"Say that again?" I asked dumbly because there was no way that this was real. The extremely gorgeous blonde woman in front of me sighed.
"I've been repeating the same thing to you for an hour now Alexandra, what more proof do you need, shall I cause the apocalypse for you?" Said the woman.
"It's just unbelievable, you just told me that I dimension travelled to a new universe and that due to some freakish accident I am now an immortal being?"
"Not freakish child, think of it as a gift for your misfortune" said the woman in a bored tone.
"A gift? Why not return me? What good can I do in a place that I've never been to?" I sounded like a whiny kid, but that was not going to deter me from trying to get back home.
"You haven't been here, yes, but you know the story, you are here to save the world from the end of it all, should you fail we will all die, immortal or not, should you prevent evil from rising we might stand a chance" she said, I facepalmed.
"Sure let the fate of the world on my shoulders" I said sarcastically, the woman rolled her eyes.
"You shall be given fortune, it will be in you to make good use of it, good luck Alexandra Noir, fate shall always be by your side" she said before I started to fall.
I woke up with a start, I quickly sat on my bed and looked around the room, I couldn't help but to groan, I was not in Kansas anymore. I stood from the bed and realized that I was wearing the same dress I had been wearing, and that my shoes were innocently placed on a chair, I sighed as I realized that I was probably in a hotel room, there was a small suitcase in front of the bed, I crouched an opened it. I grabbed a white v-neck shirt and a pair of black jeans, there was also a black leather jacket and a pair of heeled booties, amongst other things, I probably needed to go shopping.
My stomach grunted, and I rolled my eyes, I walked up to the bedside table and grabbed the phone, pressing 0, I reached the reception.
"JW Mariott, how can I help you?" Said a woman from the other side, I looked down and a number was scribbled on a piece of paper.
"Hello, I'm speaking from room 217, I was wondering if I could have breakfast sent up"
"Room, 217, Miss Noir is it?"
"Yes" I said fiddling with the cord.
"Of course Miss, although it will be charged to your account, would you like the special New Orleans breakfast? Or continental?" She asked, so I was in New Orleans, not the strangest place by far.
"New Orleans is fine," I said, I could hear rustling from the other side.
"Perfect Miss Noir, anything else?"
"Yes I would like to confirm my checkout dates please" I said.
"Your checkout is marked a week from now Miss, would you like to make any changes?"
"No, just checking, thank you" I said.
"No problem, breakfast will be sent, Amy assisted you Miss"
I was in New Orleans, and recognizing the hotel name I was probably in the French quarter, I reached for a purse that was next to the phone and started rummaging. There was a passport with my name on it, it indicated that I was an American citizen, and that I had been born in Miami, I could live with that. Inside the purse I also found a small calendar dated 2001, according to it, it was September, I groaned, really, I grabbed back the passport to check my appointed birthdate, according to this I had been born in 1974, August 20th. I was 27. At least I hadn't been de-aged to twenty or something like that, twenty-seven was close to thirty-one, I could live with that too. I also found car keys and a wallet filled with cash and credit cards to my name, which meant that I had to ask for bank statements.
There was a knock on my door, I left everything on the bed and made for it, a young woman was carrying my food, I thanked her and gave her a tip. After an uneventful breakfast I got ready for the day, I grabbed the purse and the room keys, room 217, I reminded myself. I decided to leave the car and jacket behind and just walk, the sun was out and the temperature was nice, my first stop of the day was a glasses shop where I bought myself a pair of classic wayfarers sunglasses.
I visited the bank and received my statements to find out that I totally was going to redefine the term filthy rich, it was a shock yes, but I brushed it off pretty quickly and continued with my day, I had been in my universe's New Orleans a couple of times with my mother as my aunt lived there so I was not completely lost as I walked around.
"Do you wish to know your fate lady?" Asked a woman from a small stand in the quarter, if she only knew, but as I was bored I decided to humor her.
"Of course madam, what does the future holds for me?" I asked coming to stand in front of her stand. She picked her tarot cards putting them upside down; she motioned for me to pick three. I did so and handed them to her, she frowned.
"This can't be right," she muttered.
"Maybe its because I've never really believed in fate" I said with a small smile, she looked up at me and smiled "I'm Alex Noir by the way"
"Madame Selene" she said, I rose an eyebrow "Selena Laurens, are you new around?" She asked I nodded.
"I'm thinking about moving here, I think I need a change of scenery," I said offhandedly.
"Well New Orleans is a really good place to live, if you're looking for an exciting change that is" she said, I crossed my arms.
"Does it have to do with the reading you just did?" I asked and she smiled mysteriously.
"I think it makes sense now" she said; I nodded.
"How much for the reading Madame?" I asked going for my wallet, she shook her head.
"Take it as a welcome present" she said with a smile, I huffed.
"Thank you, Selena" I checked my watch, it was almost lunch time " Hey do you know any good place to have a decent lunch around here?" I asked her, she seemed to think about it.
"There's the oyster place, it's really good, just not for me" I made a face, she laughed "Not fan of seafood then?"
"Never been, probably never will be" I said with a smile.
"Well there's Cafe du Monde near the bourbon, also if you're looking for something more rustic and if you're daring you can always try The Sanctuary" as that name came out of her mouth I did a double take because I knew where exactly I was, and fuck, it was not the happiest place to live.
"The Sanctuary sounds like a fun place" I said trying to keep my cool.
"For you young people that is" she said, I grinned.
"You don't look old Selena, and I'm old enough, I'll have you know that I am twenty seven," I said crossing my arms, Selena laughed.
"Cheers to pretty damn good genes" she said, it was my turn to laugh.
"If I decide to move, could I come by again?" I asked, she smiled kindly and nodded.
"Of course, feel free, and if you need any help at all in the city you can call me" she handed me a piece of paper with her number on it.
I walked until I reached the famed Sanctuary, as it had been described in the books a tall muscular guy with a double arrow tattoo was outside acting as a bouncer, I walked past him for a moment I wondered if he could sense that I was some sort of immortal being, but he paid me no mind.
The place gave off a cozy vibe, unexpected yes but I ended up welcoming it all the same. I decided to sit by the bar and a blonde young woman approached me.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary, what can I get you?" she asked, I tilted my head.
"I don't really know, I'm kind of new around" I said, she apparently took pity on me and smiled.
"How about a traditional gumbo? I can pair it off with a beer, it's a must have of the house" she said, and it didn't sound bad.
"Yeah, sure why not, but can you please bring me a beer first? I could do with one right now" I said, she laughed and nodded. She went to the back and returned a couple of minutes later carrying a tray.
"Here's your beer and nachos on the house, welcome to New Orleans," she said placing the nachos in front of me, I smiled at her.
"Thanks!" I said as I took one of the cheesy delicacies, it was heavenly "Oh god if I had doubts about moving, I'm sold now" I said forgetting where I was for a moment.
"That good huh?" asked the waiter, I nodded.
"I'm Alexandra by the way, though I prefer Alex" I said.
"I'm Aimee, nice to see new faces around" she said, then seemed to think about something.
"How did you found the place?" she asked, I took a sip of my beer before answering.
"Selena Laurens, the card reader from the Quarter recommended it to me, I might have to call her so I can thank her… Or better yet, why don't I take an extra gumbo serving to go, does she likes gumbo?" I asked, Aimee laughed and nodded.
"One serving of gumbo to go then" she said.
The food was great and I had never felt this full in ages, I definitely needed to start running again if I wanted to eat this way often, Aimee had stayed with me telling me about New Orleans and her family, I shared a few things too, it was nice to make a friend. We talked for a while until I started seeing double.
"Wow I know that I probably ate enough for a week but seeing four of the same guys its not funny, make it go away Aimee" I said covering my face with my hands, Aimee laughed as did the guys.
"These are my brothers Alex, well four of them" she said, I laid my hands down.
"Four of them? As in you have more than four? That's too much brothers Aimee" I said, she waved it off, I realized that the one with the tattoo was there, Dev, that was.
"I have eleven brothers Alex, sadly I'm the only girl" she said, eleven brothers that was ten brothers too much for me.
"No offense to you or your parents or eleven brothers but don't your parents watch T.V?" I asked, Aimee snorted.
"You're over thinking things Alex" she said, I nodded and shook my head as if trying to clear my head of all thoughts. Then I checked my watch and decided that it was getting late and for one I didn't want to be caught outside at night, not while a Daimon could use me as dinner.
I said goodbye to Aimee and her brothers; I got to meet all of them and made my way back to the Quarter, only after promising that I was to be back, I walked by Selena's stand and to my luck she was still there, this time with a very pregnant woman.
"Hi" I said as I walked up to them, Selena smiled at me.
"Alex, did you enjoy your food?" She asked, I nodded and presented her with the gumbo I bought for her. She seemed surprised "Oh Alex you shouldn't have"
"It's no problem and it's truly the best gumbo in town" I said, she looked grateful.
"Oh goodness, Alex this is Gracie, my best friend, Gracie this is Alex, I meet her earlier today, she's new here in town" she presented us; I shook Grace's hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Gracie" I said with a smile, Grace smiled at me.
"Pleasure to meet you too" She said.
"Gracie here is a Therapist although she doesn't really consults anymore and with children as cute as hers and a husband as yummy, I wouldn't leave my house either" she said, Grace seemed a bit mortified.
"Bill would be offended Lannie" said a man behind me, I turned to find myself staring to the most gorgeous man I had ever seen, like truly, sex on legs.
"I take it you are yummy husband?" I asked innocently, he raised an eyebrow and Selena and Grace laughed.
"Julian Alexander at your service" he said offering his hand, I took it gingerly.
"Alexandra Noir" I said with a smirk.
After meeting Julian and Grace, Selena offered to take me back to the hotel, I accepted and told her where I was staying, she seemed confused that I was staying in such an expensive place but I explained to her that I was more or less loaded because my parents (adoptive parents in this universe case) had left me with my own fortune hence why I was moving. She then proceeded to tell me to call her if I ever needed something; she even hugged me before allowing me to walk out of the car.
Since the sun was still out I decided to grab something to eat in the hotel's restaurant and visited several of the shops, once I made it back to the room I was ready to fall asleep.