The next evening, Eric took you and Sookie with him to meet with two of Godric's underlings: Isabel Beaumont and Stan fucking Baker. Isabel was a sweetheart but Stan was an asshole of the first order and a huge pain in your father's ass. You'd met him twice before but seriously doubted he even remembered. You were just another human after all. There was no reason for him to pay any mind to you whatsoever.

Sookie had styled her hair and wore a red dress with a bandana pattern on it. It was cute but it also screamed country. Eric had worn a black button up with black pants and his black leather jacket. In contrast, you wore white, the dress clasping around your neck which left the back open. Eric moved around the room, restless, his hand caressing your bare skin whenever he passed by.

He introduced the two of you to the other two vampires by name only. As you expected, Stan showed not even the vaguest recollection of having met you before. "You might have mentioned that Eric hired a couple of fucking humans, Isabel." He rocked on his feet a bit as he scowled at you.

"Now, wait just a damn minute," Sookie started and you placed a hand on her arm to stop her.

"You are human, Sookie. Pick something else to get pissed off about. I'm sure Stan here will give you plenty of options," you told her. She was used to dealing with Eric and Bill. Stan would just as soon rip her head off as listen to her attitude. As for you, you were kind of hoping he'd try it with you. All you needed was an excuse.

Stan stepped forward and curled his lip as he snarled at you. In a blink, Eric had him pinned against the wall with a hand on his chest. "That one's my mate. Treat her with anything but the utmost respect again and we will have an issue."

He released Stan and flashed back to your side. The Texan straightened his suitcoat. "You might have introduced her that way, Northman."

"I might've, but I didn't. Deal with it."

"Can we get back on topic?" Isabel asked.

"Are you certain it is the Fellowship of the Sun that took Godric?" Eric looked more than a little annoyed at the prospect.

Stan said, "Yes" at the same time Isabel said, "No."

The male rolled his eyes. "They are the only ones with the organization and manpower to have pulled this off."

"But they're amateurs," Isabel argued. "This is Godric we're talking about."

You frowned. "Do you know for sure that he was taken by anyone? It seems like you're just guessing."

"He wouldn't just leave. He has responsibilities here. Besides, we can find no trace of him," Isabel reasoned.

"Sookie and I can investigate at the church. It should be fairly easy to determine if he's there or not," you said. Eric shifted beside you.

"And just how do you propose to do that?" Isabel asked, her accent more pronounced in her irritation.

You laid a hand on Sookie's arm to keep her quiet. "It's what we're here for." Which really didn't answer her question at all, but you didn't care. There was a leak here and you weren't giving them any more information than necessary.

"It's not necessary. We just go in and take them out in one mass attack. Show them who's in charge."

"Hmm, vampire hating church gets wiped out. I wonder who did it? The Authority would skin your ass," you told him. "On second thought, that could be entertaining. Go ahead."

"Alskling," Eric said, a warning in his tone.

Stan's gaze narrowed and darted between you and your mate. He really wanted to say something but wisely feared the Viking beside you. As he should. Instead, he settled for, "Have we met before?"

You hummed in amusement but didn't answer. Let him figure it out.

Stan widened his stance and crossed his arms. "We all know the Great Revelation was the biggest mistake we ever made. It would be a shame to let this opportunity pass."

Wow. Your dad was going to have a field day with this one.

"Don't use Godric to make your own little power play," Isabel snapped at her counterpart.

Eric stiffened beside you. "You are both completely incompetent. What has happened to Godric that he surrounds himself with fools?"

"We invited you here as a courtesy. You have no authority here," Isabel told him.

"Yeah, why don't you just run on home to Louisiana and take your puppets with you?" Stan drawled.

Your hand gripped Eric's to keep him from launching himself at the other vampire for calling you a puppet. "We need a plan," you said, trying to get everyone back on topic.

"I have a plan." Of course, fucking Stan.

"It's not a plan, it's a movie," Isabel argued and you wondered how many times they'd had a version of this argument since Godric disappeared. He wouldn't have stood for it if he were here.

Your gaze shifted back to Stan as he said, "It's not a movie, it's a war." So fucking dramatic. Did he think there were cameras filming him or something? Imbecile.

"Idiots," Eric growled out echoing your thoughts. He pulled you from the room, Sookie trailing behind.

As soon as the three of you were outside, he released you hand so he could pace. Sookie leaned toward you. "Is he okay?"

You hummed and gave her a nod. "He's just pissed. Give him a minute." You pulled out your phone while you waited for him to cool off and sent your dad a text. Stan Baker is going to be a problem.

The response was almost immediate. Dallas, right?

Considering the amount of vampires he's encountered over the years, you'd always been impressed at his ability to remember names, faces and locations. Yes.

Do I need to send someone?

You smirked, knowing what he was really asking. Not necessary. I'm already here. Just tell me I'm cleared and I'll take care of it when we've finished our business here. Eric might beat me to it. Stan called me a puppet.

You have full authority. Either of you. Your usual fee applies. And y/n?

Yes?

I'm sorry.

I know. Your fight wouldn't truly be resolved until you talked in person but it was a start. You put your phone away just as Eric returned to the two of you. "Feel better?" you asked before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

He didn't respond so you took that as a no. He grasped your hand in his and you grabbed Sookie's. The three of you walked back inside only to hear Isabel and Stan still arguing over whether or not they should just wipe out the church. Eric growled before picking up a vase and launching it at the wall. It shattered catching their attention.

"Godric has protected you and made you rich and you stand here arguing like a couple of children. No wonder he has not been found."

"Are you aware you have a leak?" you asked, giving them something else to focus on.

"Impossible," they said in unison.

"We were intercepted at the airport. They were told to take the humans traveling with me," Eric explained.

"And from what I've gathered, Isabel's the only one that knew we were coming." You tilted your head as you studied the shock on the female vampire's face. It seemed genuine.

Before you could question her further, Eric had her hanging in the air by her throat. "You would endanger my mate?"

"I didn't. I swear," she choked out as she clawed at his wrist. Stan just stood by with a smirk on his face.

"Put her down, Eric. We need to ask her some questions," you said softly.

He huffed and released her so she dropped to the floor. "Ask."

"Who did you tell we were coming?" Your voice was just as quiet as it had been for Eric.

When she shook her head, you held up a hand to stop her.

"Not an enemy. Someone you trusted, Isabel. Who did you tell?"

You saw the moment the name came to her. She was devastated. "He wouldn't."

"Who?" Stan snapped.

When she took too long to answer, Eric asked again. "Hugo," she said softly.

"Your human." Stan's lip curled in that sneer he seemed to have perfected.

Eric stopped him before he could go after the man in question. "You will lock him up and await Godric's judgment. No harm will come to him."

"You have no authority here, Sherriff."

The only thing that kept you from killing him now was the fact he may know more than he was letting on about Godric's disappearance and you'd have to interrogate him later. "Actually, he does. The threat to his mate supersedes Hugo's act of betrayal against you."

Stan turned his scowl on you. "Who are you?"

"Who me? I'm just a puppet."