The Sookie Stackhouse Companion (32 page)
Read The Sookie Stackhouse Companion Online
Authors: Charlaine Harris
Claude and Sookie sit side by side on the grass, and Claude explains that he had tried to persuade Colman to return to Faery and had moved in with Sookie to protect her. Dermot steps out of the woods and tells them he threw the dagger into Colman to protect Sookie. He is able to indicate to Claude and Sookie that the spell that is on him was put there long ago, and Sookie realizes that it must have been placed by Niall. She tells Claude that spells are broken by a kiss in human fairy tales, and they both lean forward to kiss Dermot. He shudders all over and intelligence begins to fill his eyes as he weeps. Claude takes Dermot into the house, and Eric and Sookie are left alone. Eric asks Sookie why she was going to spare Appius and what she was going to say to him, and she replies that she was going to make a deal to let him live if he would kill Victor. A startled Eric admits it was a good idea.
Sookie watches as the fairy blood he took finally begins to energize Eric, and he realizes that he is free forever from his maker. Telling Sookie that she is his dearest, Eric promises to return to her when he has checked on Pam and dealt with the things he must do now that Appius has died. Sookie watches him launch into the air to return to Shreveport. She wearily showers and prepares for bed, grimly satisfied that her enemies have perished and she has again survived. As she opens the door to her bedroom, she is surprised to find Dermot and Claude, who want to share the bed with her. Too exhausted to argue, she climbs into the bed with her fae kin on either side, and to her astonishment, she feels relaxed and comforted. She falls asleep surrounded by family.
The Secret Dialogues of Bill and EricPhone: Eric calling Bill.
ERIC:
“Bill, how are you feeling?”
“Bill, how are you feeling?”
BILL:
“Not well.”
“Not well.”
ERIC:
“Victor is expecting a sales report for the database.”
“Victor is expecting a sales report for the database.”
BILL:
“There are orders. They need to be packaged.”
“There are orders. They need to be packaged.”
ERIC:
“Do you need help?”
“Do you need help?”
BILL:
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
ERIC:
“I’ll send Felicia over to your house several times a week to assist you. She can also give you blood while she is there. Perhaps that will help you heal.”
“I’ll send Felicia over to your house several times a week to assist you. She can also give you blood while she is there. Perhaps that will help you heal.”
BILL:
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
ERIC:
“Bill?”
“Bill?”
BILL:
“What?”
“What?”
ERIC:
“If Sookie had died, I would let you suffer.”
BILL:
“If Sookie had died, I would already be dead.”
“If Sookie had died, I would let you suffer.”
BILL:
“If Sookie had died, I would already be dead.”
Phone: Eric calling Bill.
ERIC:
“Bill, I need your help dealing with Victor. Come to my house Thursday night.”
“Bill, I need your help dealing with Victor. Come to my house Thursday night.”
BILL:
“You need
my
help?”
“You need
my
help?”
ERIC:
“I need your knowledge of computers. Bobby and Pam have been backing up all of Area Five’s financial records on the computer. I want several copies and I want them to be safe. And I want to be able to tell if anyone tries to access them. Can you do that?”
“I need your knowledge of computers. Bobby and Pam have been backing up all of Area Five’s financial records on the computer. I want several copies and I want them to be safe. And I want to be able to tell if anyone tries to access them. Can you do that?”
BILL:
“Bobby can’t?”
“Bobby can’t?”
ERIC:
“I would like you to do this.”
“I would like you to do this.”
BILL:
“Of course. I’ll be there after Fangtasia closes.”
“Of course. I’ll be there after Fangtasia closes.”
ERIC:
“Should I send Pam to get you?”
“Should I send Pam to get you?”
BILL:
“Pam? Not Felicia?”
“Pam? Not Felicia?”
ERIC:
“Not Felicia, not for this.”
“Not Felicia, not for this.”
BILL:
“I see.”
Pause.
“No. I can drive.”
“I see.”
Pause.
“No. I can drive.”
ERIC:
“It might be a good idea for you to drive around a bit, make certain you’re not followed.”
“It might be a good idea for you to drive around a bit, make certain you’re not followed.”
BILL:
“Do you believe we are all being watched?”
“Do you believe we are all being watched?”
ERIC:
“I’m certain Victor knows you’ve been . . . ill and staying close to home. If you suddenly drive to Shreveport, he may hear of it. I don’t feel like coming up with an explanation.”
“I’m certain Victor knows you’ve been . . . ill and staying close to home. If you suddenly drive to Shreveport, he may hear of it. I don’t feel like coming up with an explanation.”
BILL:
“You really are concerned, aren’t you?”
“You really are concerned, aren’t you?”
ERIC:
“Yes. For us all. Victor has already sent Sandy back to Vegas and is running the entire state himself from New Orleans. I would not be surprised if he has bigger plans. Area Five’s dealings must be aboveboard and strictly accounted. There can be no reason for Felipe to doubt us, no way for Victor to cast aspersions upon us.”
“Yes. For us all. Victor has already sent Sandy back to Vegas and is running the entire state himself from New Orleans. I would not be surprised if he has bigger plans. Area Five’s dealings must be aboveboard and strictly accounted. There can be no reason for Felipe to doubt us, no way for Victor to cast aspersions upon us.”
BILL:
“I’ll take steps to ensure I am not followed.”
“I’ll take steps to ensure I am not followed.”
Phone: Eric calling Bill.
ERIC:
“Bill, have you seen either Bruno or Corinna lately?”
“Bill, have you seen either Bruno or Corinna lately?”
BILL:
“No. Why?”
“No. Why?”
ERIC:
“I’ve heard rumors that they are missing from New Orleans.”
BILL:
“And . . . ?”
“I’ve heard rumors that they are missing from New Orleans.”
BILL:
“And . . . ?”
ERIC:
“And I was wondering if by chance you’d seen them, if they’d stopped by.”
“And I was wondering if by chance you’d seen them, if they’d stopped by.”
BILL:
“No, they did not. Have you seen them?”
“No, they did not. Have you seen them?”
ERIC:
“No, I can honestly say that I have not.”
“No, I can honestly say that I have not.”
BILL:
“I see.”
“I see.”
ERIC:
“In fact, I cannot imagine why Victor’s second would be in my area without my knowledge.”
“In fact, I cannot imagine why Victor’s second would be in my area without my knowledge.”
BILL:
“Of course not. It would be a violation of protocol.”
“Of course not. It would be a violation of protocol.”
ERIC:
“Indeed it would. And any of my people would be well within their rights to defend themselves if they were accosted by Victor’s second.”
“Indeed it would. And any of my people would be well within their rights to defend themselves if they were accosted by Victor’s second.”
BILL:
“Absolutely.”
“Absolutely.”
ERIC:
“Yes, so it’s a good thing that no one has seen them in the area. However, it’s probably best that you don’t speak of this to anyone.”
“Yes, so it’s a good thing that no one has seen them in the area. However, it’s probably best that you don’t speak of this to anyone.”
BILL:
“Speak of what?”
ERIC:
“Exactly.”
“Speak of what?”
ERIC:
“Exactly.”
Phone: Bill calling Eric.
BILL:
“I’m calling to inform you that I have a visitor. She arrived Saturday night and will be staying with me for a week or so.”
“I’m calling to inform you that I have a visitor. She arrived Saturday night and will be staying with me for a week or so.”
ERIC:
“She?”
“She?”
BILL:
“Yes. Judith Vardamon, my . . . Lorena’s other child.”
“Yes. Judith Vardamon, my . . . Lorena’s other child.”
ERIC:
“Well. This is a good thing for you, is it not? You already sound stronger.”
“Well. This is a good thing for you, is it not? You already sound stronger.”
BILL:
“Yes. I’m feeling much better. Please thank Felicia for me. She was here just before Judith arrived and has been a great help, but I will no longer need her.”
“Yes. I’m feeling much better. Please thank Felicia for me. She was here just before Judith arrived and has been a great help, but I will no longer need her.”
ERIC:
“I’ll let her know.”
“I’ll let her know.”
BILL:
“Forgive me, Eric, but you don’t sound yourself. I know I have been out of sorts these past weeks, but is there something I should know? Have there been more problems with Victor?”
“Forgive me, Eric, but you don’t sound yourself. I know I have been out of sorts these past weeks, but is there something I should know? Have there been more problems with Victor?”
ERIC:
“I only wish it were Victor. You are not the only one with family visitors, Bill. My maker has arrived with his child. Things are not going well.”
“I only wish it were Victor. You are not the only one with family visitors, Bill. My maker has arrived with his child. Things are not going well.”
BILL:
“I see.”
“I see.”
ERIC:
“He is my maker. It is not for me to advise him; he must reach his own conclusions. He’s trying, but the child is . . . I see this ending badly. But he’s . . . He’s my maker.”
“He is my maker. It is not for me to advise him; he must reach his own conclusions. He’s trying, but the child is . . . I see this ending badly. But he’s . . . He’s my maker.”
BILL:
“I remember the feeling all too well, Eric.”
“I remember the feeling all too well, Eric.”
ERIC:
“I imagine you do. She would have been of help to you now, though.”
“I imagine you do. She would have been of help to you now, though.”
BILL:
“I would rather die than have asked her. If Sookie had not contacted Judith, I would never have bothered her after what Lorena did to her, did to us both.”
“I would rather die than have asked her. If Sookie had not contacted Judith, I would never have bothered her after what Lorena did to her, did to us both.”
ERIC:
“Sookie contacted her?”
“Sookie contacted her?”
BILL:
“Yes. She got Judith’s e-mail from my database and told her I was ill and needed her. She and Judith then spoke when Judith arrived. Judith was much relieved to know that Lorena had met her final death, and surprised it was at Sookie’s hands. She was most impressed.”
“Yes. She got Judith’s e-mail from my database and told her I was ill and needed her. She and Judith then spoke when Judith arrived. Judith was much relieved to know that Lorena had met her final death, and surprised it was at Sookie’s hands. She was most impressed.”
ERIC:
“Sookie is most impressive. Bobby has just arrived with some paperwork for me. Felicia is with him, so I will pass along your thanks. Good night, Bill.”
“Sookie is most impressive. Bobby has just arrived with some paperwork for me. Felicia is with him, so I will pass along your thanks. Good night, Bill.”
BILL:
“Good night, Eric.”
“Good night, Eric.”
Phone: Bill calling Eric.
BILL:
“Eric, we’ve just arrived home. What happened at Sookie’s tonight? All was quiet when we went out, but now there are strange scents through the woods.”
“Eric, we’ve just arrived home. What happened at Sookie’s tonight? All was quiet when we went out, but now there are strange scents through the woods.”
ERIC:
“My maker has met his final death, Bill. His child as well.”
“My maker has met his final death, Bill. His child as well.”
BILL:
“This is not what you wanted?”
“This is not what you wanted?”
ERIC:
“I don’t know. I feel strangely free.”
Pause.
“What is it like to live without your maker, Bill? How did you feel when Lorena died?”
“I don’t know. I feel strangely free.”
Pause.
“What is it like to live without your maker, Bill? How did you feel when Lorena died?”
BILL:
“She had been torturing me, Eric. When she died, I felt relief. Afterward, I felt somewhat adrift. I imagine it is much like any child when a parent dies, even if the parent was a poor one.”
“She had been torturing me, Eric. When she died, I felt relief. Afterward, I felt somewhat adrift. I imagine it is much like any child when a parent dies, even if the parent was a poor one.”
ERIC:
“I cannot remember a time when I did not feel Ocella’s presence, but I did not hate him.”
“I cannot remember a time when I did not feel Ocella’s presence, but I did not hate him.”
BILL:
“I believe I hated Lorena, as much as a vampire can hate their maker. Twice she took me from a woman I loved.”
(Silence.)
“I believe I hated Lorena, as much as a vampire can hate their maker. Twice she took me from a woman I loved.”
(Silence.)
BILL:
“I take it Sookie is all right?”
“I take it Sookie is all right?”
ERIC:
“Yes. I left her with her fairy cousin and uncle.”
“Yes. I left her with her fairy cousin and uncle.”
BILL:
“Her uncle? I thought he was dangerous.”
“Her uncle? I thought he was dangerous.”
ERIC:
“He was bespelled, and he was freed tonight as well. He killed a fairy who meant Sookie harm, a fairy who killed Ocella instead.”
Pause.
“Bobby and Felicia are also dead. Bobby died trying to protect me.”
“He was bespelled, and he was freed tonight as well. He killed a fairy who meant Sookie harm, a fairy who killed Ocella instead.”
Pause.
“Bobby and Felicia are also dead. Bobby died trying to protect me.”
BILL:
“I’m sorry, Eric.”
“I’m sorry, Eric.”
ERIC:
“So am I. Pam was injured but is recovering.”
“So am I. Pam was injured but is recovering.”
BILL:
“Eric, is there anything I can do?”
“Eric, is there anything I can do?”
ERIC:
“Perhaps you could look through Bobby’s computer, help Pam with what needs to be taken care of until I find another daytime employee.”
“Perhaps you could look through Bobby’s computer, help Pam with what needs to be taken care of until I find another daytime employee.”
BILL:
“Of course. Shall we come to Fangtasia tonight?”
“Of course. Shall we come to Fangtasia tonight?”
ERIC:
“Please. I need to rely on you and Pam while I am attending to Ocella’s final arrangements, Bill. I cannot afford to let anything slide.
We
cannot afford it. Victor remains a threat to us all.”
“Please. I need to rely on you and Pam while I am attending to Ocella’s final arrangements, Bill. I cannot afford to let anything slide.
We
cannot afford it. Victor remains a threat to us all.”
BILL:
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
Dead Reckoning
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2006.
Sookie decides to take advantage of the fact that Dermot and Claude are still staying at her house and enlists the pair to help her clean out the attic. Setting aside the family photos, documents, and other items Sookie thinks might be worth selling in the living room, they eventually pile the most obviously dilapidated and worthless in the driveway to be burned. At work at Merlotte’s that evening, Sookie tells Sam of their activity, and much to her surprise, he is able to recommend a shop in Shreveport that appraises and purchases antiques. Sam tells her that he needs to stop in to look for a birthday gift for Jannalynn, so they make plans to visit the shop the next day.
Sookie decides to take advantage of the fact that Dermot and Claude are still staying at her house and enlists the pair to help her clean out the attic. Setting aside the family photos, documents, and other items Sookie thinks might be worth selling in the living room, they eventually pile the most obviously dilapidated and worthless in the driveway to be burned. At work at Merlotte’s that evening, Sookie tells Sam of their activity, and much to her surprise, he is able to recommend a shop in Shreveport that appraises and purchases antiques. Sam tells her that he needs to stop in to look for a birthday gift for Jannalynn, so they make plans to visit the shop the next day.
Business is sparse that night. Not only has Sam come out as two-natured, but there is also a new bar nearby that is drawing a crowd. Kennedy Keyes and Danny Prideaux come in for a drink just as it is getting dark, and Sookie is closing the front curtains when she sees suspicious activity in the parking lot. A Molotov cocktail is thrown through the window, setting a table on fire and scattering flaming napkins through the bar. Sam grabs the fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames. As customers race out of the bar through the back door, Sookie grabs pitchers of tea and water to put out the small fires created by the burning napkins. Sam sees Sookie’s hair catch on fire and sprays her with the fire extinguisher before she even realizes what has happened. Together, they are able to douse the blaze before the fire department arrives. Eric storms in a few minutes later, having felt Sookie’s distress through their bond, and insists on taking Sookie home; however, she convinces him to allow Sheriff Bud Dearborn and the fire chief to question her for their investigation into the arson.
Eric contacts Pam to bring a hairdresser to Sookie’s house, and the female vampire is waiting with Immanuel Earnest, a stylist from Shreveport, when Eric and Sookie arrive. Immanuel sets up in the kitchen and gets to work, cutting off several inches of Sookie’s hair while Eric glowers.
While showering, Sookie thinks about the firebombing and suspects that the being that did it was not human. She returns to the kitchen, and Immanuel cuts again, evening out her hair. Pam, who is in a bad mood after receiving a text, begins complaining about Victor still being in charge, then she shifts her annoyance to the items from the attic piled in Sookie’s living room and driveway. She finally questions Eric on what kind of husband he is, allowing his wife to live with other men, and Eric attacks her. Immanuel pulls Sookie out of the kitchen while the two vampires battle it out. The hairdresser reveals that Pam is frustrated because she wants to turn her lover, Miriam—Immanuel’s sister who is suffering from leukemia—but has not been given permission to make her own child. Sookie finally has enough, fills a pitcher from the bathroom with cold water, goes into the kitchen, and throws it on the two vampires rolling around on the floor, then leaves the two to settle down. When Eric and Pam finally emerge, Sookie sends everyone home, shooing the vampires out of the front door as Claude and Dermot arrive home from work and enter from the back. Exhausted, Sookie heads off to bed.
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