John Rezig

Russell Edgington, the Vampire King of Mississippi, concocts a plan to consolidate his power. Meanwhile, Eric remembers his past; Sam tests the strength of his family bonds; Tara finds an ally in a shady vampire named Franklin Mott.

Alcide and Sookie turn to an alpha-wolf 'packmaster' for advice on how to deal with Russell's minions. Tara considers a proposal from Franklin, who's completed his mission for Russell; Joe Lee breaks his promise to Sam and Tommy; Lafayette learns the meaning of patience from Jesus, his mother's orderly; Jason meets his match in a mysterious girl named Crystal. An heirloom reminds Eric of his past and his ongoing thirst for vengeance.

Eric and Bill have doubts they will survive the search for Russell. Sookie opens up to Alcide about Debbie Pelt. An irate Lafayette unwittingly puts Sookie's life in danger. At the Authority headquarters, Roman and Salome continue their interrogation of Nora for information on the Sanguinistas--and a possible traitor within the Council. Pam forces Tara to toe the line; Andy and Jason go to a burlesque party; Sam's shifter friends invite him for a run; Terry flashes back to a deadly night in Iraq; Hoyt tests the fangbanger waters; Sookie drowns her sorrows.

At the Authority headquarters, the Chancellors revel in the afterglow of Lilith-induced carnage; Eric sobers when he gets a message from Godric; Bill is shaken by a distant memory. With help from Claude and his sisters, Sookie and Jason visit the site of their parents' deaths, with shocking results. An emotional Luna tries to walk in Sam's shoes. Hoyt's new pals bring him a present; Lafayette leads a seance to purge a curse; J.D. ups the stakes of his fight with Alcide.

As the Authority proceeds with Lilith's plan, Eric plots his escape. Gran directs Sookie to a clue to her parents' murderer. Andy and Jason search for leads to the identities of the people behind the shifter killings. Alcide recalls his pack induction; Arlene gets caught in Terry and Patrick's crossfire; Steve gets a new pet.