For the two weeks, Estella and I keep guard over Babet, Scarlet and Henri at Audubon there is little to no advancement or declination in the family’s situation. We are either on rotating shifts or allowed mutual time with the young mother. Estella still had her obligations to the Queen, but I had gained exclusivity with Babet. I had been taken off collecting bounties until this was resolved.

It had been enlightening, refreshing and revelatory to spend quality time with Babet who seemed to have newfound peace, but every good must come to an end and I was in house the night she got a call from a Cruise Line business office. The children were asleep upstairs and silently I listened while she was informed of her mother’s disappearance while in Cozumel, Mexico.

Mrs. Bridgette Lancaster Beauregard had not returned to the ship from her dinner in the southern city the night before. Babet sat quietly sobbing with her hand to her mouth staring at the floor while the representative insensitively delivered the blow. In that moment all the reassuring conversations and hope that maybe this was coming to a close was diminished in her eyes. Intense thoughts raced behind those eyes, her life was still in peril, and the hands of whatever was after her had stretched its claws to her mother in another country. She sat, fixated on the work of art hanging high on the wall in front of her, and then she quickly looked to me.

“I just….don’t understand….I thought….I just have come so far and feel I have no more tears to cry” But her face revealed a different story and baubles of tears began to trickle down from her eyelid to her cheek. She stood up but I grabbed her before she could get far. I pressed her to my chest until the tension in her body ease into me and I felt her hands lightly grasp the lower part of my back.
I rested my chin on her head and my body began to tense as her scent filled me. I was determined not to give into my deepest, darkest desires; I just wanted to comfort her, as I had wanted to during all the early morning conversations between us.

I wanted to be the support she needed, without the complications of our natures. We stood embraced momentarily until I felt her pull slightly from me. I lifted my head to look down at her. Babet, stared into my eyes and this beautiful creature, so fragile, so human and so sad, made my cold heart, burn and ache. I wiped the tears from her eyes and brushed the hair back from her face, the tiny strands glued to it by her already dried tears.

“To cry”, I said and positioned my hands securely around her face, staring directly into her, “is to know you’re alive.” I hold her delicately before lowering my hands. She sniffed a couple of times before standing on her toes, closed her eyes and lifted herself to meet my face. She kissed me gently, her mouth so warm and soft, like two hot rose petals closing in on my lips. She kissed me again in this way and I felt her body flush with warmth, she then began to lower herself from her heightened status.

I opened my eyes expectantly as she landed flat on the floor, but before she could pull completely out of my arms I brought her back to me, leaned down and kissed her in return. My large hands encased her hair and the fragrance of her radiated from it. I didn’t linger in the kiss as I felt it was more of a comfort to her than an invitation for anything other than that, but I desperately wanted her. Her frailty enchanted me and challenged me. Before I could wrap my mind around what was happening between us she was back up to my level, her eyes closed and her mouth engulfed mine, her tongue swimming happily against mine.

I clasped my hands around her face, the warm silky texture of her skin gliding over my fingertips. I rounded my hand to her neck and pulled her closer, the nape an inferno. I pulled away from her, my mouth hung open and my teeth ran out, I tilted my head to take in Babet’s response. She stood staring at me panting and a slight smile came across her face. She licked her lips, swallowed and asked, “Can I?” Her hand reached up to touch my prominent teeth.

I didn’t move and her delicate little fingers stroked the inside and then outside of my extended canines. Our exchange was interrupted by the faint sound of cooing. Like lightning Babet turned her attention to the sounds, waiting to see if the baby continued. Henri must have been dreaming and Babet turned back to face me. The aura emitting from her changed from desire to embarrassment and she nervously laughed, then took a deep breath and blew out the air from her lungs, as if extinguishing a candle. My teeth retracted and I broke the silence, “I’m sorry.” I said.

Although I knew exactly what was overtaking the sensibility I had mastered during the centuries. I still didn’t want to leave her side. I wanted to never let her out of my sight, like the first night I saw her, keep her protected. I am also aware that subconsciously I wanted her for more selfish reasons than not. My compulsion was more than the simple vampire yearning. I felt a kinship to this woman, I could relate to her loss in her short years. She was like me, aside from her children, she was ultimately alone. But she had not lost these mortal ties naturally and I had to get beyond my own selfishness. I shifted back to face her once again, and her eyes, indifferent.

“They’re, “and she faltered in her speech and for a moment I was fearful that we were back to square one. But she surprises me constantly and tonight was no different, “So, sharp.” And she smiled, her own teeth showing a little more. I couldn’t help but return the gesture. For the remainder of the night I hold her, until the ever presence of dawn began to crest the Earth that would soon reach the tiny corner Babet and I had laid out for ourselves, I took my leave of her once it was apparent that she would be safe for the brief moments it would take to return to my haven.
The following evening I was to attend the Queen in Estella’s absence. I by no means would serve drinks and flit around the floor, but my existence at her side is a requirement I grew less and less obliged to. For some time I hungered for release from the Queen’s employment and the closer I would get to obtaining it, she drew me back to her side. Be it intrigue of what was at the time unknown to me. Once my curiosity fulfilled, I was instantly regretful of my decision. Her power is undeniable. Human and Vampire, we are all possessed by her. One look in her eyes and your addicted to her; our Queen.

My arrival to Morte is as it always is a quietly stealthy entry into the sacrificial chamber, positioning myself where I could observe the patronage and the Queen. Her grand arrival had already commenced and I greeted her, standing to her left as she nodded and returned her gaze to the floor below her throne of a balcony. She spoke directly at me but did not make my eyes.
“We have a guest Cian, someone I think you’ll recognize.”

Appearing at the Queen’s right shoulder stood my brother Keane. His sandy blonde hair a tousled mess. Stopping at his shoulders, long rogue strands hung in front of his piercing blue eyes. Keane. His attire much different from mine, my once brother in arms stood before me in an ebony Armani suit and striking tie; the garnet and crimson paisley design screaming from behind the prison of his fitted vest. His hands overlapped one another in front of him.

As if waiting for me to speak, he dropped his hands and began to come toward me. “Still an old hard stone, huh Cian?” the surprise rising in his voice.

I kept my guard and when he was close enough I smirked and said, “Old Dogs, Keane. Can’t teach us a thing.” We both laughed heartily and I grabbed by brother and brought him to me, he slapped my back and we separated.

“Good to see you my brother, it has been too long.” He remarked turning his finger at me.

I nodded, “Aye”, and after the moment of reunited bliss passed I became suspicious of Keane’s arrival into New Orleans. “What brings you to the city?”

“Ah, a most gracious invitation from her majesty brings me to your fair metropolis.” He says and while he does he bows courteously toward the Queen and in return she nods in his direction with a faint smile. I witness this exchange and before returning her concentration to her business she flashes me a glance that implies to me her pleasure in Keane. I resumed my position within the club, while Keane and Madliene discussed things only to themselves.

Once the festivities for the evening had officially died I excused myself from the Queen. With not only the urgency of appetite but a great longing to retreat from Keane, I knew he sensed my pace to be too hasty for my normality. Because no matter how long we have been apart, Keane knows me better than I know myself. He is someone I have known since childhood and we have bonded in more ways than any real or biological brothers could. We are kindred spirits he and I.

“Where you off to brother?” The echo of his baritone is uncanny in my head. I turn and stare for mere seconds, but in our world seconds are lifetimes and finally I tilt my head, motioning him to follow. He bows graciously to the Queen, taking her hand to kiss the back of it.
“If you will excuse me?” She of course gives her consent and Keane set out to join me at my flank, his original position when we were lads. We exit the Club through the back corridor.
He quickens his pace slightly to meet mine and we are striding together once again, exact footsteps, a single being with four legs clomping through the streets.

“Fed for the night?” I ask and in my peripheral I see a glint of bright white shine clearly against the night’s sky, Keane’s smile a definite sight for my sore eyes.

Keane and I fed; I, from a blood bag I obtained, while Keane took to the street to search out his perfect meal. By the time he returned to the townhouse procured for his stay and sat the statuesque human female on one of the overstuffed chairs residing in the corner of the large receiving room, I had long been satisfied. She was, of course, beautiful. The girl’s black hair is short, the bob haircut resembling that of a wig and most likely is. Her face is overly made up and the black around her ice blue eyes looks like fireplace soot, making the blue stand out that much more.
I continue to observe her calm behavior, more and more humans were becoming less and less wary of being in the presence of vampires and from the girl’s demeanor she had been in our type of company, plenty. From what I could see of her body, she bared no sign of being fed upon, but once she removed the jacket over her mini-dress it was apparent that she had spent more time with our kind than I had assumed. Her arms from shoulder to wrist, inside and out are marked, some wounds old, some new and scars on top of scars. She readjusted her seat, folded her hands in her lap and looked directly into my eyes, unafraid of whatever powers she thought me to possess.

“Name’s Shi, what’s yours?” she asked engaging me in conversation, while crossing her legs. Her face is pleasant and inviting.

“Cian.” My tone less than inviting.

“Nice, got a brother Abel?” she said and laughed at her own cleverness.

I didn’t reciprocate the feeling and she discontinued her jest, rolling her eyes and looking around the room for Keane’s location. But I could tell she was becoming uneasy sitting across from me and my seriousness. I didn’t begrudge Keane his preferences, he had his lifestyle and I chose mine, but I can honestly say I didn’t like conversing with someone who would soon cease to be. Keane reentered the great room and Shi’s eyes lit up.

Keane is a handsome vampire, like we all are. The man has eyes so intense they bore into your very soul. It’s his gift, soul searching, a vampire who can read the souls of others, humans and vampire alike. Very few soul searchers survive in our community. Vampires aren’t keen on the idea of another being able to see though them and the tales of other’s souls can break and wear down a reader.
The eyes of a soul searcher hold a kind of gentleness, I think of it as a catalyst for the reader, a welcoming feature allowing them to proceed; this all commences without the human or vampire’s knowledge and it’s very interesting to watch. This look has been described in our histories accounts as “puppy-dog eyes”.

Keane glides over to the girl, peering down and into Shi’s eyes. I instantly felt her body relax as he offered his hand, she takes it and is lifted her from her seat. Keane led her toward the spiral staircase central in the townhouse, I watch as he weightlessly slithers up guiding Shi. Her high heels clump up one and then two steps. Then the clopping turned into a whooshing sound as Keane whisked the girl up, my eyes can’t help but follow their path.
Just before crossing the threshold to the bedroom, he glances down the at me, smiles and I could see his teeth had run completely out. I couldn’t help but smirk and shake my head at him.
Keane emerged from the room, easily and quietly closing the door, he had not extinguished Shi’s life and was allowing the stranger to slumber in his temporary haven. I had to admit I wasn’t surprised, Keane had always been attentive; not only in battle but even after the wars, he never let the grief consume him so it showed to his younger siblings and his mother. His father, of course always knew what his son had endured and seen.

“She’ll be here for a day or so.” He said as he reached the bottom of the staircase. His suit slightly disheveled, the jacket and ornate tie were gone and the collar of his white dress shirt hung open. Since his shirt was still tucked into his pants I knew he had not had sex with the girl, but being as she would be in his haven for more than the night, it was definitely in his plans to do so. “I kinda like her, what do you think Cian?”

I nodded and stood up from my seat, beginning to feel that Keane’s presence was more than a simple visit to the Queen, be it by her request or not. “Now that you’re fed, I have a few questions for you, if I may, of course?” I said as he took Shi’s former seat.

His face turned from confused to inquisitive in a matter of seconds, “Sure Cian, Spanish Inquisition?”

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