Sookie watches as the fairy blood he took finally begins to energize Eric, and he realizes that he is free forever from his maker. Telling Sookie that she is his dearest, Eric promises to return to her when he has checked on Pam and dealt with the things he must do now that Appius has died. Sookie watches him launch into the air to return to Shreveport. She wearily showers and prepares for bed, grimly satisfied that her enemies have perished and she has again survived. As she opens the door to her bedroom, she is surprised to find Dermot and Claude, who want to share the bed with her. Too exhausted to argue, she climbs into the bed with her fae kin on either side, and to her astonishment, she feels relaxed and comforted. She falls asleep surrounded by family.

The Secret Dialogues of Bill and Eric

Phone: Eric calling Bill.

ERIC: “Bill, how are you feeling?”

BILL: “Not well.”

ERIC: “Victor is expecting a sales report for the database.”

BILL: “There are orders. They need to be packaged.”

ERIC: “Do you need help?”

BILL: “Yes.”

ERIC: “I’ll send Felicia over to your house several times a week to assist you. She can also give you blood while she is there. Perhaps that will help you heal.”

BILL: “Thank you.”

ERIC: “Bill?”

BILL: “What?”

ERIC: “If Sookie had died, I would let you suffer.” BILL: “If Sookie had died, I would already be dead.”

Phone: Eric calling Bill.

ERIC: “Bill, I need your help dealing with Victor. Come to my house Thursday night.”

BILL: “You need my help?”

ERIC: “I need your knowledge of computers. Bobby and Pam have been backing up all of Area Five’s financial records on the computer. I want several copies and I want them to be safe. And I want to be able to tell if anyone tries to access them. Can you do that?”

BILL: “Bobby can’t?”

ERIC: “I would like you to do this.”

BILL: “Of course. I’ll be there after Fangtasia closes.”

ERIC: “Should I send Pam to get you?”

BILL: “Pam? Not Felicia?”

ERIC: “Not Felicia, not for this.”

BILL: “I see.” Pause. “No. I can drive.”

ERIC: “It might be a good idea for you to drive around a bit, make certain you’re not followed.”

BILL: “Do you believe we are all being watched?”

ERIC: “I’m certain Victor knows you’ve been . . . ill and staying close to home. If you suddenly drive to Shreveport, he may hear of it. I don’t feel like coming up with an explanation.”

BILL: “You really are concerned, aren’t you?”