Cody and Bailey spent the rest of the day finding bolt cutters, a screw driver and browse through shops and soak up the culture of the Big Easy or as the locals would sometimes call it, Nawlins or Nola. For anyone who was in New Orleans, they would know that they had to eat Cajun food and maybe go on a tour or two. The best way to let New Orleans get inside of your soul was to visit voodoo shops, vampire boutiques, take a swamp tour or any night tour that included the subjects of vampires, ghosts, and cemeteries. And no one's visit to the Jazz capital of the country and possibly the world unless you could hear Jazz music from every corner and crack of the French Quarter and eat po-boys, gator meat, fried green tomatoes, beignets, pecan pralines, gumbo, jambalaya, and catfish. But as an extra experience, people may want to visit a fortune teller or go buy a mask and some beads. If visitors didn't do anything while during their stay then it would be a real shame because the city of New Orleans has more parties and festivals then there are days in a year. Fortunately for Cody and Bailey, they did the best they could to get the vibe of New Orleans.

In the afternoon, Cody and bailey had stopped by Johnny's Po Boy's shop for lunch. They had to wait for about twenty minutes just make their orders since it was a popular sandwich place. When they got their po-boys, they got a spot at a counter with bar stools and got their sodas. Cody and Bailey both added a dash of hot sauce after their first bite. The po-boys were good by themselves but it didn't hurt to have a little kick to them. Cody happily ate his catfish po-boy while Bailey savored her shrimp po-boy. When they were done with a satisfying lunch, they walked around and ended up in a vampire boutique.

Cody browsed in the back and saw a painting of a vampire sucking blood from his lover/victim. The vampire was sucking the blood from a woman who was naked but the viewer could only see her back and she sat on the vampire's naked lap. It seemed to Cody that the woman in the painting seemed to have been exhibiting two varying emotions at the same time: love and obligation. Cody thought that maybe that's how Bailey felt about him being a werewolf. She must have felt obligated to please him so her neighbor's lives could be speared, but at the same she might have been aroused by his werewolf characteristics and felt attraction toward him. Maybe that is where the love would have come in. Cody instinctively turned his head toward the front of the small store and saw Bailey talking a man who he guessed was the own. The man was not much older than he and Bailey. He must have been at least in his early twenties. Cody watched the man talk with Bailey. It seemed harmless enough. It was clear to Cody that Bailey was asking about the items in the boutique and the owner seemed to be answering her questions….somewhat. He appeared to be leaning close to her. Was he coming onto her? Did she notice? Cody shook his head. Of course Bailey wouldn't notice subtle hints of flirtation because she's trusting of everyone she meets. But the owner was getting a little close for comfort to Bailey. Cody gripped onto the nearest object and squeezed his fist around it. His blood was boiling as strange man was preying on Bailey. He bared his teeth and began to huff. His eyes weren't red but he saw the color of blood. Cody's knuckles were turning white and he bit his lip hard. Cody remembered about the potion and settled down for the most part. He then walked over to Bailey as calm as possible and came in the way of the man and her. Bailey was looking at a snow globe with a head stone and bat in it and then turned to Cody.

"Look, Cody! It's a snow globe with a headstone and a bat. I love snow globes, you know."

Cody glanced over at the owner and kept his eyes on him. He then protectively wrapped an arm around Bailey's shoulder and leaned over to see the snow globe.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I have one back at home that has a twister in it with a truck and cow flying over the house. It's so cute and funny."

"That's nice."

"Do you think I should get it?"
"That's up to you."

"Maybe not. I'm sure I'll run into other snow globes. Besides, cemetery stuff isn't really my thing. But I do want a souvenir to remind myself of our time together here."

"Then tell me what you want when we go somewhere and I'll get for you. That way, it'll be extra special because then you'll know that I got it for you."

"Are you sure, Cody?"

"I'm sure. Now, may we go somewhere else? Suddenly, I'm beginning to feel all depressed being in here."

"Sure thing, Cody. I wouldn't want make you stay in a place you didn't like. I'm starting to get a weird vibe myself. We can somewhere else. Plus, we need to find you some bolt cutters and a screw driver."

"Thank you."

Cody slides his hand down from Bailey's shoulder to her waist as they exit the boutique. He glances back at the owner who is scowling and Cody smirks at him. He turns his head back toward Bailey and walks down the sidewalk

As they walk down the streets of the French Quarter, Cody and Bailey look out for a hardware store. They stumble upon one in a small corner and go inside. To their luck, Cody and Bailey find both bolt cutter and a few screwdrivers in a short amount of time. Cody pays for the items and then he and Bailey leave the store. Afterwards, they spend some extra time seeing the sights and listening to Jazz music wherever they go. And if it's not Jazz music, then it's Country and Gospel music. Cody and Bailey did a tour and snacked on Pecan Pralines. At some point during the day, they found a souvenir shop in the French Quarter and Cody got Bailey a beaded necklace. Bailey secretly got Cody a New Orleans t-shirt. When they left the shop, they got an early dinner at Hard Rock Café. Afterwards, they had an after-dinner treat of iced café au laits and an order of three beignets at the replica Café Du Monde. Cody and Bailey each had a whole beignet and shared the third one. When they were done, Bailey noticed that Cody had some powder stuck to the right upper corner of his mouth. She giggled at him and then wiped off the powder with a brown napkin from a dispenser that had the menu stuck on its sides. Cody thanked Bailey and left the café with their iced café au laits in hand and walked back to the hotel. On their way back to the hotel, they walked past by a deli and fresh meat was in the display window. Cody caught of the sight of meat and stared at it for some time. Bailey wondered if the potion was wearing off. She knew that she had to look out for certain signs and this one of those moments. Bailey turned Cody's head away from the display window and he forgot about the meat.

"You don't want the meat, Cody. Do you?"

"No. Thank for pulling me in."

"Sure thing. I think that the curse will be lifted as long as I keep a close on you."
"Shouldn't have the potion gone into full effect by now?"

"I don't know. What time is it?"

Bailey pulled out her cell phone and checked the time.

"It's eight o'clock."

"Time surely flew by."

"Yep."

"It's been well over eight hours so I should be fine, right?"

"Well, not exactly. The potion might have settled in by now, but the old woman said in her own way that we won't completely know until tomorrow morning. If you show no other signs of being a werewolf between now and the next morning then you will have been cured of your curse. Then you and I will part ways…."

"I suppose so."

"Let's get back to the hotel before it gets too cold and dark."

Cody automatically took Bailey's hand and led her back to the hotel room within ten minutes. As soon as they were back in the comfort and safety of their hotel room, Bailey dropped her bag on the ground and Cody flopped on the bed. He took off his shoes and socks and then curled up to rest. Bailey took her shoes off as well and took out the screwdrivers and bolt cutters out of the bag. She brought the tools over to the bed and asked Cody to sit up so she could get the collar and bracelet off him. He grumbled but got up in a sitting position. Bailey tried different screwdrivers until one head was the right fit for the screws in the bracelet. Bailey carefully unscrewed the screws and after some patience, the bracelet fell of Cody's wrist. A smile curled up on Cody's face, but Bailey didn't want him to celebrate just yet.

"Don't get your hopes up just yet, Cody. I still need to get the collar off of your neck."

"I know, but I'm just so happy. Do you know how it feels to have some weight taken off of my body?"

"I'm sure you were in pain and discomfort. Now, please, sit still so I can get the shock collar off."

"Okay."

Cody sat still and didn't move another inch. Bailey positioned her body close to Cody's so that she could get a good angle of cutting off the shock collar. She was extremely careful with the bolt cutters as she found a spot to cut. With the blades rubbing against the metal collar, friction was created. Bailey pushed the blades with all her might and finally broke the shock collar in half. The piece of metal fell from around Cody's neck to the floor. Bailey heaved in a few heavy breaths and then placed the bolt cutter on the floor far away from the bed. She brushed her hands together and then dropped them at her sides as she sat down on the bed next to Cody.

"So, how do you feel?"

"I feel great. Not only did you free me of the collar and bracelet, but you also freed me of my curse."

"Well, you're a nice guy, Cody. You deserve to have a nice life. But I'm not quite sure about the curse. Let yourself rest for the night and then see how you feel by tomorrow. If you have no urges to eat humans or drink blood or whatever you feel then you can safely assume that you've been cured."

"You're right, Bailey. But thanks a bunch for helping me even it meant putting your life in danger or giving up your innocence as a teenager."

"You're welcome, Cody. I didn't mind helping you out. I know that if I was in your situation that I would want someone's help as well. And if I was the werewolf and I found you then you would have helped me, right?"

"Of course I would."

"That comforts me to know that."

"I'm glad to hear that, Bailey."

The conversation had died down. Both Cody and Bailey were trying thinking of something to keep the conversation going but nothing came to mind. Bailey wanted to make the night last with Cody because she knew that he would no longer need her help and that they were to return to their separate homes; hers in Kansas and his in Massachusetts. Bailey then thought of how she and Cody had shared some information about each other their families. Suddenly, Bailey got an idea for a conversation. She grinned at Cody.

"Hey, Cody."

"Yeah, Bailey?"

"You know how talked about your mom being a singer?"

"Yeah."

"Well, is it possible that you inherited her singing ability?"

"I did inherit her singing ability."

"Really? Could you sing a song to me?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I don't think that I'm as good as I used to be."

"Why? You think you only have a good singing voice for the shower?"

"No. It's not that. It's just that I feel self-conscious with the idea of singing in front of you."

"I'm not going to judge you, Cody. I just want to hear you sing."

"Why?"

"To pass the time."

"Oh…..Alright. I'll sing."

"Great! What will you sing for me?"

"I don't know….Maybe a song from The Phantom of the Opera. You know….because I was the Phantom on Halloween night."

"I know…."

"Um. Let's see…I know! I'll sing The Music of the Night."

Cody clears his throat and does a few vocal excises. Then he takes a deep breath and stares into Bailey's eyes.

"Now I'm ready. Are you ready?"

Bailey turns her body toward Cody's and scoots a little close to him.

"Now I'm ready."

"Okay then."

Bailey waits for Cody to begin singing the song. There's a pause and then Cody lets out his singing voice. Bailey could already tell that he had a nice singing voice and it was smooth yet somewhat masculine. But it wasn't rough or gruffy, it was just so. His voice is slow and steady but soft as well.

Night time sharpens…

Heightens each sensation…

Darkness stirs…

And wakes imagination…

Silently the senses…

Abandon their defenses…

As Cody sings, he is literally moved by the music. He scoots close to Bailey so that their knees are touching each other. He holds an intense stare on Bailey's face.

Slowly, gently…

Night unfurls its splendor…

Grasp it, sense it

Tremulous and tender…

Turn your face away from the garish light of day…

Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light and listen to…

The music of the night…

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams…

Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before…

Close your eyes, let your spirit start to…

Soar….!

And you'll live as you never lived before…

Cody lifts his right hand up and brings it up to Bailey's cheek. His thumb continuously slowly rubs across her cheek as he sings.

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you…

Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you…

As on cue, Cody uses the backside of his fingers and brushes the tips against Bailey's cheek and near her ear slowly, seductively. He caresses her twice: once with his hand and once with song he sings to her. Bailey can feel herself shiver. Her spine tingles and her skin becomes taut.

Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind

In the darkness that you know you cannot fight the darkness of

The music of the night…

Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world

Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before…

Let your soul take you where you long to be…..!

Only then can you belong to me

Cody leans his head close to Bailey's but keeps a small distance between his and Bailey's noses. His breath tickles her face.

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication

Cody has his left hand join his right one and gently captures Bailey's face in his palms.

Touch me, trust me

Savor each sensation

As Cody sings the next lines, he glides his hands down Bailey's neck and purposely breaths down her neck until his hands stop at the edge of her shoulders.

Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in

Cody gently pushes Bailey down on the bed and her arms fall on either side of her head. She is too entranced to fight back. Even if she had full control of her body and conscious, she wouldn't want to fight him. Cody runs his hands up her arms and then laces his fingers with hers.

To the power of the music that I write

The power of…

The music of the night…

Cody pauses. He stares at Bailey's brown eyes. He leans his head closer to hers almost close enough to kiss her but he does not place his lips on hers. He slides his hand down Bailey's body and takes off her shirt and throws it down. He follows the action by taking off his own shirt and tosses it aside. He then traces the contour lines of her abdomen with his hands and then brings them back up to her arms and locks hands with her again. His thumbs go back and forth against Bailey's hands as he holds them.

You alone can make my song take flight….

Help me make…

The music of the…

Night…

Cody finally finishes his song. Aside from the soft whisper of the wind from outside, everything else is silent. Cody and Bailey breathe in sync. In and out. Cody inhales and Bailey exhales. Cody vanquishes the accursed gap between their lips. After a sweet and short moment of pink and red lips meshing, Cody briefly pulls away.

"So, what did you think?"

"Romantic yet beautifully haunting music turns me on."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Kiss me."

Cody then understood what Bailey was feeling. Without hesitation, he returned his lips to their rightful home. Bailey eagerly invited Cody to push his tongue in her mouth and he cordially accepted the invitation. Cody and Bailey both had their finger interact with each other as their hands remained clasped together. Bare skin danced among its own kind. Cody and Bailey undulated their abdominals together and gradually increased their speed to gain momentum and produce heat. Cody's bare chest pressed against Bailey's breasts that were bound underneath the bra. Their bodies were hungry yet their conscious were acting as police officer enforcing the law preventing them from fulfilling their deepest desire. Cody and Bailey slow down and then altogether stop what they are doing. They pull away from one another's lips which make them quiver. Then they untangle their hands, regrettably. But they do not bother to move their bodies away. Cody insists that he stay right where he is on top of Bailey. He does not want to leave her for fear of losing a piece of his life to the deep underworld that is looked after Hades. He does not relinquish any part of his soul to any God of any culture and religion. He only wants to share it with Bailey. Cody knew that he loved Bailey and he also knew that love was many things. He knew that at the moment his love was greedy but he didn't care. He usually was against acting greedy but if there was one thing he'd rather keep to himself was Bailey's love even if it was the two of them. He was even suspicious of empty space. After some thought, Cody returned back to the situation at hand and gazed in Bailey's beautiful brown eyes, those perfect orbs of wisdom and kindness. Cody had let out a hot breath.

"Bailey?"

"Yes, Cody?"

"I love you and I really mean it. I'm saying now because I know we won't see each other for a long while."

"I love you too."

"Did you hear me correctly, Bailey? I really do mean that with all my heart and soul, I love you even though we haven't been on a date yet."

"I know. I meant what I said too."

"You did?"

"Yeah."

"But how?"

"After all we've been through; I can't help but let you know exactly how I feel without leaving out anything. It might be a little confusing considering of words we have exchange with each other but this is the plain truth."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then what's the point of waiting for a date?"

"Just in case we might have not realized who we really fell in love with, but I highly doubt that will a problem."

"Then why…?"

"It's just a formality, Cody. We most likely won't see each other for a while. Plus, we can start off fresh with the date. You know, get to know each other through a different lens."
"So, will this night be null and void after tomorrow morning comes?"

"No. We'll just let time and physical space divide us temporarily. Just think of our date as if we had known each other from past lives and our souls reconnect."

"Oh. I get it now."
"Great. So, do you want to go to sleep?"

"May as well. We have to catch early trains."

"Okay. So, could you find the strength to roll off of me? I kind of have to move toward the pillows."
Cody groaned.

"Don't worry, Cody. It won't be that bad. I promise that our bodies won't be separated by each other long."

"Fine."

Cody rolled off of Bailey's body and picked up both his and her shirts. He gave Bailey her shirt and threw on his own. Bailey then had put her shirt back on. The two of them quickly got underneath the sheets of the bed. Cody wraps his arms around Bailey from behind. Bailey digs her backside against Cody's front side.

"Cody?"

"Yeah, Bailey?"

"I was just wondering about something."

"What's that?"

"How are we going to keep in contact with each other before we part ways?"

"We'll swap contact information which will include phone numbers, e-mail addresses and home addresses."

"Okay. I guess that will work."

"It will."

"Huh."

"What?"

"We have one more day."

"Oh. Yes, we do. "

Cody solemnly rested his chin on Bailey's shoulder and added to his reply.

"One more day."

Bailey reaches over to the lamp and turns out the light. Everything goes dark.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Life has recently got in the way and as of late the creativity juices have not been running properly in my brain. XD