Turnings (Southern Vampire Mysteries)

Chapter 21 - Convergence

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'When did everything slip from my grasp?' Eric wondered. The easy answer was to point at his order to wipe out de Castro's people. That seemed the most logical explanation for why he was standing here, on Bill Compton's porch. 'Too easy,' Eric chided himself. There had been other times when existence was difficult, but that was back in the days before he came to the United States. Since coming here and entering the service of Queen Sophie-Ann, life was palatable, even comfortable, one thing falling into place after another. Eric's Maker seemed a distant memory. Eric was valued. His reputation as both fearsome and fiercely loyal grew. Eric's life as courtier and then as Sheriff rewarded him with advancement, and he basked in his growing prestige among his peers. It was a good life but, if Eric was totally honest, it was also a life that had started to bore him.

Then, he met Sookie Stackhouse.

It would be easy to place his troubles at her feet, too. Almost from the beginning, Eric had been intrigued by her. She was different. She challenged him. She made him anxious to see her again, just to hear what new adventure or odd turn of phrase would tumble from her lips. His world regained its flavor and he looked forward to each rising, all because of this perplexing, unconventional woman.

It was true that trouble followed her. His companions told Eric to give her up, but the more he saw of her, the more he was drawn to her. By the time his Maker returned, Eric realized he was tied to Sookie by more than the bond they forged. Even if she hadn't bonded with him, the Viking would have been bound to her. It was a humbling feeling, and his progeny and friends teased him about it.

'No,' he scolded himself, 'Don't blame the past. That is done. Where you stand is now.' Eric focused back on the events of the past week. Coming to Louisiana to confront Felipe may have started as Stan Davis' idea, but Eric agreed. It seemed providential but, now, Eric could see that coming here was the tipping of the first domino that fell, one thing leading to the next until he found himself in this place. Four nights ago, he had risen in the safe house in New Orleans and marched to the palace, sure of his victory. Now, he wasn't sure of anything, except the unsettling feeling that his Sookie had somehow become lost to him again.

Eric remembered the night after he defeated de Castro when he looked out over the City, thinking of what could be. As he imagined it, Eric sat in Sophie-Ann's throne and Sookie Stackhouse walked down the aisle, approaching him. She smiled, and the fine webbing that was just forming beside her eyes came to life as her lips curved up just for him. She looked at him as she had in Denver and she repeated her words. She told him she loved him and that she was his. He imagined teasing her, just to see how her lip would jut out and her eyes would snap. It had been a pleasant dream, a way to focus on a happy future, a distraction from the blood-letting that continued around him.

For over twelve years, Felipe de Castro had turned vampire against vampire in this territory. His policies had bred anger and distrust, and the blood feuds that were being settled now had more to do with personal vendettas than politics. Karin texted that first night, confirming victory in Baton Rouge. She told him she intended to finish mopping up and would join him after sunset the following night. Thalia contacted him next, letting him know she'd finished cleansing Lafayette and was on her way to New Orleans.

The only Area that was reporting continued unrest was Area 5. Indira had handed her authority over to her subordinates and abandoned her Area. Eric wasn't sure why she left her post at this critical time, but he suspected Rubio Hermosa's disappearance was at the heart of this mystery.