February 24

Countdown February 24

I was doing dishes with Violet in the parlor waiting for the arrival of our Vampires. I had made a big beef roast and we had chowed down in short order. We were 14 ½ weeks from our next adventure and the word that Colonel Flood had been found was exciting news indeed. The pack master’s presence in the tale signaled the beginning of the Werewolves in our story and the further complications for our Vampires and their telepathic friend.

I got four bottles of Tru:Blood out of the fridge and set them on the counter to be heated when they made their appearance. Bill had made sure there were fresh flowers in the parlor and Eric had sent additional bottles of wine and Jessica, in a fit of wanting to contribute to the pleasant atmosphere, sent us a huge box of hand dipped chocolates from Godiva’s of New York. I went over and poured myself a cup of coffee with a heaping helping of Irish Nevermind and placed a square of chocolate on the saucer beside it.

Scarlett was at the computer, looking at the screen observing the forum and Dude and GS were playing poker with Sal at the supper table. Butter and Linzy and Lina and Fairy were thick as thieves, moaning rapturously over the Viking Vampire soon to be in their midst. Night Rose, Blue Belle and Renee were sitting together, sister wives with Vi and me. We went and joined them.

“Aslinn, when Bill is kidnapped, will he be here for our meetings?” they asked.
“I don’t know, “I said. “He may not, and we will just have to be strong for him and keep his house for him and be patient. This will be a tough time for him.”
“I hope he is okay,” said Fairy. “I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
“I think he will be okay,” I said. “I will just be happy when Lorena gets staked finally.”
“Finally,” said Fairy. “She was so brutal to him.”

We chatted and waited, enjoying the lovely parlor and its roaring fire as a cold February rain continued to fall outside. We had found one or another of the Vampires asleep on the couch through the week and had covered them up and left them be to sleep unmolested.

Finally though, as the light began to go out on the day, we began to get ready for the meeting. In no time, Eric Northman, the Sheriff of Area Five, came into the room. He leaned down and kissed Butter on the cheek and rubbed her honey bun. He stopped and kissed Westexan and asked after the Kaiser. I got up and heated the Tru:Blood and Fairy came over to get Eric’s bottle. When the timer went off, I handed her the warm bottle and she appeared at his side. He took the bottle and kissed her on the mouth by way of thanks.

Pam came in, dressed like a fashion plate in a moss green skirt and white silk blouse and matching green silk pumps. Her hair hung in soft curls on her shoulders. I brought her a bottle of Tru:Blood and was chatting with her when there was an eruption of loud voices between God Speed and Sal.

“Okay, that is enough, you two roosters knew what would happen if you insisted on being ill tempered,” I said.
“Ah Aslinn,” said Sal.
“Hands!” I said, my fists on my hips and my toe tapping. Pam was grinning, watching the action. Eric was standing in the little galley kitchen, his mouth hitched up on one side in his trademark lopsided grin.
Sal and GS clasped hands and I know they were clenching each other’s hands as hard as they could.
“Oh well done Aslinn,” said Pam, her lips in a small grin.”Eric is right, you have a twisted sense of humor.”
“I learned it from you, Pam,” I said. About that time Jessica came in. “Hey Jess, where is Bill?”
“He’s coming,” she said. “Why are God Speed and Sal holding hands?”
“They were fussing again,” I said.
“You warned them,” she said. Dude brought her a warm bottle of Tru:Blood. She reached up and kissed the Dude on the cheek by way of thanks and you could see the steam coming out of GS and Sal’s ears. Mrs. GS just grinned broadly at GS and his predicament.

Bill came in and closed the door behind him and was met by Renee with a bottle of TB. He kissed her lips sweetly. Rene had needed a little extra attention from our “husband” and I was glad to see she was getting it. He came over to me and kissed my cheek.

“How are you sweetheart?” he asked.
“I am fine,” I said.

“We should begin our meeting,” said Eric. We settled into our places and looked at the sheriff.

“The pack master has been found,” he began with no preamble. We nodded. Linzy had found the news and alerted us. We were excited for the new adventures to begin.
“What do you think his role will be in the coming adventures?” asked Val.
“He will be involved in the situation concerning Bill, but I also see Sam going to him for help with the situation in Bon Temps and the wolf pack which has descended on the town,” said Eric.

“Will Sam have access to you Sheriff, during the adventures?” I asked.
“I have no interest in the weres as long as they don’t affect my business either in Shreveport or Bon Temps,” said the Viking.
“Bill, will Colonel Flood have a connection to the King of Mississippi?” asked GS.
“I am not sure,” he said. “The Pack Master is an influential person among his kind. He may well be involved with the King in a business way, but not where it applies to me, except that Alcide is involved.”
“He would be far more interested in his own over what happens to you,” said Lina. “When the adventures begin, will you be absent from us?”

The Vampire thought about it for a moment. “I may very well be absent for a while during our gatherings,” he confirmed. “But I assure you, everything will be fine.”
“Thank you for your assurance Bill,” said the Sheriff. “You know how I worry about you.”

I bristled at the Viking’s harsh words. Bill must have felt our anxiety and he gently allowed his fingers skate over my hair. I looked at him briefly.

“Ooo, I like it when I can raise Aslinn’s hackles,” said the Viking. Right now I wanted to propel myself at the Viking and claw out those lovely greenish grey eyes twinkling merrily at me. Only Bill’s cool hand on my shoulder stayed me from doing what I wanted. “Don’t worry Bill, I shall take care of your little spirit wives while you are way.”
“Fat chance,” muttered Renee. Eric laughed his lusty laugh.

“What I want to know,” said Night Rose, “Is why is the King of Mississippi doing this? Does he owe Lorena money?”

“Well, in the world of CH, he does it because he has known Lorena for a long time,” said Jen. “But in AB’s world, the situation seems to be a bit different.” I shivered at the cruel treatment Bill suffered at the hands of his maker, the very stakable Lorena.

“I hate her so much,” said Bella. We all nodded in agreement. Even among the Eric girls and the other devotees to the fanged set, we all agreed that Lorena was going to be on our short list for most hated.

“I have been thinking about Tara,” said Karalee. “We know that Tara hooks up with a very bad Vampire, I think we call them backward thinking. What will you guys be doing about Franklin Mott and is he a friend of the King of Mississippi?”
“Don’t worry too much about Merlotte’s bartender, we shall deal with him,” said Pam. “He may do a little damage, but he will be held into account. We have our laws and being backward thinking is dangerous.”

“Will we be seeing more of the Magister and the charming Louisa?” which I suppose was Scarlett’s way of touching on something we dare not talk about. Our youngest counselor and friend was possibly in trouble and we hated to talk about it, especially in front of her and GS and Sal.

“We don’t know,” said Eric. “We shall have to do the best we can to dodge that bullet.”
“Fourteen and a half weeks is such a long time,” I said, unhappily.