Sinners and Saints
Chapter 11
I walked through the Lafayette cemetery, relishing in the sunlight of the warm, late afternoon with flowers in hand. I was on my way to see Davina Claire. Nik had revealed to me the location of her little playhouse. It was cute really...her inhabiting the special place of her former flame. Young love was always especially precious.
Before stopping by to see the teen witch, I made a pit stop. I felt a wave of emotion hit me as my eyes fell upon the family tomb. I ran my fingertips along the engraved names. My grandfather, Sean, Kieran, my mother Kelly...all laid to rest within the stone structure. I set the colorful bouquet down along the bottom. I wiped the single tear from my cheek. I kissed my fingertips and placed it on the stone.
"I miss you guys so much," I whispered. Footsteps alerted me to the sudden arrival of company. I turned to see a man my age approaching.
"Hey, you must be new here," he remarked with a friendly smile.
"Kind of... actually, I'm from here originally. Just moved back a few weeks ago."
"It's a beautiful town, certainly worth coming back for. Welcome back! I'm Vincent," he said extending his hand to me. I shook it.
"I'm Giselle."
"Giselle? That's a beautiful French name. You wouldn't happen to be Cami O'Connell's cousin would you?"
"I am. You know her?"
"Yeah, her and I are good friends. She's told me a lot about you. It's nice to put a face with the name and it's also a pleasure to meet you!"
"Likewise..."
"She must be so happy you've moved back!"
"I believe she is. We've lost a lot of family. I really wanted to be closer to her geographically. We'd spent too many years apart."
"Live takes us down odd paths sometimes," he said with a chuckle.
"That it does...Can I ask you a question?"
"Absolutely."
"Are you the regent?" I asked nosily. I'd felt the power he possessed in that handshake. I'd found myself a powerful witch.
"Yes...I am. I should have known you knew about the whole witch thing being related to the O'Connell's...but yes, I am the new regent like incredibly new," he said with a bout of nervous laughter.
"Well I'm sure you are doing a wonderful job so far."
"I don't know how much you know about the witch community but regent is a tough job with big shoes to fill."
"It does sound daunting."
"Look, it was nice meeting you. Hopefully I'll see you around sometime?"
"Absolutely...I look forward to it.
"As do I."
"Bye, Vincent." He smiled and walked out of the cemetery.
I searched for a few minutes before finding the tomb that I was looking for.
"Hello Davina.." I cooed as I entered her playhouse. A look of fear crossed her face.
"Hi Giselle. "
"I was hoping I'd find you here. Nik thought you'd like be around this old place."
"I'm so, so sorry I tracked you! Elijah asked me to and my ancestors were-" she rambled. She was scared. I hadn't intended to harm her.
"Oh no! No, no, no! I'm not mad, Davina! I'm not here to hurt you. I come in peace!" I assured her.
"You do?"
"Yes, I do. I can't blame you for tracking me. You were trying to protect yourself and the people you care about. I get that completely."
"Okay. Then...No offense, but why are you here?"
"Since I'm sticking around awhile, I just thought us witches should get to know each other a little better."
"Oh. I guess that couldn't hurt in theory...but there isn't much to know about me."
"From what I hear you are a very interesting girl with quite a story."
"You could say that. My life didn't get interesting until I was a harvest girl. Before that I was just a fly in the wall. I was ordinary...being a harvest girl made me powerful and relevant," she said with a shrug.
"You know, I wasn't a harvest girl but you and I have a lot in common."
"Really?" She asked unconvinced.
"We both are essentially orphaned. We are powerful witches who have a fighters spirit. Both of us were lied to by people who were supposed to love and protect us. We are pioneers taking roads that are off the beaten path." A smile formed in her face. "For these reasons and many more, I don't see a reason why we shouldn't get acquainted with one another...to be allies and maybe even friends."
"I'm shunned from my coven. I'm used to being alone now. It doesn't bother me."
"I'm alone a lot too. That doesn't mean you always have to be."
"I guess you have a point," she said with a nod.
"Can I ask what you did to be shunned?" I asked quietly.
"Yeah...its...I killed other witches..."
"Why?"
"Josephine was killed and somehow I was suggested as the new regent. There were these witches who didn't think I should have been elected to that position. They found me too young, too inexperienced to hold such honor and power. I flexed my new found power too much and killed people to send a message. It just didn't pan out the way I'd intended. I'd even gotten Hayley to take them out for me. I thought I was being careful..."
"Wow."
"I understand if you hearing that makes you not want to be around me. Most people get a little uneasy about it," she said sadly.
"Don't be ridiculous, Davina. We've all done horrible things..."
"Have you killed another witch?" She asked. I took a sharp breath. I debated lying to her because I hated to admit that I'd done such heinous things. Ultimately decided against it. It wasn't worth breaking her trust if she ever discovered the truth...plus the truth would likely make her feel better.
"Yes...I have killed other witches before. Its horrible but I've done it. I was a young witch learning to control immense power. I couldn't control my emotions either and made mistakes. I learned from them though, you can too."
"I'm trying...So are you shunned too?"
"No...not technically. I wasn't tried for my crimes. Nobody alive saw me do it."
"What happened?"
"That's a story for another time... It's not a story I'm proud of. One day, I'll tell you."
"Okay. So, I have to know, what's it like being a LeBlanc witch?"
"I'd imagine it's like being any other family of witch!" I replied with a laugh.
"The LeBlanc's are like witch royalty around here! You guys were so powerful."
"My family is full of a lot of secrets. They were overcome with greed and power. A lot of bloodshed occurred because of them..it's not a pretty history. Besides, what is a royal without anyone to govern?! My coven has long since been past its prime. Very few remain alive."
"That is really sad."
"It is but there is a lot to be learned from their downfalls. You should know as well as I do that many of the ways that witches and covens operated in the past don't work well in today's world."
"No kidding."
"Thankfully, you and I are free from that all now. We don't have to answer to a coven. We get to make our own choices and take control of our own fates. We are free, Davina. Do you have any idea how amazing that is?" I asked her with a smile.
"I hadn't thought of it that way before. I'm not abandoned, i'm free!"
"Exactly. The way I see it, we could look out for each other like a coven would. We can make our own rules!"
"I'd really like that, Giselle."
"Me too. You are welcome to my house anytime. If you ever need a place to stay or just don't want to be alone for a little while...anything."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," I said giving her a big hug. All was well.
I left the cemetery and headed back to the Quarter. On the way back to my place, I dipped into a little antique store. My friend Rachel back home had a birthday coming up. Despite her only being 29, she really had a liking for old furniture. She had an old soul in many ways. I patiently walked through the aisles of rocking chairs, antique mirrors, end tables...then my eyes fell upon a beautiful chifferobe. It was a beautiful oak with the most stunning, embellished handles and knobs. It would be perfect in her bedroom.
"Beautiful isn't it?" the saleswoman cooed.
"It is. I'll take it," I said handing her my credit card.
"Oh?"
"Trust me, I'll take it. Do you guys deliver?"
"We definitely do let me go grab the forms!"
A weird wave of anxiety washed over me suddenly. I looked around and didn't see anybody strange lurking about. I tried my best to shrug it off as I settled my business with the clerk.
"Alright, that should do it!" She said handing me a receipt. I quickly stuffed it into my front pocket.
"Thank you. Have a good night!" I called out before heading into the night. I was still feeling vigilant as I began walking towards my house. I wasn't usually so paranoid but I usually trusted my gut. I considered calling Niklaus but my pride kept me from doing it. I picked up the pace especially as I passed a dark and seedy alley way. Suddenly, I felt a blunt object hit the back of my head. The world went black before I even hit the ground.
I slowly came to in a poorly lit room. I was lying on my side on a concrete floor. My wrists and ankles were bound up tightly with rope. My mouth was gagged with a bandanna that I prayed was clean. Luckily my hands were bound in front of me, it might come in handy. I could hear men talking in hushed tones in the doorway.
"So we all know the plan?" One asked. The voice sounded oddly familiar.
"Yeah, Chad, we've got it. Relax!"
"Please take this seriously. We can't mess this up. This is the only way to get to ol' Wolfie boy..." My eyes widened with surprise. 'Chad' was the douche bag vampire we ran into trying to leave the gala. They targeted me on purpose to get to get to Jackson.
"I think shes coming to," one of the others remarked.
"Oh good! Let's get her into the chair." Two men grabbed my arms in front of me and lifted me up into the chair in the middle of the room. He ripped the bandanna out of my mouth. "Welcome to the party, Blondie!"
"And to think I'm not properly attired for a party! My apologies," I replied sarcastically. A grin crossed his lips.
"You are one mouthy little thing aren't you?"
"It's part of my charm."
"I'm sure it is. Now look, Blondie, I don't want to hurt you...but if I have to, I will."
"What do you want me for then?" I asked directly.
"I just need a few pieces of information. If you help me out, I won't have to hurt you. As soon as I get what I want into my custody, you'll be free," he said placing a hand on my shoulder.
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"Oh my dear, you wont...but you don't have much of a choice now, do you?" he mocked. I sighed in frustration. This wasn't going to be easy.
"What do you need to know?"
"I need to know where your little Wolf pal is. I'm warning you, don't lie to me," he threatened. "So where is he?"
"I don't know where he is." A swift slap came across my left cheek. It stung. "What the hell!?"
"You're lying to me. Let's try this again. Where is he?"
"I don't know!" I lied again. Again I was slapped. This time it was rougher, intentionally upping the damage caused. I debated trying to use magic on him, but that wouldn't necessarily free me. I had no idea how many vamps were in this building and if they knew I'm a witch they might keep me prisoner to exploit my magic. I couldn't risk it. I'd have to wait it out and try to find an opportunity to use it when they weren't present.
"I can do this all day," he boasted.
"Bring it, bitch," I snarled. "I've got nowhere to be."
This continued for quite awhile. Slaps progressively gave way to punches. The hits got harder and more brutal with each beating. I could feel my left eye darkening and swelling along with that whole side of my face. Blood dripped from my enlarged lower lip abrasion.
"Last chance, Blondie. Where is he? Where does he live?" He barked. I spit some blood out onto the floor.
"Go fuck yourself!" I spat. His fist landed across my left cheek again. I winced in pain.
"What now?" One of his buddies asked.
"We have some business to attend to. We will leave her here awhile to see if she remembers where her friend lives!" He snapped. "We'll be back."
They left the room, slamming the heavy door behind them. I didn't know how long I had before they returned. If I was going to make a move it had to be now and it had to be quick. I needed to send a message for help. Nobody knew I was here. They might not even realize I'm missing yet. I remembered a spell that I'd come a cross in my Grandmother's Grimoire. It was one the witches of the Quarter often used to send messages. I needed paper...the receipt from the chifferobe! I moved my bound hands down towards my front pocket. I lifted up my pelvis for better access. With all of my might, I maneuvered my hand into the pocket and gently pulled out the slip of paper.
"Thank god," I whispered to myself in relief. Now I needed something to write the message. Unfortunately, with the exception on myself and the chair, the room was void of any other objects. I was going to have to be resourceful. A drop of blood hit the paper...then it hit me, blood! I could use my blood to write the message. Freya would be able to use the blood to track me! I put my fingertip to my split lip and covered it in my blood. The receipt wasn't very big, this message had to be concise.
"Help me. In danger. -G"
I crumpled it into a ball and held it in my hands. I began to chant, focusing on Freya Mikealson.
"Prend ce message ce au le centre se levant... Prend ce message ce au le centre se levant... Prend ce message ce au le centre se levant!" The paper started on fire and disappeared. Now all I could do was wait and hope that the message reached it's destination and that help made it before I get murdered.
The door swung back open.
"We're back, Blondie! Now please tell me you're going to be a good little girl and tell us where your buddy lives!" I took a deep breath and braced myself for the inevitable beatings.
I just want to say thank you to you all for reading 'Sinners and Saints'!