Dead on New Years Chapter 17

I woke up and discovered we were in a parking garage underground. I shook my head a little and looked at Eric, “I fell asleep?”

He just smirked, “You closed your eyes because you didn’t want to see how fast everything was flying by as I drove.”

A man dressed in black from head to toe opened my door and helped me out of the car. I swiveled my legs out first just like Pam and Ellsey had taught me, so I didn’t flash anyone like Lindsay Lohan, and stepped carefully in my new stiletto heals. Eric had been busy at the bar for the last week getting things ready for our absence and dealing with the New Orleans vamps to get ready for Felipe’s arrival. Pam and Ellsey had acted as my personal wardrobe consultants and had sent me on shopping trips during the day so they could critique my purchases each night. It was like my own personal episode of “What Not to Wear,” hosted by a soccer mom/latex queen and a lingerie store owner. Eric had been quite impressed with their make-over on me and I was a little afraid we wouldn’t make it out of the house when I stepped into the living room this evening.

We entered the lobby and I hung back a little while he went to register us at the front desk. As I waited I took in the goth décor and the array of people waiting in the lobby - Supes, vamps, humans and a few people who must have been the same type of being as Dr. Ludwig, although I still wasn’t sure what that was. I didn’t see anyone I knew, even though Bill, Chan, Ellsey and several other vamps I knew were planning to come over for the events. Suddenly I realized that someone was watching me, I knew it was a vamp because I couldn’t hear a thing, but I felt the eyes boring into me. Eric was still charming the girl at the front desk when I realized that a tall vamp dressed in a very expensive suit was mesmerized and beginning to walk across the lobby towards me. I was nervous but didn’t want to cause a scene, so I tried to pretend I didn’t see him coming. When he stood directly in front of me, he cocked his head and took a huge sniff of the air around us, sighing as he exhaled. OH SHIT.

Eric arrived just as the man reached to take my hand. He stepped in between us and glanced at the man and then laughed, “Seamus. I see you’ve sniffed out Sookie.”

The man seemed to snap out of it and glanced at Eric. He made a huffing noise and looked at me again for a second and then back at Eric saying, “I should have known.” He purposefully took my hand and kissed the back of it, “You and I will need to speak later.” He winked at me and walked away.

“Umm, what just happened?”

“That was Seamus, he….it’s a long story. But he is right, you will want to speak to him this weekend.”

“Okay, strange. He smelled me though, so am I sending off a smell to attract all of the vampires?”

“No, I think you are still alright. Seamus is a special case. You and I have been exchanging blood regularly, so hopefully you mostly smell like me.” He glanced around, “Come lover, let’s go to our rooms. They are bringing our bags up.”

We walked to the elevator and I heard Eric start thinking about the elevator in Vegas. I started to breathe a little quicker and felt myself getting hot and wet. We stepped through the door and both realized there was an elevator operator inside that would be riding with us. Damn, Eric thought. He stood behind me and I could feel his arousal. I was licking my lips and already imagining the feel of him inside of me.

We made it into the room before Eric got his pants open. He pushed me back against the door, spinning me around so my face was pressing against the emergency exit instructions. It would have been funny if I hadn’t wanted him so badly. Pressed against the door like that there was not much I could do but let him have his way with me. My skirt was around my waist and my underwear flying across the room in an instant. I could feel him pressing against my back as he spread his legs to even our heights. I pushed back against him with my butt and he ran two fingers through my wet folds. I whimpered and he spread my legs and speared into me. One hand came up under my shirt and he was assaulting my nipples and breasts as he pounded from me from behind. “Oh God, Eric. Yes, ohmygod, fuck me. Oh, yes, oh…” His hand moved from my breast to press against my clit and I came in spasms. If I thought he was pounding into me before, my orgasm seemed to send him into another gear. After a minute or so I could feel the heat building again and he leaned forward to bite my neck and we both came.

I was still breathing hard when he carried me to the bed. He pulled my skirt off and moved to take his pants the rest of the way off. I got my shirt and bra off and went to remove my shoes when he growled, “Leave them. Get on the bed. Now.”

I did as I was told. I didn’t usually like to be ordered around, but he knew that I was more inclined to let it slide when sex with him was involved. He stood over me and ran a hand down the length of my side as if contemplating what he was going to do to me. His fangs were still down and his eyes were glazed over with desire. He grabbed the sheet and tore two long strips from it. Before I knew it one arm was tied to the bedpost and he was working on the other one. I was a little nervous, but I knew deep down he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. As soon as he was finished with the second knot I was aware of how vulnerable I felt. I was in nothing but black stiletto heels, laid out like a buffet for him. He must have heard that thought, because the next thing I knew he was between my legs, lifting my hips and leaning forward to rub his face across my stomach and down to my very center.

I could not have imagined the power of the desire to put my hands in his hair. With my hands tied I was overcome with thoughts over everything I wanted to use my hands for. I arched my back and spread my legs to give him more access. He paused what he was doing and looked me in the eye. Sternly he said, “Do not move.” I moaned a little and he continued to look at me, placing a hand on my stomach, “If you move, I am finished. Do you hear me?”

I almost nodded my head, but caught myself. “Yes,” I managed to say.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Very well,” he said and returned his attentions to my wet heat. He ran his tongue the length of my folds over and over. He moved with vampire speed, using his tongue to lap up my wetness and his fingers flicking across my clit while occasionally plunging his tongue into me, making me gasp. I was mumbling incoherently. I wished that he had tied my legs as well because I was having a hard time concentrating on not moving them. Eric laughed at that thought and asked if I wanted him to stop.

“If you stop I will kill you.” Of course, that backfired on me and made him stop. He pulled slowly himself up my body, rubbing himself against me the whole way. He moved to kiss my mouth and then simply licked across my lips. He began kissing my neck and licking my breasts. His shaft was teasing my thigh and I thought I was going to burst into flames.

“You can move now lover, but I won’t be untying you for a while.” I arched my back and used my stilettos to brace against the bed. He laughed as I moved my hips against him, pushing myself closer to the edge. He inserted just the head of himself into me and met my eyes before he thrust completely in. He kissed me, setting his tongue to the hard and fast pace of his hips and it didn’t take long before I was ready to come. As I arched my back as far as I could and stopped grinding against him for release, Eric slowed himself to an agonizing pace and strung me along. I began moving my hips again, forcing myself up to meet him trying to speed things up again. “Lover, do you want me to go faster? What do you want?” he said, enjoying torturing me.

“Faster yes, oh god, faster please.” And because he could, he began moving at a pace no human man could even dream of. Within seconds I was having the most amazing orgasm. I could feel my muscles clenching and drawing him into me. It went on for what seemed like forever and he was growling and staring into my eyes. He leaned down and bit my breast and plunged into me with all of his power. He was making a roaring sound in my ear and I felt him coming, shooting straight to my core. I either came again, or the first orgasm caught a second wave, and I screamed. When I realized what was going on he had already licked my wounds clean on my breast and was reaching up to untie my wrists.

I cleared my throat and tried to stretch a little, “You didn’t kill me did you?” He looked at me strangely, “Because I can’t feel most of my body.”

He smiled and untied my other wrist. I managed to put my arms around him, but it was quite clumsy. He began rubbing my arms, “No lover, you’re not dead, you’re not even undead.”

“That’s good,” I murmured, eyes beginning to close.
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The phone was ringing beside the bed, after 3 rings when Eric didn’t answer it I realized I was alone. I grabbed the phone and managed a groggy hello. “Lover, you have 2 hours to get ready for Felipe’s reception.”

“Reception. 2 hours.”

“Yes. You will want to call room service because there will not be human food available.”

I was starting to fully wake up. “Reception, 2 hours, food.” I cleared my throat again, “Where are you?”

He laughed, “I’m in the lobby. I met with Felipe and am getting ready to take him to Victor’s old compound to inspect the security around Booker. Can you meet me in the front lobby in 2 hours?”

“Yeah. I’ll meet you there.”

“Good lover, I cannot wait to see what outfit Pam and Ellsey selected for this event. Oh – and Sookie, if you leave the room you must bring you keycard with you, even if you are coming to meet me. The hotel is very strict about only allowing guests only in certain areas.”

I was finally awake, so I said, “Right. Reception, 2 hours, food, key. Anything else?”

With all seriousness, he said, “Do not wear any underwear.”

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When I got to the lobby I didn’t see Eric anywhere, but I saw Ellsey and she immediately pulled me into the ladies room. “Sookie, I don’t know how you do it…”

“Do what?”

“You either look like the girl next door or a hooker. You cannot seem to find the middle ground when it comes to cosmetics.” I was a little embarrassed, but she was too quick for me to stop and was already wiping off my lipstick and moving for my eyelids. I don’t know how she had all of the supplies in her purse that she needed, and I certainly don’t know how she fixed everything in 2 minutes flat, but I did look a lot better. She was mumbling to herself that we were going to have to have make-up lessons when we got back to Shreveport. She looked me up and down and seemed otherwise satisfied. I was wearing a long black satin floor length straight skirt with a corseted top of red satin overlaid with black lace. It was sexy and appropriate, but still Sookie.

Eric was in the lobby when we came out of the restroom and he smiled at my outfit. When he saw my bare skin through the corset laces in the back I felt his reaction against my hip. I raised my eyebrow at him and took his arm to head into the large ballroom. Even though this weekend would culminate in a trial, Felipe was taking every opportunity to flaunt his status as King and enjoy some southern hospitality. Eric reminded me not to speak to Felipe unless spoken to, although he expected that at some point the King would come speak to me. The crowd seemed very lively and there was a head table set up for Felipe to lord over his minions. It was very odd since he was sitting there by himself and there were no other chairs on the dais with him, just security guards and a velvet rope. Eric mentally shushed me, as if I would have said anything out loud, and directed us to our table.

The evening was full of speeches. Felipe had invited a representative from every Area in the State and several Sherriff’s from bordering Areas attended as well. Oddly, the human Governor of Louisiana had come to welcome the King and reach out an olive branch to the Vamps of the State. I was beginning to yawn when the music began. Eric led me to the dance floor and began to spin me around to an old fashioned love song. When the song finished I noticed that one of Felipe’s body guards was waiting for us. Sure enough, he stepped to Eric’s side and said, “The King requests your presence Northman.”

We went over the Felipe’s table and waited, basically in a line, to speak with him. Eventually he glanced at me and rudely told Eric I was not needed. Sigh. Eric tightened his grip on my arm before I said something and quietly told me he would meet me in the lobby bar. “As you wish,” I said with a nod of my head; knowing Eric would recognize it as a quote from the “Princess Bride” and not a sign of my acquiescence.

Luckily since the hotel served humans and supes as well as vamps, I was able to get a gin and tonic in the bar while I waited. Ellsey wandered in and sat next to me, splurging on some imported blood and telling me funny stories about anyone she recognized. Suddenly I felt like I was being watched again, but when I found Seamus in the crowd he was narrowing in on Ellsey, walking towards her, their eyes locked. He was black Irish, with dark hair and eyes on top of a body that would not quit. Whatever was going on with him and Ellsey was an odd, slow-motion kind of situation, but I couldn’t turn away from watching. As he brought her hand to his lips I cleared my throat, “Seamus.”

Ellsey laughed and pulled back, “He gets me every time!” she said, slapping at his hand.

“Sookie, it is not nice to ruin the moment when a man is moving in to seduce a beautiful woman.” He reached for Ellsey’s hand again and kissed the back of it.

I looked between them, “What is going on here?”

Ellsey grinned, “You don’t know Seaums? Oh, you two HAVE to talk!” She kept smiling and walked away, leaving me more confused.

“Why do I have to talk to you, Mr.----?”

“Flynn, Seamus Flynn. I suppose you and I need to talk, because I used to be you.”

“You used to be a blond waitress? Really?”

He barked a laugh, “No child, I used to be a quarter fae in love with a vampire.”

“What? You’re like me? Why didn’t anyone tell me?!”

“I said I used to be you. If you haven’t noticed, I’m a vampire now.”

“OH! How did that happen?”

“Really, Sookie?”

“No – I mean, I got the impression that I don’t have to turn. I mean, I…” I’m sure I looked totally confused. I couldn’t believe there was someone out there like me! I didn’t know how much I could tell him and I was just struggling to process everything.

He laughed again and sat down next to me at the bar. “I’m assuming several things about you. One, that you are bonded to the Viking and two, that you are probably soul-mates. I’m also going to guess that you are part of a Royal family, based on the fae smell. Am I close?”

I tried not to confirm anything, but asked why he would make those assumptions about Eric. He sniffed a little, “Because nothing less would have pulled that one into a relationship. He has been wandering for centuries, a King without his Queen. When I heard he had fallen, I knew it was for eternity. But as I said, it’s just a guess. So if I am correct, you will not need to be turned. You’re right about that. It doesn’t mean your life together will be easy by any means.”

I smiled, “You sound like Eric.”

“That’s a compliment, to be sure. See, my case was different. The vampire I loved was not my soul-mate. To ensure eternity together, I asked her to turn me.”

“Oh, I see. Is she here?”

“I haven’t seen her in decades.”

“Oh. That can’t be good.”

He cocked his head a little, “I think it’s for the best really. No one warned me that vampire couples find it very difficult to stay together. In the long run we were much happier apart than together. And now as part fae and vampire, I lead the most amazing bachelors’ life.”

He signaled the bartender to get me another drink and sighed. “What do you know about your family?”

“Not enough.”

“You’re good,” he said with a head shake. “You’ve picked up a lot from him. Anyway, your family is not entirely trustworthy and will have a hard time with your union with the Viking.”

“And this is based on my scent?”

“No, this is based on the fact that your great Grandfather is a piece of work.”

“So you know who I am?”

“Yeah, I heard about you, but I didn’t connect you with Eric’s woman until today. Plus, you smell so much like Claude and Claudine it isn’t funny. Anyway, I heard through the grapevine that they were going to start training you. If you ever need help, or you have questions about the fae world, give me a shout.”

As he finished speaking I felt Eric’s cool hand on my back. “Seamus, you’re not filling her with lies are you?”

“Ah... Viking, why would I do such a thing?”

“Because you already figured out you can not seduce her.”

“Quite true, but her friend Ellsey and I go way back. I think I shall keep her busy this weekend.” He grinned and stood and took my hand. “It has been a pleasure. I meant what I said, if you need any advice or help in terms of the fae, call me.” He kissed the back of my hand and walked off.

“So lover, you met the vampire Don Juan.”

“Yes. He was, interesting. Where’ve you been? What did Felipe need?”

“He wanted to finalize plans for tomorrow evening. Trey and Simon have everything in order, but the King felt it needed my stamp of approval as well.”

I finished my drink and smiled, “Are we done tonight?”

“Yes lover, let’s go upstairs. We need to talk about the plans for tomorrow evening, and then I need to get you out of those clothes.”

Dead on New Years Chapter 16

I awoke to the feel of Eric’s arms sliding around me. “Mmmmm,” I murmured. “You’re home.” He loved it that I was already calling his place home. I turned in his arms and met his mouth for a kiss. He was naked and ready, but enjoyed feeling my body against his and kissing me to wake me up. This mind reading stuff was seriously hot.

I was wearing a little black silk nightie that was suddenly ripped down the middle between my breasts so that Eric could put his mouth on my nipples. He licked and suckled them, bringing them to tight peaks that strained towards his mouth. I had my hands in his soft blond hair and was holding his mouth to my chest. We were lying so that I was able to grind myself against his side. I could feel how wet I was and knew he could feel it too. He shifted slightly and brought his hand to my moist center. He ran a finger along my folds and sighed out loud. He matched the rhythm of his finger to that of his tongue on my breast and pushed me towards release. “Eric!” I cried out as he slid two fingers into me and reached for my most sensitive spot. He worked me endlessly, stroking my center and using his mouth on my nipples. He was licking and biting and teasing and I thought I might come just from the way my breasts felt. When I felt his fangs sink in on either side of my nipple I screamed and my body began clutching his fingers.

I felt like I was out of my body, floating above us when he licked my two little wounds. He looked into my eyes and moved slightly to enter me while our eyes were locked. He had pulled me up and put the back of my legs against his chest and held on to my ass for leverage. “Yessss,” he whispered as he slid himself to my womb and I saw his eyes almost roll back in his head. Feeling Eric inside of me brought me back to my body and made me start to burn all over again. He began to push into me and pull me against him to meet his thrusts. I was leaning on my elbows and trying to push myself towards him to take him as far in as I could. And then I was just trying to keep my balance as he was pounding into me with driving force. His lips were pulled back to reveal his fangs and if he had to breathe he would have been panting. “You…are…mine,” he growled, and then he reached one hand around to my clit and I threw my head back and came. He just kept pumping and flicking my clit and drawing out my orgasm until tears were running down my face. Then I felt his hand clench on my ass and could see in his face that he was ready. With one more forceful thrust he buried himself in me and ground the base of his cock against my flesh, spilling himself in me and howling at his release.

We rested briefly and he grinned mischievously, letting me know he wasn’t finished with me. He pulled me across the bed so my chest was on the mattress and my feet were on the floor. He gave me a long lick down my back and grabbed my hips. He used one hand to open my folds and pushed in as slowly as possible. I felt myself stretching around him like it was in slow-motion. I started to push back against him and he held me still, taking control and making me whimper. I don’t know how he kept himself calm enough to continue the slow pace. I wanted him to move faster and pound into me striking my womb and vibrating my whole body. But he didn’t. He moved in and out of me at a snails pace, pulling fully out of me each time and rubbing himself lightly over me to tease. I had started to beg him to move faster when he grabbed my hair and whispered in my ear, “Do not speak. You will get what you want but you will wait patiently for it.”
I don’t know how long it went on. Minutes? Hours? I was in agony, twisting my own nipples as hard as I could, whimpering and moaning but not daring speak a word in case it made him stop. When I thought I couldn’t bear it anymore and was almost ready to cry “uncle” he pulled out one last time and leaned forward so his length was hot and wet against my sweaty back. He whispered in my ear again, “You have been patient lover.”

I was shivering when he stood up and abruptly flipped me over to face him. In a breath he slammed into me and that was all it took. My body was so ready that I lost control, grabbing his hips to slam him into me, wrapping my legs around his waist and crying out, arching my back and gasping for breath. It only took a few more thrusts and Eric was holding on tight to my hips and coming himself and collapsing almost on top of me. After a moment he pulled us onto the bed the rest of the way and rolled us over so he was spooning behind me and holding me.

“How was your trip?” I asked when I caught my breath.

“Mmmm. Chan wants to buy out Cardona to own his own cleaners again. Bill is annoying. I appointed a new Sheriff and imprisoned a few zealots.”

“Um, Okay. That was the short version, wasn’t it?”

He laughed into my ear, “Yes. It all went well and we were able to confine the leader of the group that followed Victor, along with several of his supporters.”

“Why did he get behind Victor? What was wrong with having Felipe as King?”

“Well,” he sighed, “They didn’t believe that they should be ruled from across the country. I’m sure Victor convinced him that if Louisiana was ruled by Florida there would be a place for them in local leadership.”

“Where are they now?”

“Confined in chambers inside Victor’s compound.” He did not elaborate on the fact that they were chained by silver and allowed only a few feet of movement within the cells. He also didn’t mention that they would not be allowed to feed until the trial. “Lover, let us speak of more pleasant things. What did you do while I was gone?”

I smiled a little as he kissed the back of my neck, “Hmm…I beat Barry at Cooking Mama on Wii a lot. I think it’s all of the years I spent prepping food at the bar. Barry just couldn’t get the hang of it. Let’s see… I called Ellsey just to talk, but I just got her voicemail, so I drove down to see Amelia and get a few more things from the house. I grabbed a couple of my favorite things from the kitchen, you know, stuff that was Gran’s that I would use here.” He rubbed my arm, knowing it was still hard to think about my Gran being gone. “I didn’t go to Merlotte’s or anything. I knew you would be worried. I made sure to check in with Barry, when I left, when got there, all of that.”

He gave me a squeeze, “Lover, you should still visit your friends. All of the things Niall said, I think we have time before it becomes a problem. But I am glad that you are being safe.”

I rolled over and faced him, “I know Eric, I have lifetimes to spend with you – I just don’t want anything to cut it short.” I took his face in my hands and kissed him sweetly. His eyes were getting heavy and I realized it must be close to dawn. It was easy to lose track of time in his dark safe room. I closed my eyes and gave in to sleep as well, knowing I would be awake in a few hours to face another day while he slept.
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After a day of pampering myself in the tub, super conditioning my hair and giving myself a mani/pedi. I climbed in bed to wait for Eric to wake-up. His cheek was twitching and he began to blink a little as I snuggled into his chest. “You smell beautiful lover. Did you have a good day?”

“Yeah, I just pampered myself,” I said, wiggling my toes and fingers at him. He grinned and took two of my fingers into his mouth. I just laughed and pulled them out. “What’s the plan tonight Viking?”

He rolled to his back, “Tonight I must go to Fangtasia lover. I am to sit in the bar for the followers to worship.” He was looking at the ceiling and then he turned to me, “Will you join me?”

I rolled over and sat up on my elbows, “I will go anywhere with you Eric.” He smiled and tucked some hair behind my ears. I knew if I didn’t go in another room I’d be in the shower with him. So I sighed, “You get ready and I’ll grab some dinner.”

As I stood and went to the kitchen he was thinking I was a coward and laughing at me. I thought back, “Yeah, I live with a 1,000 year old vampire, I’m such a coward.”
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We walked into Fangtasia around 9 pm and, after checking his messages, Eric went out to sit on his throne in the bar. I went to talk to Pam and Felicia and had a gin and tonic. The girls were telling me about a new hunky bartender that started while Eric was in New Orleans. Felicia seemed to think that Eric would be jealous of David, (yes, David like the statue, I’m still not sure if that’s his real name, I doubt it) but Pam said Eric would realize he was good for business. He was a vamp and no one really knew much about his past. He had tended bar in several major cities and always left with great recommendations. I was intrigued, but when he walked in I did a double take. Even by my standards, which compare everyone to a Viking, this guy was hot. He wouldn’t even have to glamour people, I bet they’d just let him feed. Eric chose that moment to listen to my brain and started to growl.

I walked over and sat on his lap to reassure him and whispered in his ear, “Viking, there would be something wrong with me if I didn’t appreciate the looks of that vamp.” I gave his earlobe a little suck, “But all I did was look, no other man will ever touch me.” I grabbed his face and looked into his eyes, “I am yours.”

He growled again and began kissing me hard. I could feel his erection against my leg and had to chuckle, nothing was going to happen here on the dance floor and the bar had begun to get full. As he devoured my mouth I heard the fangbangers thoughts whining and cursing me in my head. He eventually pulled back and grinned at me, “Well played lover.”

I smiled. “Do I have your permission to help behind the bar? This is only his second shift and you’re about to get slammed.” He looked at David and then leaned forward to rub his face along both sides of my neck, clearly marking me with his scent. He gave me a nod and asked me to take the section near the waitress station to be safe.

The night was really uneventful, not counting the bras and underwear that were collecting around the bar as women, vamps and humans, tossed them at David. We were selling out of thongs in the gift shop area nothing Felicia or I could do would keep David kept up on the line for drinks at his station. Some women simply didn’t want us to get them a drink. As things began to slow down Ellsey came in and waved hello. I knew the vamps could handle the bar without me, so I grabbed a gin and tonic and slid out to get a table with her.

She commented on David’s beauty and actually turned her chair so he wouldn’t distract her. We made small talk for a bit and she asked about Eric’s trip to New Orleans. I was kind of glad she asked, because I had questions that I wasn’t sure Eric would answer. I explained about Booker’s imprisonment and the new Sheriff. I told her Eric didn’t think we needed to go back until the trial. She nodded and said she was glad they would be cleaning up the city. I leaned forward a little bit, I don’t know why, she had vamp hearing, but anyway, I asked her about the trial – what did it really mean? Where would it be and would we be safe?

She smiled, “Safe is relative Sookie. You have been around vamps long enough to know that no place is completely safe.” She drank some AB TrueBlood and looked around like she was about to tell me a secret. “I have not been a part of a trial like this before, but I have heard about them. It will be very serious. Most likely it will be held in a warehouse or parking structure, somewhere that many people will fit into. It will have a huge audience. You’ve heard about public hangings in American history? It will rival that.” I shivered a little at the thought and raised my lip in disgust. She continued, “Even with the strange location it will be very formal. There will be witnesses called and evidence presented. What you may not understand is that the accused will really have no chance to defend themselves. They will not have a lawyer or any representation. No one will be called in their defense.”

“I don’t understand; why not just execute them if they can’t even defend themselves?”

“It is a demonstration of power. They can’t just execute anyone without a reason, so they use the trial to prove they should and then the King exacts his punishment, which is not always death, but in this case, I’m sure it will be.”

“And will it be dangerous for us?”

“As I said before, every place is dangerous, even here. But the trial will be a spectacle. There will be plenty of vamps from here and Florida and I’ll bet some Texans come over. You run the risk of someone starting a fight in the crowd that gets out of control, or some of Booker’s followers starting an uprising.” She shook her head, “If you’re going, I would stay as close to Eric as possible.”

Dead On New Years Chapter 15

A/N - sorry - it's all Eric this chapter. Life has been hectic. I'm a pregnant working mom, so sometimes I get too busy to write...I just keep making lists of ideas! Don't worry - E/S will be together in the next chapter. I promise some ESN. :)
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It was just after dark in New Orleans. Eric and Chan sat at a table in the Cat’s Meow sipping lukewarm TrueBloods and waiting for Simon and Trey to arrive. It was an inconspicuous meeting place as vampires rarely visited the inside of this trashy human bar. They found prey outside in the street; drunk and either flashing their breasts, trying to get someone to flash their breasts, or vomiting in the street. Bill was in the hotel using his computer and Eric was glad to have a break from listening to his incessant rambling. Chan kept him entertained and reminisced about previous trips to New Orleans in what he called, “the good old days.”

“Do you remember how many women I had that night? It was like a buffet!”

Eric pursed his lips a little, “You remind me of your sexual prowess quite frequently, and if I didn’t know better I would think you were overcompensating. But yes, I remember that night. I remember that all of the women were diseased and disgusting.”

“Pah – human diseases mean nothing to me.”

“Yes, well…to each his own.” He shuddered a little bit, grateful that hygienic standards had gone up greatly over the years.

“I am thinking about opening my own store again.”

Eric rolled his eyes, “Chan, are you not saving money and able to send it to your descendents?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then please, let us not go through this again.” Chan looked a little incredulous, “Every 20 years of so you have some descendent that needs money or to work their way through college. You reopen your own dry cleaners and then what?” he paused. “Your damn relative robs you blind. That’s what happens.”

“It only happened twice.”

“Yes, and I remember the consequences of the last time quite well.” The Asian actually grinned thinking about it, but Eric continued, his face grim, “You showed up months later half starved and then disappeared in Canada. The next thing I heard, you were almost staked – by the King of Vancouver.”

“How was I to know he would be that upset?”

“You got in bed with him and his wife!”

“She said he could learn from me!”

They both laughed and then as if a switch had flipped, Eric became serious and glanced towards the door. A second later Trey and Simon entered the bar and joined them. Eric made the introductions, although he thought perhaps that Chan already knew Simon. They had both spent a fair amount of time in the western US over the years and since the vamp population out there was so small, it was likely they had run into each other.

Trey had been around New Orleans for some time and had worked his way up the ladder of vamps. Before Sophie Anne died he was little more than a gopher. When Victor took over he was given more responsibilities and had proven an effective investigator. He was the kind of man who would prefer to work for a boss he liked and respected, but had been vampire long enough to know how to work for whoever won the fight and be glad to not meet the sun.

Simon had come from the west after Katrina. The vampire numbers had dwindled and they needed some capable investigators to help clean up the riff raff of vamps that began preying on the helpless humans stranded in New Orleans, or the sad people trying to come back and make a home out of the destruction. Simon worked for Victor, but had ambitions of his own. He knew he could make sheriff someday, he just needed the experience and figured New Orleans would look great on a “resume.”

A new waitress stopped by the table and took their drink orders. Eric began asking the local investigators what they knew and what they thought needed to be done. Simon immediately took charge and told Eric that he was concerned about a group of vampires that had taken over the 9th Ward. He had phone records from King De Castro’s staff linking them to Victor and felt that they needed to be “dealt” with right out of the gate. Trey agreed and did not add much else to the conversation. Eric nodded and thought that Bill might actually be right; Simon was the one with the head for the sheriff’s job.

“Who leads this group? Would I know him?”

Simon shook his head and pursed his lips a little, “No sir, I don’t think you would. The leader is called Booker. He is a young vampire, maybe 200 years old?” He looked at Trey and he nodded in agreement. “I believe he came from California originally, he was a sailor, but mostly worked merchant ships. It seems that he continues to live a hardscrabble hand to mouth existence, but he has become a captain of sorts with a group of followers.”

Eric couldn’t believe what a bastard this Booker was. Actually, he could. Booker reminded him a lot of himself before he had understood that survival meant playing the game, at least enough to make it look like you respected the hierarchy. Eric nodded, “How do you propose we deal with them? I have heard that they are boldly discussing their involvement in Victor’s plot as though there are no consequences.”

Trey continued to stay quiet and Simon spoke, looking from Eric to Chan, “We can scare the hell out of them and keep Booker for trial or we can publicly kill him to show them that there is still law here and they will have to obey it or face the final death.” Eric was really liking the way this one thought. However, he knew that killing the vamp was not an option. They would have to take Booker into custody and wait for the King to deal out his punishment.

Eric told them that killing the man would not solve their problems and that he knew that the King would never condone it. Felipe believed that it was his duty to exterminate what was left of Victor’s followers. They discussed the suites that remained in Victor’s compound that could be used to imprison Booker and some other zealots in his crew. Eric agreed that they best form of imprisonment involved silver to ensure that no one escaped. Simon knew what needed to be done and agreed to set up the meeting with Booker.

He left a message for the “captain” inquiring about letting Eric meet his crew and helping them establish their place in the city. Booker called back shortly and although quite cocky, seemed awestruck that the great Northman would come to meet his crew. Was it going to be that easy? To show up at this meeting and take the fool? They agreed to meet that evening at an abandoned church in the 9th Ward.

They drove to the church in Simon’s Hummer while Trey drove a van ready for prisoners. Eric was thinking to himself that this would actually be much like Victor’s own demise. Booker was just too dumb to keep his mouth shut. Sure enough, the meeting began and introductions were finished and not a second later Booker began talking about the plot to overthrow King De Castro. “We stand here tonight being recognized by one of the strongest Sheriff’s in our state because we know that Louisiana can not be ruled by some fool in Las Vegas. We will not be micro-managed from another part of the country. We will find our own way and our own leader.” It went on and on, with some cheers from a few in the audience, but mostly the vamps in attendance were looking at Booker like he was nuts.

Eric knew that the others were taking notice of the vamps that were in support of Booker’s thoughts. He knew that they would have to be taken as well and knew that between Chan, Bill, Trey and Simon they would be grabbed. As Booker wound down his chest thumping, Eric nodded and began to speak, “You are correct, Louisiana should not be lead from a far.” Booker grinned and took Eric’s hand as he reached out to shake it. In a flash he pulled the man towards him so that he had an arm around his neck and a stake to his heart. A few people jumped up, but the crowd was stunned, “That is why the King made me his second in command you fool.” Bill stepped up with leather gloves on and placed silver handcuffs over Bookers long sleeves. Eric’s men grabbed 3 or 4 other vamps that had started towards the pulpit. Eric looked around, and spoke to the rest of the crowd, “Do not underestimate me, or the rules of our kind. Simon is the new Sheriff here and Trey is his second. They will not tolerate your insubordination. DO NOT make me come back to New Orleans to deal with your group again. You will not be punished for believing a zealot – but do not think your involvement in this little group will be forgotten. The King will be here to hold a trial to determine what to do with these traitors. I hope you will all witness the outcome and know that you could very well be on trial as well.” A few people in the crowd actually clapped and on his way to the car a couple tried to shake his hand. Simon was walking out at his side with a blank look on his face and Trey seemed a little pissed.

When they got in the car Eric spoke before anyone else could have the chance, “Simon, I believe you are ready for this job. I will support you in whatever you need.” He looked at Trey in the backseat with Bill and Chan, “Trey, Simon will need your help. He will not be able to straighten up this town without you.” He sat back and checked his watch, “Now, get me back to my car so I can drive home. I do not wish to wake up in a strange place tomorrow evening. I will see you for the trial if not sooner.”