Wicked Casters
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, Vampire Diaries, and American Horror Story
Chapter 21: New Orleans
Eleanor's POV
New Orleans, the second caster capitol in the United States: home of the French Quarter witches and Voodoo tribes. For almost three hundred years this was sanctuary or at least for the Salem Coven. The moment we enter the land of the rising sun, memories from my grandfather warning me the dangers of a vampire coven taking control of the city. A vampire name Marcel having authority over the city and the French Quarter casters are on watch. Oppressed in using much magic or exposing their culture excessively. Since New Orleans knows about the advertisement of magic-voodoo. So I asked Grandfather Horatio, why the Salem Casters are not affected by Marcel benevolent power was previous Supreme Anna Leigh Leighton. From 1950 to 1971 she tried to make peace with the vampires and Voodoo clans. So far she made truce with Marcel that the Salem Casters will not get involve with his coven while keeping peace between the French Quarters Coven and Voodoo clan.
Other than making truce with the vampire coven and Marcel, there is still conflict between Salem Casters and Voodoo clan. Then again, there is the dispute about Tituba being a voodoo witch or Salem witch. Somehow the French Quarter witches and Voodoo clan are amends, but not the Salem casters. Not when Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau is in control. Especially not since Mimi DeLongpre created the truce in the thirties while Anna Leigh Leighton confirmed and set in stone of the truce, before she disappeared and the last person to see her was Fiona Goode, saying she went to give Marie Laveau an expensive bottle of wine , a gift of the truce. The council of the second rank debated till deciding to believe the successor of this accusation. Ergo the rift of affiliation or simple familiarity.
From history New Orleans was run by four groups: The vampires, Casters, humans, and werewolves. In the beginning New Orleans was founded by Mikaelson Family, the Originals in 1718. When the city was built the French and Salem Casters moved in collaborating with the Voodoo clan in the magical arts. Then the werewolves integrated having control outside of the city, meanwhile humans live in the area far longer. Yet like any powerful groups conflicts rises and people live or die. The werewolves learned that the hard way, as the French Quarter Witches informed Marcel's had an entire two packs exterminated. And today the French descendants are oppressed while Salem Casters thrived.
Jasper drove around the French Quarters where people are preparing for Casket Girl Festival. Story goes about young society women, imported from France with the promise of marrying a proper New Orleans gentleman. Little did they know that the men who awaited them were far from proper, nor gentle? Tis unknown what has happen to the young maidens, as their carriages were found surrounded by bodies, brutally murdered men and the caskets that held their clothing were empty. To this day, The Casket Girls' legend lives on. Now celebrated in New Orleans fashion...with stylish costumes and supernatural flair. It's a yearly reminder of how women can be oppressed by selfish men and how they can triumph when brave enough to fight for themselves.
Ginger sat in the passenger seat guiding Jasper to Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, at Jackson Avenue in New Orleans' Garden District. Luckily it's almost nightfall so Jasper and Alice won't sparkle in the sunlight. I find it strange for a Cold One to sparkle while the Original bloodline burns in the sunlight unless they have a daylight ring. Anyway, we soon arrived to the academy, a white antebellum house surrounded by trees drowned in Spanish moss, and iron gates.
Miss Robichaux's Academy was founded by Marion Warton in 1868. Yes, the Marion Warton author of children's story book, if not a as a private school for privileged girls but was turned into a military hospital in the Civil War. In 1868, Marion Warton, the Supreme, bought the school and made it an academy for young witches. The past three decades the academy was used for late born witches or those who discovered they were a witch/warlock under poor circumstances. Unlike me who took the first coming of age trial and was assign to live and trained my grandfather. A major rift between the aristocrats and the common, yet we are still one as Salem descendants.
Pulling in everyone got out. Ginger seemed a bit relax either from Jaspers ability or being back to her home, "Long time traveler."
"Is that a song?" I asked, for it sounded familiar.
"Yeah," Ginger said, then lead the way to the side door. "Oh, and the butler is mute. So don't get frustrated by his communication."
"Mute?" Alice asked.
"Um…how can I put it?" Ginger said sheepishly. "His tongue was literally cut off."
I shuddered on the fact of mutilation. Last thing I need is gore added to this scary adventure. Anyway, Ginger rang the doorbell then stood there calmly with the rest of us. A moment later the butler answered. He dressed traditional uniform attire of a tuxedo that contrasted with his weathered face framed by long, scraggly hair and beard. His fingernails were practically yellowed almost talon-like.
"Hello Spalding, long times no see." She said happily.
Spalding stared at us for a moment, and then nodded allowing us in. We enter the kitchen passing the butchers table as Spalding led the group to the main room, the ancestry room. You be surprise in how white the house is set, setting a stages of light. From white wall, white wood, white tiling, while hints of expensive dark woods trimmed the scenery. Practically where you look is a new vantage point, from large crystal chandeliers, heavy French furniture, and the accessories here and there. But what captures my attention is the grand staircase, a single run dividing into two, almost representing angel wings.
We enter the centery room, filled with oil painting of Supremes throughout the centuries in the New World. Spalding bowed his head leaving us in the room. Alice and Jasper were amazed in how titanic, if not mystifying this place was.
"Wow," Alice said. "Such a lovely place."
"Thank you," A woman said walking into the ancestry room. "I'm sure Spalding appreciates the compliment. I'm Cordelia Foxx, headmistress."
Cordelia Foxx nee Goode, daughter of the Supreme Fiona Goode. She was in her late twenties with blonde hair and brown eyes wearing black slacks, and a black and white printed blouse. She held a calm nurturing atmosphere around her… opposite from her mother.
Ginger walked over to her giving Cordelia a hug. Cordelia hugged back with a smile to her once pupil.
"Long time no see," Ginger Said.
"If only the circumstances were different." Cordelia said.
"Yeah," Ginger said, pulling back rubbing her neck. "Oh, I would like you to meet my friends. Cordelia, this is Eleanor Rivers, my coven sister in Forks."
"Hello," I said.
"Hello, I've heard great tales of your family. I'm sorry for your loss," Cordelia said, referring to my grandfather.
"Thank you, it's truly appreciated." I replied back.
"And Alice and her boyfriend Jasper," Ginger continued.
"The Cold Ones," Cordelia noted. "Zelena informed me about you two arriving."
Alice nodded while keeping a strong hand over Jasper's arm. He seemed a bit tensed with the amount of energy the households. Either the previous emotions from the past of the fragrance of humans with a lot of emotions.
"You are welcome here, I had Spalding filled the fridge with animal blood if it may help. New Orleans right now is at a cross-fire in the French Quarter. Let alone the bayous are in a spiritual festival." She added. "Please sit, relax, and enjoy yourselves."
.o0o.
The rest of the evening was spent in our rooms resting and cleaning up. Jasper and Alice shared one chamber while Ginger and I shared another. Three days in a car is not comfortable, only making pit stops to eat, bathrooms, and hotels for five hour of sleeps. I took a long bath before changing into comfortable clothes staring out the lace curtain windows to watch people prepare for the festival or party. I chuckled at the miraculous costumes or accessories people wore to have a good time. Back home in Salem it's a serious manifestation of elegant and class. Here in Salem tis fun and creativity.
How opposite these two magical cities are in the United States. Then again Salem is run by the majority of Castor/Traditional while New Orleans is run by the Spiritual Ancestry. Like I said in the beginning, Castors society is spread out.
"Out of curiosity, why are you witches different from those we met?" Jasper asked.
Cordelia looked up, after pour three cups of tea. "Why we differentiate from the witches in the French Quarters?"
"Yes," Alice spoke up. "I've crossed paths with one, but she used talismans, books, and chanted her spells." She then looked at me. "But Eleanor you did something to the baseball without chanting a spell."
I chuckled rubbing my neck from that game, "Well, we Salem Casters come from minority group in Europe that gets out powers from the fifth element. While the majority of casters get their powers from the elements and spiritual energy, we get out powers from our personal energy and true magic."
"What do you mean?" Ginger asked.
"Casters is our breed, our species as Traditional are humans gifted with the power to affect change by supernatural and paranormal means." Cordelia explained. "Unlike our counterparts who are more connected to the earth and The Other Side, a dimension where we all go when we die. We have limits, our magical abilities that express our powers in of the seven wonders or other gifts, with spell books of course. Including a long life-span depending if we decide to use it or not."
"So we don't experience physical trauma or energy drainage." I added. "Of course abusing certain spells reduces our aging."
"Of course another group of Casters who go by the name in general similar to our kind, but with one's ability decides their fate of being dark or light Casters. At a coming of age, they decide if they want their magic to be dark or light. Although once they decide there is no turning back." Cordelia included.
"And there are the Travelers." I finished off. "They are the smallest group of casters who wander around. Their magic is pure magic from the fifth element. Yet they can only perform their magic when in a group, or passaging."
"Passaging?" Jasper asked.
"To transfers ones souls into a host." Cordelia answered. "Henceforth their name, they are considering the oldest breed of magical humans than any of us."
"Why," Ginger said. "I've never thought the Caster society is that big?"
"Well, if there two types of Vampires you know, then you be surprise how every supernatural being has their own ethnic groups. We just apparently have the most." I said.
"Anyway, New Orleans is a melting pot of Witches and Vampires. But as long as we Salem Witches don't break the truce then no problem of Marcel Coven and the Salem Coven."
Everyone nodded when a sound of a ringtone erupt the room. Alice and Jasper didn't check if it were their phones, and mine and Gingers were off, so all eyes were on Cordelia. She pulls out her cellphone checking the screen. "Forgive me, but my husband Hank is contacting me."
She then got up and left to answer her calls. I sat there watching Jasper and Alice closesly. They both sat on the blush couch, keeping close though Jasper seemed to be less tense than he is at school. Ginger at on the chair, legs tuck together while fighting, unable to remain still.
"Why hasn't he called yet?" Ginger asked.
"It just means that they don't have anything to tell us." Alice assured.
"We don't know that." Ginger muttered. "Something could've happen to them-"
"Our family is strong. Our only fear is losing you." Jasper said, staring at her calmly.
"But…what if-"
"How long do you think Edward's been alone?" Alice asked. "It's been almost a century. Now he's found you. You can't see the changes that we see, we who have been with him for so long. Do you think any of us want to look into his eyes for the next hundred years if he loses you?"
I sighed getting up heading to my room. As much as I care for Ginger, I just have a hard time grasping the relationship between her and Edward. Growing up I've been told it's too dangerous to affiliate with supernatural creatures that are consider a threat to us and humanity. Even though Edward and his family were once human, their species of vampires are dangerous. In fact all vampires are dangerous.
And all men are dangerous.
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Sorry for the long wait. Been busy with classes and such.
Thanks for reading and please review!