24 - Sookie Stackhouse and Eric Northman Look to the Future - Part Two

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Chapter Twenty Four

"I am back, Master," I said to Eric, my voice soft and my eyes lowered in a suitably submissive way.

I have seen Pam get down on one knee, described as "old school" by Eric, therefore something that would not be expected of a vampire Turned in the current century. I didn't want to lay on the whole Master - Child thing too thick and make the King suspicious we were pulling his leg.

I was aware of Eric's relief to have me back. The corridors in the palace were like a maze. You could wander around for hours without getting to your destination. I could be off doing who knows what.

Eric gave a slight nod to greet me and show he heard me and was not displeased. He did the whole "Master" thing really well. I wasn't so sure I could pull off the obedient Child role as well but I would try.

"One of the Queen's Ladies escorted me, Master," I added, nodding deeply.

Eric made the tiniest frown showing me I was not supposed to run on at the mouth but only speak when spoken to. I needed to show the King I was a completely transformed being. Eric and I had agreed I was to act as if he had complete power over me, further adding to the story that my Turning had erased my human telepathic powers and my human nature.

I turned to pay respect the King.

"Your Majesty," I said to him, nodding respectfully.

"Sookie, you look marvelous!" he gushed in a rich Spanish accent, putting down his goblet on a black marble coffee table, or would that be a black marble blood table in this case since blood was the only thing served around here.

He walked forward in a smooth catlike way, as a trained dancer would walk, to take my hands in his. His hands felt warm too. The older vampires must generate more heat though they all felt cool to humans. He bowed his head and kissed the back of my left hand.

I knew from my extensive reading of romance novels that this was the traditional use of hand kissing. It was a gesture of admiration towards a married woman in the presence of her husband, not a seductive ploy by a man towards a woman. That was why he kissed the hand wearing the wedding ring. It was as much a compliment for the husband on his good judgement as flattery for the woman.

"Thank you, your Majesty," I said with a smile. "You're not looking too shabby yourself."

It was true. In his expensive suit, his impeccable grooming, his flamenco dancer's physique perfect for a man much smaller in stature than Eric, he would have looked royal even without the title, perhaps like a billionaire bullfighter.

He smiled a pleased little smile and gestured for me to sit down. I sat next to Eric. I tried to look more submissive, as well as cool and vampirish, less human. Inwardly I was nervous about what the King wanted with us.

"How do you find life as one of us?" Felipe de Castro asked, flashing his square white teeth. "Can I offer you a drink?" He indicated the warmed carafe of blood on the table.

I turned to Eric and he gave me a tiny gesture of permission.

"Yes, thank you," I said.

I wasn't hungry but I wanted to be a good guest. "Becoming Vampire agrees with me. Eric has been an excellent Maker."

"Ah yes, your husband has been the death of you just as I have been the death of my wife," de Castro said with a very human sounding laugh that turned into something that sounded suspiciously like a sigh.

I took a tiny sip of blood, finding it to be delicious. This was a rare blood type and at the perfect temperature of 98.6. I didn't have a reply to his remark. I didn't consider becoming Vampire death, just a different kind of life. I wasn't going to get into that with the King.

"You noticed my wife's condition?" the King asked, leaning forward as if to hang on my reply.

I didn't know which condition he referred to. Was he under the impression she was actually pregnant or was he referring to her play acting and the play acting of her Ladies?

Trinity wouldn't be the first woman to fake a pregnancy for reasons of her own. I didn't want to disclose her trick if she was faking her husband out. I presumed he knew she was play acting, yet history has shown presumption could be dangerous when it comes to the foibles of royalty.

"She appeared to be expecting," I said as coolly and neutrally as I could.

I began to see why Vampires seemed to be such impassive and remote beings, so much in their lives was loaded with dangerous consequences it wouldn't pay to put your cards on the table.

"It has become an obsession with her. She is convinced you had found a way to bear Eric's children. No one can reason with her. She will not accept that she can never become a mother. Can you read her mind and help me to find a way for her to make peace with her infertile status?" he implored, moving even closed to the edge of his seat across from me. His warm chocolate brown eyes melted with pleading, his elegant hands held out towards me wringing with anxiety.

Talk about a double edged sword! Not only was he inviting me to get involved in his intimate relationship with his wife, he was testing me to see if I was even more telepathic now that I had Turned.

I took one of Felipe's hands in mine, a gesture so not-Vampire and probably forbidden I felt Eric jump slightly as if he was tempted to grab my hand back. I was reacting to the suffering the King was experiencing. His wife was in the grip of a powerful mental obsession and he was asking me for help.

"I'm so so sorry. I can't read her mind or anyone's mind. I never could read vampire minds, now my ability to read human minds has disappeared too. I want to help you, to help her, but I can't. Have you ever thought about getting her professional advice?" I said gently.

I let go of his hand and he sat back looking forlorn, as if I had been his last hope.

"I blame myself. I Turned her too soon, before she had a chance to work through all her human issues. We were in love, we never discussed children. I believed she knew and accepted that Turning would end her chance to have a child. I was mistaken. She had never given the matter thought until recently, now it is all she thinks about. How long can I keep this problem hidden, how long will she...?"

He was talking to himself now, looking within.

He thought for a moment while Eric and I sat silently immobile.

The king slapped his hands down on the tops of his thighs, ending his deliberation. He turned his focus back to Eric and me.

"Yes," he said decisively, "You make a good suggestion, professional help. Naturally I had already thought of that and have someone on the way to consult with Trinity."

"Naturally, your Majesty," I purred, not wanting to ruffle his ego.

"Sookie and I have planned a trip. If we are not needed we wish to leave immediately," Eric stated.

He obviously wanted to get while the gettin' was good.

"Lawton will take over for me," he added.

Just as quickly as Lawton had been borrowed by the King he had been returned, like a casserole dish. Since Lawton Gregg was Eric's most trusted deputy he could ably fill Eric's shoes until our return unless something really out of the norm occurred.

"That will not be a problem," the King said standing. His brow was still furrowed.

His thoughts had most likely already moved on to the next thing on his agenda. As it has been said, 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown'.

You might add 'Anxious is the Vampire that Turns his wife'.

I didn't mop my brow and say "whew!" at the king's dismissal but I thought it.

With a few more pleasantries Eric and I were out of there. It was such a relief to be out of the King's presence.

All we needed to do was get out of the palace before something new came up to detain us. Eric led us to our room to get our suitcase.


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more to come ....(Greetings Fanpires! I too have had trouble with the posting on this site. If I ever miss a posting it will be due to technical errors or a natural event like the recent week long power failure around here.

I know you are there in my heart, even if you are unable to comment. Thanks so much for your persistence at trying to let me know you're there, it never goes unnoticed or unappreciated.

Hope everyone's health is improving and there is peace in your heart.)


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