The Far Reach (Southern Vampire Mystery)

Chapter 14 - Finding the Air

Nautical Note: Finding the air refers to being on the ocean on a flat sea surface in a very light breeze. You literally look across the surface for ripples that signify a pocket of air and gently aim the boat in that direction. Once you hit that little pocket you crank in the sails, gain as much momentum as you can and head for the next pocket of air that is on the same relative heading you need to travel. If you miss the air, you can lose all momentum and find yourself stuck.

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Pam looked over the lists of names of vampires who had presented themselves and provided information to complete census and tithing lists.

"It's promising," Max said from behind her. "The counts are higher than we anticipated. My only concern is finding out that a certain percentage of vampires never registered. I understand that thrill of the hunt, but I don't understand the need to create. There are so many and most are so young. It appears to be something that needs looking into."

Pam nodded. "Although Thomas said they all seemed well-mannered. I don't think any of them were made and abandoned. There's also nothing in the crime stats to suggest we have a rogue vampire problem here."

Max nodded. Then he looked toward the hall. "You expect him soon?" he asked.

Pam laughed. "Hardly! The Princess is home tonight. I'm waiting for the message that he won't be coming down at all!"

Max shook his head. "I don't know whether to be jealous or appalled. We could be so much further along if our king spent more time in the office and less time between her legs." Pam smirked and Max shrugged. "Just saying."

Pam nodded. "I'm not agreeing with you. A happy Eric is a productive Eric, and knowing that his Princess is here and waiting keeps him more productive than at other times. Still," Pam poked Max in the shoulder, "I'll be happy when they stop being newlyweds and start becoming more settled."

Max shook his head. "And you think that will happen... when?"

Pam smiled ruefully. "In another hundred years or so."

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Sookie walked with purpose down the corridor that led to their suite. He would be rising within a half hour. She didn't know how she knew, she just did. She barely spared a 'Hiya' for Charles and James. Charles smiled and opened the door just in time for Sookie to breeze through.

As he closed the door behind her, catching a glance of her kicking off shoes and grabbing the bottom of her shirt, he grinned at James.

"What?" James asked.

Charles reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a set of bright orange ear plugs. "Here," he said. "You may want to take these."

"Are we shooting?" James asked.

"No," Charles smirked. "It's better than standing here with wood for the next couple hours." When James didn't look any more enlightened, Charles gestured toward the closed doors with his chin. "They're loud," he said. James' eyes widened and then he laughed as he reached for the plugs.

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Sookie found herself giggling as she stripped off her clothes and walked through to the bathroom suite. "I'm as bad as Eric!" she thought, but she was also aware that time was not on her side. "Why didn't I get my butt up those stairs earlier?" she scolded herself. She knew she wasn't exactly dirty but she also knew her hair held all the scents of the past days and there was no way she had time to wash and dry her hair in thirty minutes. Sookie thought about getting into bed with her hair in wet snakes around them and shuddered.