July 21

July 21, 2010

God Speed was sitting in the parlor when I stormed in. I threw my big bag of crazy on the couch as Barrister came in and closed the door behind him. God Speed had been working on some stuff for the forum when we came in and he watched me as I began a futile search for cigarettes. I searched my bag, then one of the boxes by the computer, then the box on the coffee table. Both boxes were empty and I spotted a box on the mantle and sighed with a sigh of relief when I found a nearly full box. I took out a cigarette and lit it, blowing out a great plume of smoke which God Speed waved away.

“What’s going on?” he asked. “Everything okay?”
“It was a set up,” I said. “GS, everything with Bill was a set up. It was too easy.”
“What is she talking about?” GS asked Barrister.
“Let her tell you,” he said.
“Bill’s escape. It was too damned easy,” I said. “Cooter told the king that Sookie was in Jackson and where she was. Debbie told him she was staying with Alcide. She probably even said Sookie mentioned Bill Compton.”
“So, why didn’t they just go and get her, why did they rile Bill up and let him escape?” asked God Speed.
“So the king could catch him at it,” I said. “He would catch Bill betraying him, an act of treason, and he would acquire Sookie, and perhaps even test Eric.”
“Do you think Eric is still in the game?” asked God Speed.

“Yes. Eric is still in play if he can keep his mind right. He needs Bill alive to get Pam out of the situation with the Magister with the king’s help. He has to make some sort of alliance with the King to get Pam out,” I said. “He will have to do this even though the king was the one who killed his family. Eric will simply have to let that go for the moment.”

“But what about Sophie Anne?” asked God Speed.
“Eric’s best chance of revenge without it all caving in on him is to pit the two monarchs against one another. It all hinges on Sookie,” I said.
“How?” asked GS.

“Sookie is the prize between Edgington and the queen. But Sookie has to be convinced that Eric has no feelings for her, though we all know he does. He has to be mean to her, brutal, “ I said. “She has to believe that Eric could care less about her. That way Edgington will trust Eric and will be willing to return to Louisiana with the intention of going forward with his plan to marry her. If Eric can get Edgington in his territory, he has better control.”
“The home court advantage,” said God Speed.
“You have to tell this in the meeting,” said Barrister.
“Oh, I intend to, there are some things we have to figure out,” I said.

I spent the rest of my time helping Barrister make a steak and kidney pie and mashed potatoes and a green salad and homemade bread. Westexan and Butter and Fairy were the first ones in the parlor, Fairy brought us a strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Westexan was laughing.

“Well, apparently you knew exactly what to get Eric for Halloween when you bought him the History of Pornography,” she said.
“Evidently,” I said. “But then he gave himself away with that first edition copy of Justine he gave me.”
Butter had brought the Bun, aka Cody in to his first True Blood Anonymous meeting. Eric was going to love having the baby here; he had been looking forward to him since he knew about the baby coming. Like with Westexan, he had been fascinated with the child as he grew inside his mother’s belly. Of course there was the added feature of her being one of his sister wives.

Eric and Jessica came in just as we were finishing supper. Scarlett and Fairy popped in Tru:Bloods for the Vampires and they waited patiently as we cleared away our dishes and set them washing in the dishwasher. We then took our places in the parlor to begin our discussion.

“Where is Alcide tonight?” asked Minnie.
“He is still in Jackson,” said the Viking. He watched Butter feeding the baby and his eyes looked hungry to touch the child. After seeing him with his baby sister (which I never knew he had and would make for interesting if sad conversation for later) I could see why Westexan and Butter would trust the Vampire with their babies. “So, what do you think?” he asked casually.

I immediately launched into my theory of Bill being set up. He listened carefully but there was a look in his eyes that told me he found this a little farfetched.
“Bill is not that stupid,” he said simply.
“Bill is in love Eric. He thinks Sookie is in danger and he wants to get to her, it’s in his nature. Lorena was right. Bill can’t help but love. Once again, his love is being used as a weapon against him to hurt him,” I said.

“What is Edgington anyway?” asked Minnie.
“He’s a collector. Talbot said Edgington was a greedy boy, that he sees a thing and he takes it, that collects objects and people. I bet Edgington has collected strange humans like Sookie for years. Weres, shifters, wi…” I stopped for a second. “Witches.”
Aolani looked at me behind the Viking’s back. He had not noticed my falter and I sighed a sigh of relief as my mind ran to a not so distant future about nine months away.
“Fairies,” said Eric absently.

“Vampires too, I imagine,” said Jen. Eric would make a fine addition to his Vampire cortege. Talbot certainly seemed enamored of him. I could see the way he was looking at you Eric.”
“It’s the same look you gave me last night, lover,” he said to his lovely red headed sister wife. Jen blushed.
“You can’t spend all of your time…” began Dude.
“I can try,” he said. The Bun was awake and Eric held his arms out for the baby. Butter handed him over to the Viking who began to make clucking and shushing noises at the baby. “I would do anything for my child and if I can save Sookie and your precious Bill, I will.”
“Even if it meant forgoing your revenge?” asked Barrister.
“Even that,” said Eric.
“You may have to,” I said.

“I’ve waited a thousand years, I can wait a little longer and do it right,” I could hear the unmistakable sounds of his fangs popping out. “Take my time.” Eric was smiling and his mouth was full of teeth and fangs but Cody could care less. Get used to it kid, you will see a lot of that around here. Cody’s little hand reached up for the Viking’s sizable nose and gave him a honk. Eric sneered at the baby in a comical way.
“Eric,” said Fairy gently.
“Pardon me,” said Eric, snicking his fangs back in place.

“So, what else?” said Sal.
“Jessica and Tommy…not a healthy situation for him,” said God Speed.
“I concur,” said Barrister.
“Think we should have a word?” asked Sal.
“Definitely,” said God Speed.
“Tommy is just a nice guy,” said Jessica. “You are making too much of it.”
“Boys, you can’t interfere with him,” said Vi.
“Not even a little bit?” asked God Speed.
“No,” said Jessica. “Not even a little bit.”
“So, is Tommy the bread winner of that family?” asked Scarlett. Scarlett was really feeling the absence of Pam, as she was bonded with Pam.
“You could say that,” said Body Guard.

“What is the deal with Col. Flood?” said Butter. “I expected more from him.”
“Don’t count Flood out,” said Body Guard. “Alcide, if they didn’t take him as well, will need to turn to someone. Perhaps Cooter has crossed a line.”
“Perhaps,” I said. “If something happens to Edgington someone will have to take control of that pack.”
“True,” said Lina. “The wolves will be out of control if their Vampire Master is made definitely dead.”

“What is going to happen to Tara?” asked Renee.
“She is in trouble. Franklin is a little…” said Eric.
“Bipolar?” offered Jessica.
“Yes, thank you Jessica,” said Eric.

“And Lorena…will you stake her for me Eric?” asked Renee.
“And what would be in it for me?” he asked.
“Well, I would be less likely to let something ugly fall on you in your sleep and impale you,” she said. “And why were you so surprised and strangely delighted with her presence?”
“Delighted? That’s overstating it my dear,” said Eric.
“So what is the deal with her?” I asked.
“Lorena is amusing to play with,” said Eric. “She might even be useful.”
“I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her,” said Dude. “Speaking of which, what about your top salesman?”

“What has Lafayette done now?” asked Eric.
“I sooo don’t trust Jesus,” said Fairy.
“I don’t either…there is something wrong with him I can’t put my finger on,” said Sugar. “And Jason…can you get any crazier? I swear that boy has lost his mind!”
Eric stood up, Cody in his arms, fast asleep. The Vampire leaned in and sniffed his sweet babyness and handed him back to Butter. “I have to return to Jackson. Jessica, can I see you home?”
“Barrister and I will take her home,” I said. “The nursery people are delivering some plants at Bill’s house in the morning.”
“Very well. I’ll see you in a couple of days,” said the Vampire.

And he was gone.