A cool breeze blew up Bourbon Street and whisked around Accalia's tawny hair. She was in New Orleans to stay with her Aunt Camille and attend Tulane University as a medical student. She wa excited to be starting fresh in a new place, the unknown, but she knew one thing for sure-she hated the city. New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, she hated all of them it was just too crowded and dirty and the people were always rude, but hey maybe New Orleans will be different.
Nope. After two more steps Accalia collided into a young man with brownish blonde hair and all black clothing.
"Geesh are you in that much of rush to get to a funeral?" She remarked.
"If only all girls had your wits," he said, annoyed and sarcastic, until he looked up and saw her face.
"Where are my manners? The name's Niklaus, but you will call me Klaus," he said with a devious grin.
Accalia smiled in return and asked "What about Nik?"
"That right belongs to very few of my closest friends," he answered.
"Well maybe I can work my way up to it" she suggested with a smile more devious than his. "Accalia, by the way. But you will call me Lia." Klaus seemed a little surprised by her confidence and wanted to talk more, but he was after all in a rush to get home to his siblings.
"I'm sorry but I must get going," he said quickly and began to walk off.
"How can I find you if I feel the desperate need for some sarcasm and depressing clothing?" she asked.
"Don't worry, love, I'll find you, and trust me I am anything but depressed," he flashed his teeth one more time before walking away and turning the corner. Lia continued down the street and turned a few corners, following the direction on her phone before arriving at her Aunt's apartment. She knocked four time and each one seemed to exude confidence, if that's even possible. After a moment a woman with a rounder face than Lia's and short, wavy blonde hair opened the door.
"Lia!" She slightly cried out. They hugged and caught up a little bit, settling down on the couch with some ice cream. Suddenly a small ping came from Camille's pocket. Camille looked down at her phone and made a face that Lia could not read. Then she looked up a little frantically and claimed her friend was having an emergency (which I guess was technically not a lie). She quickly left the apartment and promised Lia she'd be back soon.
Lia sat there for a moment before the loneliness came seeping in and she decided to do some New Orleans shopping. Lia headed for the nearest dress store. She preferred to dress comfortably, but when she wanted to she could be red carpet ready like that. She grabbed a few dresses and went to a dressing room. Then, she could hear some cursing from the dressing room next to hers.
"Bloody dress won't zip!" Rebekah (as the witch she's living in the body of) quietly yelled.
"Need some help?" Lia asked light-heartedly.
"That'd be great actually," Rebekah replied with a little hint of frustration still. Lia exited her dressing room in a dark-blue fit and flare dress with a deep neckline she was trying on and Rebekah opened the door to her room to reveal a black, off the shoulder dress. Rebekah turned around as Lia zipped it up.
"Thanks. I'm Rebekah by the way," she introduced herself.
"Accalia, but I find Lia more suiting," Lia replied. "I just moved here with my Aunt."
"So that explains why you're so nice," Rebekah laughed. "What is a nice girl like you doing by shopping by yourself?"
"My Aunt's friend had an emergency or something so I decided to go shopping to waste time," Lia stated nonchalantly.
"Waste of time!?" Rebekah yelled. "That's it you are going to shop with me and I will show you how productive shopping can be." Lia only laughed and allowed Rebekah to drag her around the city shopping all afternoon.
After the shopping, Lia and Rebekah walked to Rebekah's house. When Rebekah stopped at a huge gate in front of an even bigger house (if you could even call it a house).
"Holy crap! That place is huge," Lia exclaimed.
"Yeah I live here with my siblings it's awful at times but it has its perks," Rebekah replied with a wink.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow for lunch," she added.
"Okay," answered Lia. As she turned, Lia's arm brushed against Rebekah and this weird feeling came over her that she couldn't describe. It felt like the sun was right next to her and shining on her, but wasn't burning her. Yet, she continued on her way home. The next day on the way home from lunch with Rebekah, Lia found herself back on bourbon street. She couldn't help but overhear the conversation the man in front of her was having on the phone.
"Don't worry...I'm on my way to talk to Niklaus now…" he said.
Niklaus! Lia thought to herself. It had to be the Niklaus she met earlier, I mean it wasn't a common name. She stealthily followed the man allowing a few people to flow in between them to avoid suspicion. He stopped in front of a large house. A house Lia had seen before.