The Road to Hell is Paved with the Best Intentions

“The first thing you better know, is this is our house. Eric built it for us and then gave us the deed, so it is by our will and pleasure that you or any Vampire comes into this building. Next, whatever goes on out there does not go on in here, we don’t care what grudges you may harbor, you don’t bring them in here. And you will check your smart mouth at the door, you are not a pet, and you are not a child. Is that understood?” asked Aolani, looking at Tara. She gave Aolani a sullen look.

“Answer her,” said Pam.

“Understood,” she said.

“You don’t have to like Jessica, she does not have to like you, but like Bill and Eric you will retract your fangs and put away your mean girl claws and you will both behave in this house,” said Aolani. “Jess? Clear?”

“Crystal,” she said.

“Hey, don’t piss Aslinn off, she will make you sit together and hold hands, even if she hears fingers snapping and knuckles grinding,” said Aolani. Tara stared daggers into Aolani. “I think you understand now. Tru:Blood anyone?”

Pam and Jessica and Tara said they wanted some blood. After everything that happened, we were very excited and worried. Bill and Eric would be here and so would Alcide. I got up from the computer and went into the dining room where Diantha Cataliades was drinking a Tab with a dash of Tabasco. I don’t know which was worse, Tru:Blood over ice with lemon and Tabasco or Tab.

“So what do you think?” asked Renee.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Bill left a message on my email and he said he wanted to talk to us witches in private and then Eric…man, he is in a sorry state.”

“Well, we have told him so,” said Renee. “No one ever listens to us, we are just human after all.”

“I feel sorry for Eric,” said Minnie. “I had hoped she would be okay and she would be his sister.”

“Same here,” I said. Aolani had three warm Tru:Bloods ready. We got up and joined the others. “Alcide has not shown up yet.”

“He said he was on his way,” said Len.

“So what do you think is going on?” asked Barrister.

“I don’t know, I think the Authority is a snake nest,” I said. “We don’t know what  for sure has happened to Roman. Was he really completely staked, has he absolutely met the True Death?”

“I don’t know, I almost believe he has, but if he has, that can mean only one thing,” said Pam.

“The entire Authority has turned to Sanguinistas and they used Bill and Eric to bring him in so he would be in the same room with Roman and he would assassinate him,” said Renee.

“Could be,” I said. “If that is so, then it is a good thing Bill and Eric are playing sort of weird. I mean, Bill acts as though he is sort of falling for their line of BS and Eric is confused and hurt and angry. Jesus, Eric.”

“Someone mention my name?” asked the Big Viking as he slid into the door.

“Yeah, how you doing?” I said as Minnie hugged him. He hugged her back and walked over and kissed Aolani.

“Okay,” he said. Bill came in a few minutes later. He stood there, that strange hooded look in his eyes and his arms crossed over his chest.

“Bill?” asked Renee.

“I’m fine,” he said. “What do you think?”

“You guys are unwitting pawns in a game being played without your knowledge within the Authority. This is crazy, you guys are in danger,” said Aolani.

“I suspected as much,” said Bill. “It just took some of us a little longer.”

“Fuck you Bill,” said Eric.

“Eric…you know the rules…no outside shit in the house. If you want to fight, you and Bill take it elsewhere,  crystal? I said.

“Clear,” said Eric. Bill nodded.

“See Tara, those are the rules, this is how it works,” said Pam. Tara snorted under her breath.

“So what are you boys gonna do about it?” I asked. “Is Roman absolutely dead?” Eric and Bill looked at one another and then the ground. “I see. Well let’s take the position he is dead. If he is dead, what happens next?”

“We still have a problem with Russell Edgington,” said Eric.

“Yeah, nice job Eric, you could have saved us a lot of trouble,” said Renee. Eric bared his fangs at her and Bill moved to stand between her and Eric.

“Enough,” said Aolani. “One more time Eric and out you go for 24 hours. I love you hun, but we can’t do this, we need you and Bill to hold it together.”

“Bill, who killed Sookie’s parents?” asked Barrister.

“They drowned,” said Bill. Eric turned his back to us. “Do you know something about it?”

“I have only heard rumors,” said Eric.

“Did Vampires kill Sookie’s parents?” asked Minnie.

“Yes,” said Eric. “That is something I have heard.”

“Bill?” I asked.

“I have heard these rumors as well,” said Bill. “But I never knew for sure.”

“You had a file on her,” said Len. “Why don’t you know for sure?”

“Vampires have been killing humans for centuries and I had no way of knowing for sure,” said Bill.

“What would you say, if I told you Sookie’s parents may have been killed by the same Vampire who killed Eric’s parents?” I asked. Eric turned around and looked at us. Bill looked at Eric. “So does that motivate you two to get along and make some sort of plan?” They looked at each other. Well they weren’t baring fangs at one another and hissing at each other. I would have to take that as a yes.

Alcide came in. “Sorry I am late,” he said. He looked at Eric and Bill. “Well, fight, fuck or run a foot race fellahs or stand down. You stink of rage.” He sat down and looked at us. “Am I interrupting? Because I am in real trouble.”

“No, you aren’t interrupting,” said Renee.

“So did you all get rid of Russell once and for all or did you fuck that up again?” he asked. Bill and Eric got fangy. I rubbed my eyes.

“We aren’t sure what is going on,” said Bill, retracting his fangs.

“You are responsible to take care of Sookie,” said Eric.

“Don’t worry about Sookie,” he said. 

“So you have challenged this guy for the leadership of the pack. You need to know there are humans gunning for weres and shifters and Vampires,” I said.

“Yeah, I heard about Sam and Luna,” said Alcide.

“Be on guard,” said Len.

“I will be, you too, brother,” said Alcide.

“We witches need to have a chat with Lafayette,” said Aolani.

“He isn’t gonna like talking to us. He would not even speak to Ishee and Honey when we sent them to him,” I said.

“What about Terry Bellefleur?” asked Minnie.

“If we can help Lafayette, then he will be ready to help Terry too when the time comes,” said Aolani.

“Bill, you wanted to chat with we witches?” I asked

“Yes,” he said.

“May I join you?” asked Eric.

“This is a discussion Bill wants to have with us, if you want to counsel with us later, we will be happy to speak to you in private,” said Aolani. He looked at us and nodded and sat down in the seat Aolani had been occupying.

We took Bill into our private witch room, where the other Vampires could not hear what he said. We sat down on the bench there and Bill stood before us. “What is it Bill? You know our powers are limited in the matters of the summertime adventures,” said Aolani.

“What do you believe spiritually about Vampires?” asked Bill.

We all looked at one another. We knew the mythology of Lilith, even the Kabalistic belief in the Cain story and we had our own beliefs about their souls.

“That you have a purpose in this life that you are not lost to salvation or heaven or whatever reward there might be when you meet the true death, that you have a road to walk like the rest of us and it is up to you the path you take,” said Aolani.

“Do you believe that Aslinn?” he asked.

“Yes, I believe that,” I said. “I know you too well to believe otherwise, for any of you.”

“Renee?” he asked. “What do you believe?”

“I believe you are a good man Bill, the rest doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. Good men, good people are taken care of in the hereafter, and evil ones are done likewise.” Bill paced in front of us slowly. He looked at our altar and touched the cloth on it with all the totems we had made of our friends.

“So, if I do something, even if it looks wrong, you will know I am not doing it for any other reason but to keep Sookie and all of us, human and Vampire safe,” said Bill.

“Be careful Bill, a forgery for right is still a forgery and you may become confused about the reasons,” I said. Aolani shook her head. I was about to reveal too much we might suspect about the future.

“Do you know something?” he asked.

“Nothing concrete, just speculations,” said Aolani. “And that does not make it prophecy. Just use caution and let your good conscience guide you, you will know when you are going too far. Heed that voice Bill.”

“Thank you,” he said. There was a tap on the door. “It’s Eric.”

“Then go, and be careful,” I said.

He went out and Eric came in. He stood there, looking at the altar like Bill had.  “Most of the worst wars were fought in the name of one God or another.”

“That we know,” said Renee. “What can we do for you?”

“See…I don’t believe in any of this,” he said, waving his hand at the altar. “I believe in your ability to do certain things, but I believe it comes from you, whatever magic is in each of you. Whatever magic makes me live age after age. It’s like that. Not some great something else out there in the sky dictating who lives and dies and who gets saved and who stays lost.”

“We have never tried to convince you otherwise,” I said.

“No, you have not,” he said. “Does Bill believe?”

“We can’t discuss the counseling we give to any of you, especially in this room, it’s a place of secrets. You know the meaning of the word esoteric,” said Aolani. “And we will not discuss what you say to us to anyone else.”

“How come you have never tried to convert me?” asked Eric.

“I don’t do anything I can’t spell,” I said. “Besides, it’s okay if you don’t believe in God, He or She believes in you. So it is really out of your hands, and mine. I can’t save you. You can’t even save you.”

“Sounds like bull shit to me,” said Eric. “So if I crush my little talisman, does that mean I am doomed?”

“No, that little thing could be destroyed right now, but not what represents,” said Renee.

“And what does it represent?” he asked running his fingers over the hammer with the runes burned into it and the bits the sister wives had given to represent their desires for his happiness and safety.

“A lot of things, mostly love,” I said.

“Love?” he said. “Love is the weakest thing of all. Nora said she loved me.”

“Sometimes love is the only real magik,” said Aolani.

“Ask Tara if she feels love right now,” said Eric. He hefted the hammer and the ribbons that held the little charms jingled.

“Tara has to find love for herself in her own heart, one cannot have love from others if they do not love themselves,” said Renee.

“Ask Sookie,” he said. His face was shadowed.

“Sookie will make her own way, Eric, and whether her path leads to you or to Bill or someone else is not for you say. You do not move the chess pieces. But Eric, we need you. We need you to help Bill and we need you to protect each other,” I said. There was a loud popping sound and grinding sound. I looked at Renee and Aolani.

“I will do what I can, but please, tell me, how do I deal with Nora?” he asked.

“Eric…” began Aolani.

“Let me guess, she has her own path,” said Eric. He began to shake and at first I thought he was crying and then I could hear him laughing. He put his head back and laughed a sharp unhappy sort of laughter. “That is what I thought you would say, it figures. I must be one of the bad ones; I am being punished by the spirit in the sky.”

“Eric, you are not being punished,” I said.

“Whatever Aslinn,” he said, turning to me, a wide smile like those cold shark like smiles he gave Russell Edgington flashed at me. His smile did not reach his eyes. He leaned down and kissed my cheek and Renee’s and kissed Aolani on the mouth.  “Thank you ladies.” He walked out and closed the door behind him. 

“Oh hell,” said Renee. She went to the altar. He had crushed the hammer we had on the altar.

“Don’t worry, it is still there,” said Aolani. “All our intentions are still there.”

No Way to Treat a Lady

Pam left us a message that she could not leave Fangtasia, so we were all meeting her there. I walked into the bar, admitted by Ginger, and went straight away to the bar where Tara stood, looking sullen. "Pint of black," I told her.

"Sam never had that on tap, can you show me how to draw it," she asked. I nodded and went around the bar. I missed Chow and his flirty ways and fangy humour. Perhaps he had gone to less troubled pastures. I grabbed the pint glass and showed her the angle and tip and began to draw the strong black beer. I showed her when to start straightening the glass to create just the right size head, or collar, for the liquid parish priest.

"It soothes your soul and hears your confessions," said Eric, watching me teach the baby vamp how to pour the beer. I then explained how and when to use to use the paddle.

"But the better you get at it, the less you will need the paddle," I said. I went around and sat next the Viking. I picked up the glass and set my lips on the edge in the ritual of 'eating' the first sip, getting my Guinness 'stache, and then wiping it off with my hand. "How goes it Big Viking?"

"Not so good," he said. "A positive Tara." I sat passively and drank the beer. Tara sat the Tru:Blood on the bar with little grace. Apparently, Tara did not appreciate her fangy grandfather. I rolled my eyes. Tara showed me fang and I showed her my pointing finger. "Another fan Aslinn," said the Viking.

"Yeah, they are everywhere these days. Eric, I think you have to consider the possibility that Nora..."
"No, no, no," he shook his head with each 'no' he said.
"Eric..."
"No!!!" and he hit the bar so hard Tara flinched. There was a noticeable dent in the wood. I didn't react. I had seen Eric act this way before, and even worse, so I was not impressed.
"Eric, how long has it been since you have really been around her?" I asked, looking at him. He didn't answer. "Too long perhaps?" He still said nothing. "You can be sullen and silent all you want, but this is something you have to consider.
"Like Bill?" he asked, his lips curling into a sarcastic smile.

"That is so unattractive Eric," I said. "You know you have to think about the possibility of Nora turning her coat inside out. It is the smart thing to do."
"Don't tell me what to do!!!" he walked off and kicked a table over like he was kicking a tin can. Tara came back to the bar and wiped where Eric had dented it.
"It will take more than that," I said. 
"Aren't you even a little afraid of him?" asked Tara.
"No," I said. "Eric is a thousand years old going on 17." Tara snickered. Pam shot her a look from the tee shirt corner and she wiped the smile off her face. "How are you doing?" She made the see saw motion. "Just use your head Tara, you know how to behave. Be as smart mouth all you want, just keep your fangs to yourself til you are in private."
"I am getting that," she said. "You ready for another?" I looked at the glass and drained the dregs and handed her my glass.
"I'll just watch you this time," I said. I leaned my elbows on the bar and hoisted myself up and watched her draw me a near perfect pint. "Nicely done, you will get the hang of it."
"What does that taste like?" she asked.
"Spookie Tooth says it tastes like Moose Piss," I said. "It's just very minerally and really...strong. Good for the blood."
"That's why they serve it," she said. She looked over and then stepped away. Eric came back.
"Where do you get off saying Nora is not loyal to me, to our bond as siblings?" he asked between his teeth.
"Back the truck up," I said, pressing on his shoulder. "Hey, I know about sisters that put the screws to you Champ...You say that is the way you fuck? Well she is doing it to you royally with no Vaseline and no reach around." Tara laughed and Eric gave her an evil look. "Hey don't do that to her, she is just laughing at me."
"Vampire siblings are different," said Eric darkly.
"The hell they are," I said. "But I enjoyed that little jab at Alcide."
"Sookie was drunk, not in control of herself," said Eric.
"Like you care," I said. He looked at me. "Well, besides the vomiting part, you would not have cared if she were schnaps faced." He smiled, a genuine smile this time.
"You know me too well for your own good," said Eric.
"So, you gonna  listen about Nora?" I asked.
"I don't know," he said.
"Well, I hope you aren't disappointed Eric, I truly do, but I fear the worse," I said. "And you guys stick together."
"You guys?" he asked.
"You and Bill. No more sniping," I said. He looked away...lost cause. He left me there at the bar. Tara was looking at me and then went to work, looking busy. Pam sidled up and took Eric's place.
"Tara, go to the store room and get another case of napkins," she said. Tara dropped her rag on the bar and went to the back storage area.
"Hey, you need to cut Tara a break. Eric didn't treat you like that, you can be better."
"Think so?" she asked.
"Know so," I said. "Kick her ass when she needs it, but don't treat her like a dog. She's your child and has your blood and Eric's blood in her veins, don't screw her up the way Lorena did Bill."
"Advice noted," she said.
"Well, the others should be here in a moment," I said, drinking back the last of my Guinness. Pam moved in a blur and grabbed another glass and drew me a perfect pint. "Tara will get the knack of it. Of everything." I grabbed my glass and went to sit in the manager's booth, to wait for the group.

Internet Blackout

I don't know if you know about the Internet Blackout situation, but apparently there is going to be a little problem with the internet Monday because of a major hacking scheme. It has to do with a virus, taking over your internet router and sending you to malicious and virus laden sites. http://www.mobiledia.com/news/155854.html and http://www.dcwg.org/fix/. Though Monday is a busy day for me, I plan to be off my computer til Tuesday morning...I don't know if this will make my computer and my files safe, but this is my plan...I will see you all bright and early Tuesday morning with all the news that is fit to post....

Bloodlines Drawn and Crossed

We were all in the back patio area of the House, the home of True Blood Anonymous. Len was watching the steaks and chicken as Minnie was bringing out the baked beans and slaw and Barrister was lighting the torches around the area. Hopefully the citronella oil burning in them would cut down on the mosquito population. I brought out two bottles of wine and set them down in the ice to keep chilled. I poured myself a glass of wine and sat down in one of the willow branch chairs from the Twig Company Eric bought for our patio. I stretched my legs out on the ottoman and sipped my wine.

The sun was going down and I was happy. Bill and Eric were home and though we were going to have to sit down with them and discuss some stuff, I knew we could relax for a bit. I was wondering what was going to happen to our boys. Just then, one of them drove up. It was Alcide. He brought some deer to cook. I just hoped it had been hunted in the traditional way. He lumbered up and handed Renee the meat and took a cold beer from Aolani and sat down on the back retaining wall, watching Len turn over the steak.

“So, you heard from Bill and Eric?” asked Alcide to the general area.
“Yeah,” said Minnie. “I heard from Eric.” She had that dreamy look on her face that told me he had done more than give her a ring a ding on the telephone. Hard Viking does that to you.
“They are coming tonight, they will likely not have a chance after tonight to see us,” I said.
“We want to take look at those harness things,” said Len. Minnie frowned.

“I didn’t like seeing that thing strapped on Eric’s chest last night.” We all nodded our agreement.
We were well into our meal when the first Vampire showed up. Tara looked a sight better than the last time we had seen her at the house. “Hey Tara, want a Tru:Blood?” asked Renee. She hesitated a moment.
“Sure, yeah,” she said. She came over and sat down by Minnie. “Okay if I set by you?”
“Yeah, sure,” she said. Tara was quiet and watched us as we sat around and ate.
“You all don’t mind me being here?” she asked.
“So long as you aren’t perching on the countertops,” I said. “Of course you are welcome here. Pam is your maker, Eric is your grand sire, and you are a Vampire, so you are welcome.” Aolani came out and gave her a Tru:Blood. She made a face when she sipped it.
“Probably want to do some taste testing and mixing and matching, it helps,” said Aolani. “Jessica took a long time to get used to it, and we still have to sort of make her drink a couple when she comes to the house.”

Pam drove up a few minutes later. She was in a red blouse and blue jeans and white espadrilles. She came over and sat down next to Len. He pecked her cheek. She had had a rough Sunday, what with Eric releasing her and all.

“Eric is on his way, he had some things to do at Fangtasia,” said Pam. She looked real sad.
“Want a Tru:Blood Pam?” asked Renee.
“No, I ate before I came,” she said. Alcide looked a little uncomfortable. He should if my hunch was right. I heard the low purr of a car engine and the slow rubbing of tires onto the parking lot. I had to be Eric. Like any man, he was uber careful with his ride. He parked and zipped over to us. He looked around.
“Welcome home Eric,” said Barrister. Aolani went to him and hugged him and Eric buried his face into her neck and squeezed her tight. Len shook his hand when he let his sister wife go and kissed Minnie on the lips. He came over and sat in one of the other chairs.
“Sheriff, welcome home,” I said.
“I am happy to be home, for however long that is,” he said.
“We will get through this,” I said. Eric looked at me with a soft but skeptical look on his face.

Bill and Jessica made their appearance. They came over and sat down. Jessica looked a little worried. That was another member of our little party who should come clean, she knew something and was not telling Bill. He should know about Newlin and what he’d said to her and how he’d offered her money for Jason.

Renee brought Bill and Jessica a Tru:Blood. Jess noticed Tara watching her and she set a good example by drinking the warm bottle of blood without a grimace. “Want a Tru:Blood Eric?” I asked. My eyes glittered at Tara and he nodded. “B positive?” I asked. He nodded.
“So how are you guys?” asked Barrister.
“We are fine physically, we just have these things on our chests and we have the problem of Russell Edgington,” said Bill.
“So what is the deal with the Sanguinistas?” asked Aolani. “Do you all have any additional insight about it?”
“I honestly do not know who they are,” said Bill. “Except they are some fundamentalist group as dangerous as the Fellowship of the Sun except their problem is with humans and mainstreamers like us.” By us he meant Vampires who were living out in the open, respectful to a degree of humans, looking to co-exist with humans.
“Alcide, any idea how Edgington got out?” asked Eric, turning a cold eye toward the werewolf. I handed Eric his Tru:Blood and took a seat by Jessica. If Eric was going to jump bad on Alcide like he did with Pam with less deference, I wanted to be out of the line of fire.
“I have no idea how he escaped. I got a call about damage to the structure and found the concrete dug up.” Alcide didn’t betray any nervousness. “I did tell Sookie he had escaped.” Bill and Eric both looked unsettled. They had decided to draft Sookie into helping them, whether she wanted to or not.
“That is a non-issue,” said Bill. “Did you tell anyone about burying Edgington in the foundation of the parking structure?” Alcide looked a little uncomfortable. Bill looked at Eric. Eric rolled his eyes slightly. “You will have to go with us.”
“Look, I did my part, I am not interested in being any deeper in trouble than I already am with you people,” he said.
“You don’t have a choice,” said Eric.
“I do have a choice,” he said. “I choose not to be involved. I got troubles of my own.”
“I don’t care what pack troubles you have,” said Eric.
“I got Sookie out of big trouble just a while ago, trouble you could have helped her with,” said Alcide. “I mean looked at what happened here, she had Tara turned into a Vampire.”

“Don’t talk to me about Sookie,” said Tara. “You need to get to the hell away from her, all of you. She brings death and destruction to everyone around her.”
“Ease back there Tara, you had a fucking maenad in her house, you let Franklin in her house, hell, her house was grand central for everyone but Mr. Clean all at your invitation,” I said. She gave me a bad look and Pam gave her a warning look. Oh boy, now Tara is going to be a contender in Who’s Mad at Aslinn, challenging Eric for the title. I ignored her.
“I think you fellahs should come into the house so we can look at those harnesses,” said Len. Bill nodded and we all trouped in. Eric and Bill took off their shirts and sat down on the stools in the kitchen where the light was best. Len began to look at the devices. Barrister looked at it too. “It looks like a simple charge but it is hard to tell how they intend to hit your heart.”
“There is a retractable stake of silver in the body of the cross. The charge blows and the stake is driven in with the same amount of energy as a jack hammer,” said Eric. “It would be painless.” Aolani swallowed hard and Eric put out his hand to her.
“Yeah, it would move so fast, we couldn’t block it,” said Len. “It never ceases to amaze me how many ways we think of killing each other.”

“How stable is this Roman?” asked Minnie. “He doesn’t seem so stable.”
“We have to be very careful,” said Bill.
“As Aslinn says, we are in it up to our noses,” said Eric.
“What about Nora?” asked Renee. “What can you do for her?”
“Hopefully we can get Russell Edgington and trade her for him, if she still lives,” said Eric. The Vampires put their shirts back on and we went into the parlor.
“Will releasing Pam really protect her Eric?” asked Aolani.
“It gives me the ability to say without question she is a free agent,” said Eric. “She has only personal loyalty to me, but she does not have the maker’s authority over her.”
“How do you feel about that Pam?” I asked.
“The bond between us is broken,” said Pam. “The intense connection I had with Eric is gone.”
“But you would feel him if he was in danger?” asked Minnie.
“I would,” said Pam. “And I would go to him still.”
“No, you will stay out of my problems Pam,” he said.
“You released me, you have no authority over me,” said Pam, a funny little triumphant smile on her face. I was sure she thought of that when he did it. Eric looked away a bit.

“So, Alcide, what happened to those shifters?” asked Barrister.
“What shifters?” he asked.
“Those shifters Sam was running around with,” said Renee. “Sam found them dead. Was that a thing with the pack?”
“I don’t have any idea about what is going on with the pack,” said Alcide.
“You need to get control of the pack,” said Len. “You know it is not good to have a pack without an alpha. You know the rules Alcide, you killed the alpha, you may have no choice but to step up.” Alcide did not seem happy with that suggestion. Jessica looked a little cloudy.

“What’s the matter Jess?” I asked.
“Jason,” she said. Tara looked at Jessica. “He seems to be troubled.”
“Um..yeah he is,” said Barrister. “For more than one reason.”
“I just don’t know what to do about him,” she said.
“Don’t be surprised if he is a little closed off with you,” said Renee.
“Why?” she asked.
“He found out some stuff, but I don’t know if I believe it,” said Renee.
“What sort of stuff?” she asked.
“Don’t know if I should say,” said Renee.
“Just, try not to take him personally,” I suggested.

“What happened to Terry?” asked Aolani.
“I am not sure, but when they shot those civilians in Iraq, which was bad enough, they came under fire from a sniper. I don’t know, I get the feeling they may have fragged one of their own in the confusion and under the drugs. If they did, I think maybe they burned the body, maybe that is why there is fire connected with the things that have been happening with their outfit,” I said.
“That would make sense,” said Len.
I leaned over and laid my head on Bill’s shoulder and sighed. “Everyone is in such deep trouble.”
“Bill and I have to go, we don’t know if we will be back anytime soon,” said Eric.

“This sucks too, not being able to help,” said Minnie.
“Well, there is only one world we can be involved with,” said Aolani.
When Alcide and the Vampires left, we sat down with the human contingent. “I think I know who got Russell out, well, made it possible and I think he knows as well,” said Aolani.
“Who?” asked Minnie.
“Alcide. I think he told Debbie about Edginton being buried in the parking structure and she told some of the old pack. Then they told the Vampires. Maybe they even knew about the sanguinstas,” said Aolani. “If Eric knew that, he would kill Alcide instead of using him. Mutt boy should have kept his mouth shut.”
“So how does Eric like being a grand sire?” I asked.
“He hasn’t said, of course, he has had a lot on his plate. I think saving Nora is going to be impossible, but it will be a big motivator, especially if he thinks he could meet the true death,” said Minnie. “That would be the end of Godric’s blood.”
“It would,” I said. “Poor Eric…Poor Bill…”