Head Vamp say?

                Chat Vamp Leader: He is getting ready with phase one presumably, we have a meeting tomorrow night with local friends. Can any of you be here?

                Vamp 5: Can leave tonight, be there tomorrow. Need shelter.

                Chat Vamp Leader: Call Madam Vamp, she will arrange for accommodations. Anyone else?

                Vamp 3: I can be there tonight. I can arrange my own accommodations but Vamp 6 will be here tomorrow.

                Chat Vamp Leader: Very well. Others can join us via chat or Skype. Let me know so Nest Mate can set up the computers.

                Vamp 7: I will be there via Skype, along with my Sheriffs.

                Chat Vamp Leader: I will take care of it. Good Evening.

               

                Bill logged off and went back to their bedroom and undressed. He slid into bed and turned his light off. Rachel moaned a little and he pulled her to him. Her arms went around him and she kissed him. He held her closer and she kissed him more firmly and slid on top of him. He would give her whatever comfort he could but he felt like he had been the one that struck the match on her life.

                The next morning, Sky was standing there on the side walk across the street looking at the burned out place where she had met one the best friends she could ever ask for and had made love to the first man she ever loved. She sipped from the foam cup of cappuccino. Rachel schlepped down the sidewalk with her cup of coffee. She was in her sleep shirt, a pair of joggers and her ladybug house shoes. “I love your house shoes.”

“I love to wear them when I am sick. Of course since I began seeing Bill, I don’t get sick these

 days,” she said. She stood by Sky and looked at the building. “I am glad you weren’t home.”

                “So am I,” she said. She put her arm around Rachel. She was fighting tears. “Come on, let’s go through the McDonalds, get the pancakes and sausage and oj and extra hash browns and bring it to your house and eat it.”

                “Can I go in my pajamas?” she asked.

                “I think it is mandatory you go in your pjs today,” she said. “We’ll figure it out.”

                Sam was having coffee when Jason called. “Hey Jason.”

                “Come over and have coffee with me, I got something to tell you,” said Jason.

                “Everything okay?” he asked.

                “Yeah,” said Jason.

                “I’ll be right there,” said Sam. He got up and filled his coffee cup again and let himself out of the house. It was getting cooler now. It would be warm later in the day, but the mornings were chilly. He walked down the path to Jason’s house. It was a nice walk, kind of peaceful. He saw the house and ambled up the porch and let himself in. Jason was in the kitchen. The house seemed just like Sookie’s house. Perhaps it was Bill’s old furniture that lent itself to the look. He sat down at the kitchen table.

                “You hear about what happened downtown last night?” asked Jason.

                “No, we didn’t get to bed till four last night,” said Sam.

                “That lady who is living with Bill, her business got burned down,” said Jason.

                “Fuck me,” said Sam under his breath.

                “Yeah, and Hoyt told me it was called in, like what happened with you,” said Jason.

                “Damn,” said Sam. “How about that lady, the one who lived above there, Sky?”

                “She was staying with Eric,” said Jason. “Listen, do you think Bill and them will need our help?”

                “How do you mean?” he asked.

                “Well, they are targeting anyone with a connection to the supes. I wonder if they will need our help?” asked Jason.

                “I don’t know,” said Sam. “I guess we could see about it. Maybe we should sniff around in our community first. I mean…us offering to help…well that’s nice and all. But if the community, our people, were to come as a group…that could be helpful.”

                “True. You get with that group of Luna’s and I’ll go to Hot Shot,” said Jason. “If we get a positive response, we can get a group together, and go and pay a visit to Eric and them.”

                Sky was plowing through her pancakes and sausage and hash browns. Rachel was picking at hers. “Hey, now that you are unemployed and you are just sitting around on your butt, why don’t you think about that outreach thing.”

                “I don’t know, I don’t know if I have the will for it,” said Rachel.

                “Look, do it, I can canvass some of my  colleagues to see if there is any interest from them to lend a hand, maybe approach the psychology department and get a feel for their interest level. You can think of what you might need and I would help you,” she said.

                “What would we have to have first?” asked Rachel.

                “Well, decide what you want to do first…Then we have to think about getting you a place based on what you want to offer the fangy public,” said Sky.

                “I wanted to teach them tai chi and yoga and give their human companions herbs and vitamins and sell candles and Yani CDs,” she said, trying to laugh but crying instead. Sky laughed a little but there were some tears there.

                “Well, the Yani CDs I could do without,” said Sky. Rachel looked at her and burst out laughing.

                After their breakfast, Sky came home with her and began making calls. Over the last two months she had made friends with most of her colleagues. “Really?” said Sky, watching Rachel clean. She had done two loads of laundry, washed her dishes, wet vacced her kitchen and dining room and dusted everything in her reach. “Well, I have spoken to Pat and David and Stephen and Marilyn. Now, to call a meeting, do I have to get permission from the chancellor?” she nodded and jotted something down. “Well, I don’t want to charge anything to the college, I am just sending out feelers about what professional folks think of a service like that and if anyone can offer their talents.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. Rachel had seen Eric make that face and she grinned. “Look, call it a meeting of the minds, a two martini lunch, a one joint coffee break, whatever, just tell everyone to come. I will spring for donuts and beignets and coffee.” She grinned. “Yes, I will even score some weed if that helps. Yeah, keep on trucking.” She hung up.

                “Did you just organize a pot party?” asked Rachel.

                “Yeah, and I don’t have any idea of how to get any. Think I can fake them out with brownies?”

                “You can try. Did you know you are making the Eric Face?”

                “The Eric Face? He makes a face?”

                “Yeah,” Rachel demonstrated the face.

                “Oh God,” she said. “I totally did didn’t I?”

                “It was so like him, I thought he was right there,” said Rachel. “Thanks Sky.”

                “So, get busy, write up something. I have the meeting tentatively set up for Friday,” said Sky.

                “I will write up something and email it to you,” she said.

 “I have to go see the house. Do you want to come with me?”

                “No,” she said. “I need to mope, post sad kitten pictures on my facebook, cry a lot so I will not feel so sad when my vampire gets up tonight and feels all guilty.”

                “Okay, go, be sappy, I am going to go and see my new house and then go home and make a list of the clothes I need and then take a hot bath and get ready for my vampire to get up and see him off to work.” She stood up and hugged Rachel. “Take it easy, have a relief shag with your vampire and try not to be sad.”

                “Does that help?” she asked.

                “Well, afterwards you are so happy, you don’t care about much of anything,” she said. “I’ll call you later.”

                Luna looked at Sam. “You want to get involved with whatever is going on with the vampires? Look, I know Eric came through with us with the bar and Bill sold you this house at a bargain, but I am pregnant, I need you where you are, working and staying out of the way.”

                “And Eric caught that jar filled with acid that would have killed you and the baby. Look, we aren’t doing anything. We just want to tell them that we are behind them. If we don’t get behind the most powerful supernaturals in the open with us, we will be all alone when they come after us. I want to bring the fight to them and defeat them, before they pick us all off.”

                “Sam, they won’t stand up for you. They aren’t like us, they don’t have feelings like we do,” said Luna. “If the shit got heavy, they would fly away and leave you in a slaughter house. You are nothing to them. Oh, you are okay because they can bring their girlfriends in to eat chicken strips and Lafayette burgers and pickle chips and they can drink a TrueBlood and feel really good because they helped you get the bar. But if it came down to it, they would save their own hides while you got drained dry or torn apart.”

                “French fries, Sky and Rachel always get a big basket of fries and split it,” he said. “Luna, it’s either join them now, when we are strong or straggle in at the end and I promise you we will be running for our lives with our baby in our arms. I don’t want that to happen.”

                “This is America!” said Luna. “That will not happen in America.”

                “Oh yeah? Ask a Native American that, or an African American, or a Japanese American.  They put them in slave quarters and reservations and concentration camps and they were human. What would they do to a bunch of people they are trying to decide if they are human or not. I mean look around Luna. When our baby is born, it may not be possible to put her in day care, school. No hospitals will treat her; no one will care about her. We have to do this. We need to help them and I know one thing about vampires, they know how to pay back a debt of honor. Eric and Bill, they are part of that old world of honor. They will stand up for us if we stand up for them.”

                “Fine…I’ll call a meeting and you can talk to them, see if they will go for it,” she said.

                      “Thank you,” he said.