"To die, to sleep -
To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub,
For in this sleep of death what dreams may come..."
Shakespeare. Lucien Castle smiled. Did people still read his texts? Why, that was beyond him. But he had never been much of a reader. He played with his teaspoon, although he hadn't even touched the hot beverage in his mug. That wasn't the kind of drink he had in mind. He had just arrived to New Orleans and he was looking for something special to celebrate.
It amused him to watch all these people sitting at the tables chatting and giggling. Some of them were in small groups, others in pairs. They were all so full of life. He could practically hear the blood running through their veins. Then there was her. His Shakespeare girl. She was sitting all by herself reading the words of an English writer who had died centuries ago.
Sometimes Lucien almost regretted that he hadn't bothered to meet this Shakespeare. He had been in England back then and even saw one of his plays, Romeo and Juliet, but he had found it terribly boring. Who would have known that the guy would become so famous? But this girl seemed to enjoy her book. There were many pretty girls in the coffee shop. Many of them had already given him flirtatious looks. Blondes, brunettes, redheads.
He knew that he could have anyone of them. But the reason why he had chosen this particular girl was very simple. There was absolutely nothing special about her. Her light brown hair was up in old fashioned bun and there was no make-up on her pale oval face. Her blue eyes looked deep and emotionless. They didn't reveal her thoughts or feelings.
She was wearing a long grey skirt and a white dress shirt that was paired with ugly oversized sweater. And there was a small silver cross around her neck. She was almost too good to be true. A good girl. A virgin. Lucien was willing to bet on it. He loved the taste of virgin's blood. It tasted so…innocent. The girl took a sip out of her mug and bit her lower lip. She did have nice full lips. She startled when the waitress asked did she want another cup of tea.
"No, thank you." She had a very delicate voice, like she wouldn't have used it very much. He would certainly fix that. Before the night would be over, he would make her scream. He had always loved the screams of his victims, he was wicked like that. The more than he thought about it the more the idea pleased him.
She paid her tea and picked up her shabby looking shoulder bag. Lucien stood up and followed her. He was already playing the scene on his mind. He loved this part. The chase. He didn't expect her to put up much of a fight. Someone like her would be flattered when someone like him would even notice that she existed.
She was walking very fast, wrapping her sweater tighter around her. She was humming something, he didn't recognize the tune. He was just preparing for his first move when the sudden sound of brakes screeching caught his attention. He saw a red car and an old homeless man who had just jumped in front of it. The driver tried desperately to stop but it was too late. In the next second the man's body was flying in the air. It landed on the sidewalk few feet away from the girl. The man's body was twisted on unnatural position and there was a bone coming out from his arm.
"Oh God, oh God, I didn't see him!" a hysterical woman's voice sobbed.
There were people gathering around the man but no one approached him. He had a scruffy beard and he was wearing dirty clothes. The man was coughing blood.
"Someone call 911!"
People were picking up their phones but no one made any attempt to approach the man. No one except the girl. She kneeled next to the man and took his hand. He was looking straight at her with his dark eyes.
"Everything will be alright, sir," the girl said quietly.
Lucien could tell that the man was as good as dead. The girl held his hand and stroked his hair when he coughed one last time. People who were standing around the man seemed shocked. Some of them even cried. Lucien moved a little closer so he could see the girl's face. She looked perfectly calm. When the man had took his last breath she stood up and tried to find something from her bag.
Cleaning wipes. She had his blood on her hands. She cleaned both of her hands carefully and continued walking. No one tried to stop her. After few seconds she was humming again like nothing would have happened. For some reason, that really amused Lucien. Wasn't she a strange little creature. But that didn't change anything. He was still planning to follow his plan. Or he would have if someone wouldn't have run after the girl.
"Miss! Wait!"
The girl turned around. Lucien was walking few steps behind her but she didn't pay any attention to him. She was looking at the man who seemed to be a police officer.
"I need to ask you few questions," he said trying to catch his breath.
"Sure," the girl replied calmly and walked past Lucien.
He could have easily killed the officer and everyone else who was in his way but that would spoil his fun with the girl. He wanted to take his time with her. Unfortunately that meant that he had to find himself another plaything for tonight. That was disappointing. He hated disappointments and he didn't hesitate to show it. That was very bad news for the people in New Orleans.
"Let me tell you a little secret. There's no heaven or hell. This place…this is hell. And the devil lives inside of all of us. People can deny it if they want but that's the only real truth. After this there's nothing… So tell me, are you afraid of death?"
Focus. Focus. Focus. That was what Mina kept repeating to herself, but unfortunately facing death had brought back things that needed to stay buried. She forced herself to look at the thoughtful police officer who was standing in front of her making notes. She had tried her best to answer all his questions but there wasn't much to tell. It didn't change the fact that the man was dead. Maybe he had wanted to end his own life, maybe he had been too drunk to notice the car, how would she know. That's why she didn't make any assumptions; she simply described what she had seen.
"Did you try to give him first aid?" the officer asked.
She shook her head.
"No, it was obvious that he was dying. I just thought that no one should have to die alone."
The officer raised his eyes from his notebook.
"Well…that was very kind of you. It must have been a difficult experience."
She said the words that she knew he expected to hear.
"Yes, it was."
He nodded and gave her a sympathetic look. Then he focused on his notes again. There were two coroners behind his back. They were just lifting the man's body onto the stretcher. It was already inside the body bag but there were still some curious people standing nearby. Didn't they have anything better to do? Mina was hoping that this wouldn't take much longer, she was already late.
"Alright, I think I got everything I need. Thank you for your co-operation. I will give you a call if I need to ask some more questions, but I think this is a clear case."
She gave him a moment to continue but he didn't so she assumed that she was free to go. He was concentrated on his notes again. She cleared her throat.
"Alright. If there's nothing else…"
He looked up at her, dazed like her existence would have already slipped his mind.
"No, no, I believe we are done. But I would ask you to drop by and sign your statement tomorrow."
"That will be fine. Good night, officer."
"Good night," he mumbled but obviously he was already thinking about something else, maybe all the paperwork he would have to do. He was a young man; Mina guessed in his mid twenties. He seemed to be quite new at this. He certainly hadn't chosen the easiest job. She turned around and passed the bloodstains on the sidewalk. They would probably be gone before the morning. All that was left of a human being. That was strange when you really thought about it. She wondered if that poor man had any friends or family who would miss him. Any case, she decided that she would pray for him tonight. Rest in peace, who ever you were.