The Far Reach (Southern Vampire Mystery)

Chapter 22 - The Falling Glass

Nautical Note: In the days of sailing ships, a special, sealed glass with fluid was kept in the captain's cabin. It would have a main chamber and a long 'snout'. The amount of water that had risen from the chamber into the snout was a good indicator of weather changes. It is a matter of physics – more pressure means a higher water level and generally signaled calm and steady weather. But if changes were coming, the level of the water would fall, and the captain knew there were troubled times just over the horizon.

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From above her, Eric said, "Come. We should go inside." He stepped back to break her embrace and then turned, placing his hand on the small of her back and steering her through the doors. Thalia stood within the hallway. Sookie noticed the small vampire didn't meet her eyes when they walked by. No one said a word as they walked to the private elevator.

Meg was waiting there. "Welcome back, Mistress!" she smiled. Sookie smiled back automatically. Eric applied some pressure, encouraging her into the open elevator but as she stepped in, he stepped back.

Sookie couldn't keep the confusion from her face, "You aren't coming up?" she asked.

"No, I have meetings," he replied. "There are clothes upstairs. Pam arranged them. The storekeepers are eager for you to make your choices. We had expected you back last week."

"Oh," Sookie heard herself say. What she wasn't saying was 'What's going on? Why are you treating me like this? What have I done?' All those questions were sitting like stones in her chest as she looked open-mouthed at Eric.

Meg was happily smiling, oblivious to the chill Sookie felt. "They are all so beautiful. I have a suggested list of what you'll need. My goodness! Sounds like it will be amazing!"

"Is Pam here?" Sookie asked, reluctant to release Eric.

"No," he answered, "She is on her way to Arkansas. She will be monitoring the kingdom while I am at the Zeus Summit," and then he smiled in a way that didn't quite reach his eyes, turned and walked away. Saul reached past her, slid the door closed, and started the elevator. Sookie had a brief moment of panic, wondering if the elevator would take her to the top floor or if Saul had been instructed to stop and let her out somewhere else.

The doors did slide open on the top floor though, and Meg bustled ahead to the doors of the suite. Charles opened the door ahead of her and nodded. James smiled, "Welcome back, Mistress."

Shari was exiting, "The suitcase is just inside the door," she told Meg, and then ducked her head to Sookie.

Sookie found herself standing uncertainly in the sitting room and she glanced to the right and saw the door to the extra room was ajar. She had a moment of panic, 'He's moved me out!' she thought. Then Meg headed left, entering the bedroom, "Just give me a minute. I'll get your things all squared away," and Sookie found herself breathing again.

Sookie walked back to the little kitchenette and poured herself a glass of water. As she exited, her eyes were drawn to the open door of the spare bedroom again. Her curiosity got the better of her and she pushed open the door. Eric had been busy. The far wall was lined with bookshelves that reached all the way to the ceiling. In the light from the sitting room the bookcases looked like dark wood and Sookie felt for the light switch. When she found it she discovered that the overhead light had been removed. Instead there were soft lights positioned around the room. There was a gas fireplace positioned in a corner. Most of the floor was covered with a thick, plush, oriental rug. There were extra rugs in front of the fireplace and cushions on the floor. It looked as if someone had been laying there reading recently. There was a fainting couch to one side and a large, oversized armchair that could easily fit both her and Eric with her wrapped in his lap. Sookie heard a sound behind her and turned to see Meg's smiling face. "He supervised the whole thing himself," she told the telepath. "He told me he couldn't wait for you to see it," and then the servant blushed.