Chapter One: Hello, New Orleans
Kol is driving down a freeway surrounded by several cars. He is on his way to Denver, per his older brother's command, but part of him is using this trip to put as many miles between him and his family as possible. He tilts his head back, relishing the wind flowing through the locks of his hair. A green sign catches his eyes, and a smile dances on his lips when he sees New Orleans in white letters. Seeing the city's name sparks a flame of curiosity, and it has him following the signs until he reaches the exit he needs to take. This makes him frown as it reminds him of all the years that he has missed, and he loves the whole sign system the world has created because it beats having to look at a map to guide the way.
The drive to New Orleans is a long one, and the sun is going down when he breaches the city limits. This little random stop of his will put a small dent in his drive to Denver, but he doesn't care. He is certain that Denver isn't going anywhere any time soon, so he will get to Denver when he gets there. Taking a little time for himself isn't going to hurt anyone or anything. It will probably piss Nik off, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. He's never been one to follow directions, and he loves breaking the rules. Excitement fills him at the thought of getting out of this damn car for a bit and having some fun. Besides, New Orleans was once their home, and he wants to see what happened to the city.
Kol's eyes widen in surprise as the new sights of the city greet him as he drives over a long bridge. Buildings several stories tall litter the skyline with lights casting a glow on the surface of the river he is crossing over. It's a beautiful sight to see with the sky painted with different shades of pinks, oranges, reds, and yellows as fading rays of light wash over the sky. The new features of his former home make him thirsty to see more.
Kol cruises through the streets, amazed to see the city thriving with life on every corner. Electric cars travel from one stop to the next emptying strings of people onto the already crowded sidewalks. His strong sense of smell allows him to pick up the spicy notes of food filling the air, and the sound of beautifully played jazz music floods his ears. The glow of neon lights makes the streets look magical, and the sight battles the sunset he had witnessed on his drive into town. The past decades have been kind to New Orleans, allowing it to grow even more beautiful from what he remembers. And he loves it!
He finds a place to stay that skates on the edge of the French Quarter. It's not the grandest of all places, but it looked to be a quiet place. He isn't looking for anything to fancy. Fancy might be his sibling's style, but not so much his. Sure, fancy is nice, but it's not something he always has to have, but then again, he doesn't really know what his own style is as he really hasn't had a chance to explore it on his own. The outside was old washed bricks, two stories, blue shutters, and a balcony with a series of french doors. The old man at the front desk looks like a delicious bite to eat, but he greets Kol with such a warm and friendly welcome that the vampire decides to skip him. The deep wrinkles on his face tell Kol that he has a few short years to live, and Kol wants him to see each one. Plus, he doesn't get off on feeding on elderly people. Young people full of life are fine but will leave the older people alone. Small children are also a big no for him as well. The thought of feeding on a child disgusts him to no end.
"Thanks," Kol says, returning the warm smile he is receiving from the man, glancing at the name tag sitting on his shoulder, "Roger, is it?"
"Yes, sir," Rogers answers in a strong New Orleanian accent.
"Where is my room again?"
"Take the stairs to the second floor, and your room is the third door on the right," he says, pointing in the directions he needs to go.
Kol nods gently at the old soul and picks up his small bag of belongings. He follows the long hall to the end, where the stairs lead him to the third door on the right. But the journey into the room is not an easy one because it takes him a minute to figure out the key card system. He fights with the lock with several swipes and is ready to kick the door down when the tiny red light flicks green. He shakes his head and pushes the door open.
All his frustration fades at the sight of the large bed in the middle of the room. He tosses his bag onto a chair in the corner and flops down face-first onto the mattress. The vampire lets out a long moan as he falls in love for the first time in his life… with a mattress. It's soft. So soft. It beats anything he slept in before, including the ones where he stayed with his siblings in the past. He wants to crawl up the bed and bury his face in the pillows to take a quick trip to dreamland. He opens his heavy eyes and sees the door to the bathroom, and suddenly his entire body feels dirty and sticky. The feeling needs to be gone. Kol forces himself off the bed, throwing his clothes down, not caring where they land, as he disappears into the bathroom for a nice hot shower.
Later, Kol is making his way down a sidewalk, walking deeper into the French Quarter. The view from the car is something, but the view from this vantage point is much more exciting. There is music playing that is neverending, mixing in the middle of the street to fill a person's soul with so much joy. There is some kind of festival in full swing, and people are dancing in the middle of the street. Each person is moving to the rhythms of the music in their own way. He leans up against a wall, watching a group of people dancing in a way that is very interesting but not interesting enough for him. It is beginning to make his stomach crawl as they seem to dance like mating rhinos.
The Original Vampire passes by several flirty and appreciative looks that look appealing enough to eat, but he wants to have a little bit of fun before this visit of his turns bloody. He sees a sign pointing to cheap bourbon at a bar named Rousseau's, and he follows the signs until he walks through the door of the very place.
The place is dimly lit but bursting at the seams with people lining up for a chance at the bar to order a drink. There is an empty chair at the end of the bar that seems to go unnoticed, so Kol helps himself to the seat. The moment he sits down, a young blond woman appears before him, tossing a coaster down in front of him.
"What can I get you?" she asks with a smile.
"Can I get one of your top-shelf bourbons?" he asks.
"We have many of those," she says, pointing a finger at the line of different colored glass bottles behind her. "Which one do you want?"
"Surprise me, I'm sure whichever you'll choose will be lovely."
"Are you sure you want me to pick for you? I might pick the worst one. I hate bourbon," she sighs, shuddering as if the memory of the taste triggered something unpleasant.
Kol clutches at his chest. "Darling, you wound me," he says, smirking at the woman, "Perhaps, you didn't have the right one. But come on, I'm in need of some fun, so I'll take my chances."
The blond raises an eyebrow at him, studying him for a moment before turning her eyes back to the bottles. She grabs a bottle of Knob and a frosty glass from underneath the bar. "I warned you," she says, placing the glass on the coaster and pouring him a glass. "Let me know if I pass."
Kol picks up the glass, knocking it back in one single go. Notes of sweet vanilla, buttery caramel, and maple syrup dance on his tongue. He smacks his lips as he enjoys the flavor very much. "Can I have another?"
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" she asks, pouring him another glass.
"I wouldn't be asking for another glass if it was a bad thing, Darling," he tells her smoothly. "The bourbon is good, so you made a great choice." The woman opens her mouth to speak as someone calls for her attention at the other end of the bar. She nods at someone before turning to him with an apologetic look on her face. "It's fine. I can see you're busy, and you can leave the bottle with me." The blond gives him a thankful smile and hurries off to help the next customer.
Much to his dismay, Kol feels his jacket pocket vibrating, leading him to fish his phone from its confines to see his older brother's name flashing on the screen. He stares at the name, wondering if he should answer his brother's call or not. Nik is most likely calling to keep tabs on him during his drive to Denver, making sure to remind him of his duties Niklaus expects from him and decides he doesn't want his brother's nasty temper to dampen his good mood. And that is enough for him to tap the reject button. He slips the annoying electronic device back into his pocket and reaches for the bottle of bourbon, filling his glass to the top.
Feeling a bit bored, Kol turns around in his heat, his drink in his hand, looking around the place to find some entertainment. He doesn't see anything in the crowd that catches his eye. There is a girl on the stage with a microphone in her hand, singing the words that come across the screen in front of her, sounding like a cat in heat. He winces as she reaches a high note and turns around, trying to tune her out. His eyes find the woman who served him his drink, talking to someone in front of her. The conversation seems to be light, causing her to laugh at something. It's not much, but he will take it over the hell behind him. He takes a deep sip of his drink, hoping it will do something to soothe his aching ears, looking over when a flash of movement catches his eye, and the bourbon on his tongue loses its flavor when his sight lands on the person, a girl, in front of the blonde woman.
The young girl has rivers of deep brown locks flowing over her shoulders like silk. She smiles at the person in front of her, and he feels like he is looking at a candle in the darkest night. He doesn't know what is happening, but his lungs feel like they have been starved of oxygen. Kol tries to pull his eyes away and return to his lovely drink, but he can't look away. She is beautiful. So, fucking beautiful. There is no one in his past, not that he has much of one, that can hold the slightest flame to the amount of beauty she possesses. He knows that it's impolite to stare, but he doesn't care. He will stare as long as he wants to, and there is nothing anyone can do about it, nor is it harming anyone.
The girl must sense she is being watched as she looks around until her eyes lock on him. Kol knows that he has been caught red-handed, nor is he ashamed to admit it. He doesn't even need light or to be in front of her to know that her eyes are blue. Something in him makes him want to go over to her to see just how blue they are, but he knows that they will be beautiful. Everything about her is beautiful. She gives him a shy smile, and he tilts his glass in her direction, causing her to quickly look away.
The feeling of being watched slices through the moment, and Kol reaches for his wallet. He places a couple of bills under the glass that is enough to cover his drink and a nice tip for the wonderful service provided by the fun bartender and gets out of his seat, making his way out of the bar. He walks down the sidewalk, moving in and around the people who get in his way, wanting nothing more than to get away from the eyes on his back. He sees the dancers from before and walks over to them, sliding a girl with black hair who is dancing by herself.
Kol inches up to her, and she stumbles a little, spilling the drink in her hand. He reaches out to catch her arm to steady her. The girl looks at him through glassy eyes and smiles at him. "Thanks."
Kol shuffles closer to her, looking deeply into her eyes. "Dance with me," he says silkily, willing his compulsion into her mind. She grins at him as she throws her arms around his neck, pulling him to her, and he buries his face into her neck, trying to blend in with the crowd. His nose hits her jugular vein, and he kisses it, feeling her faint pulse thumping against his lips. The feeling makes his mouth water as his bloodlust triggers a hunger that needs to be soothed the right way. He pulls back, closing his eyes to control himself, and he feels a hand threading her fingers through his.
"You are so hot," she slurs, spraying his face with her alcohol-laced breath.
"I know," he says, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
"Cocky too."
"Shh," he whispers, feeling the burning sensation in his teeth, so strong that it's a dull ache that he needs to get rid of. "Follow me," he tells her, pulling on her hand and guiding her through the crowd until he spots an alley off to his right. He grins to himself as it looks like it will do the job of offering a nice bit of privacy to enjoy his treat of the night.
Kol moves until she is standing in front of him, placing his hands on her shoulders, pushing her back until she is flushed against a brick wall. Excitement runs through him as he looks into her eyes and feels the tugging of his compulsion spring to life. "Don't scream," he tells her in a low voice.
The girl relaxes against the bricks as her eyes turn even glassier, causing her to look a bit dazed. Kol leans forward, keeping his eyes on hers before dropping his face into the crook of her neck. He runs the tip of his nose along her skin, causing her breath to pick up and goosebumps to rise from his touch. He presses small kisses as the burning in his teeth spreads to his throat like a searing fire, and he feels the tips of his fangs on his lips. He takes a deep breath and quickly sinks his teeth into her skin, and is awarded the wonderful flavor of her AB blood on his tongue. It's so delicious that he feels his control quickly slipping away from him, but he fights hard against it, not wanting to drain her completely. He doesn't feel like getting rid of a body tonight, but he will enjoy every drop.
And boy, Kol does, biting softly into her flesh to control the flow, loving the way her blood coats his tongue. His meal is going great until the girl jumps at the sound of a scream echoing in the alley, making his fangs sink deeper in her vein, causing the blood to flow into his mouth like a rapid. Telling him his bite went too deep and deep enough to be dangerous to her life. He forces himself to pull back, breathing harshly through his nose to keep his bloodlust at bay, so he doesn't drain her completely dry.
Kol searches the girl's face for any sign to tell him that the scream came from her but finds nothing as the girl is nearing the state of unconsciousness. The sound of struggling catches his attention, causing him to look around the alley, and something tells him that he needs to investigate this since someone had been following him moments before his delightful dinner. And to be honest, he is kind of annoyed that his moment of peace is being disturbed. Sighing, Kol pulls his long sleeve back, bearing his wrist to bite quickly. He lifts the girl's head, pressing the open wrist to her mouth, allowing his blood to do its magical healing. This is one thing he loves about being a vampire, healing living things with his blood. It's the closest thing to him performing any kind of magic since his death so many centuries ago.
The girl springs to life, gasping for air as he pulls back his wrist. The vampire tilts his head, connecting his eye with hers. "You are going to forget this moment in your life and go to wherever it is you're staying and sleep until sunset tomorrow," he says, compelling her to do exactly as he tells her. She blinks and scurries out of the alley when he lets her go.
More sounds of struggling fill the air, followed by a scream of pain. Kol listens to the sound, trying to pinpoint where it is coming from, and starts heading in that direction, ready to turn the alley back to its peaceful state. There is one thing that he picks up as he walks deeper into the alley, a feeling he knows very well. A feeling that he himself is used to creating. Fear.
Music.
Dancing.
Food.
People.
This is everything that Davina is watching from a window several stories above the street. She leans her forehead against the glass, welcoming the coolness it offers to her skin. It's the closest thing to fresh air she has felt in several weeks. She wishes that she could go down and enjoy everything she is watching. But she can't. So, she will have to settle with watching other people live their life to the fullest while she is stuck in the St. Anne Church attic that is filled with decades of cobwebs.
Unable to watch anymore, Davina pulls herself away from the scene and grabs her sketchbook from the table beside her, and sits in a chair next to the window. She opens her sketchbook, flipping through the pages of her work, some of them unfinished, until she finds a blank page. She stares at it, trying to think of something to draw to take her mind off the Dance Festive just outside the walls of this church.
She lifts her eyes from her book, looking around the attic. It's everything a person would expect a church attic to be. A small room surrounded by four walls with enough space for forgotten pieces of junk that have little to no meaning. Little pieces of junk that eat up what little space this room has, making it feel even smaller, leaving barely enough room to move around without tripping over something. An act that she has committed many times, leaving healing scabs on her knees.
Scabs that don't feel like scratches, but chains wrapped tightly around her wrists, making her feel like she is trapped. Davina knows that she is lucky to have a place to live. Someplace that she can call home, but this room feels more like a prison than a home. But then again, she doesn't know what a home feels like because she has never had one.
Davina plucks a pencil from a cup and trails the tip over the paper, creating random lines and circles as she thinks of something else to draw. This is usually her go-to method when she is trying to figure out the answer to her question, but this time it relaxes her mind, and her eyes slowly close.
The moment her eyes drift shut, Davina feels the heat of fire, hears the sounds of screaming crying girls, sees blood staining white clothes, smelling the scent of copper in the air.
A burning sensation fills her body, making her feel so hot that she can barely breathe. It centers around the middle of her neck, growing hotter by the second until it's almost scorching as if someone is licking her skin with the tip of a flame.
Davina jumps awake, breathing harshly as she clutches her neck. Her neck is burning hot against her hand, feeling something rough under her fingertips. She scrambles out of her chair and over to the mirror, pulling her hand away once her reflection is staring back at her and seeing a long mark scarring her flesh. Davina rubs her neck gently, wanting the pain to go away, and just like that, it disappears along with the burn mark, leaving her neck to look completely normal.
Images of her dream spark a flash of memories, bringing her back to a night that changed her life forever. A night that belongs only in horror stories. A night she wishes she has never witnessed. A night she wishes she could wipe away from her memory, but she can't because the night will always be a scar. And it changed her life forever, leading her to stay in this room.
She can't get the coppery scent of blood to go away. It lingers strongly in the air as if someone has bled all over the attic floor. Davina swallows harshly, battling the rolling of her stomach. Screams of her friends pierce the walls like sharp nails. The small place makes them sound louder in her ears. She slaps her hands over her ears, trying to get the sound to go away. Davina falls to her knees, tears stinging her eyes, and it becomes harder to breathe as her chest tightens as her memories play on a cruel loop.
The wanting of getting out of the room grows into a small seed of need, and it grows until the need is suffocating. Davina forces herself to her feet, wiping the tears away from her cheeks, and grabs the first clothes she can find. A green flowy top with a purple floral pattern, a dark pair of skinny jeans, and a pair of black ankle boots. She makes herself take in deep breaths, trying to get rid of the tightness in her chest while she searches for her wallet, which she finds next to her bed, grabs her phone, and makes her way down into the church.
The sanctuary is dark as she walks through the aisle of pews, and she hears someone enter through the front doors, making her stop in her tracks. Her sense of alarm grows, and she places her hand in front of her, ready to blast the newcomer if she needs to.
"Who's there?" she calls out to them.
"It's just me, Josh."
Davina keeps her hand in place to be safe as she listens as the footsteps grow louder until Josh turns the corner.
Davina keeps her hand in place to be safe as she listens to the footsteps growing louder until Josh turns the corner. "Oh," she says, dropping her as Josh walks to her. "What are you doing here?" she asks,
"Came to check on you," Josh answers, sweeping her frame with his eyes. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm starving," she says quickly. She doesn't know where that came from because her words flew out of her mouth before she could think of something else to say. And food is the last thing she wants, but if this will get her out of the room for even ten minutes to walk to and from the place of her choice, this is the route she is going to take. "I'm going to get something to eat."
Josh shakes his head at her. "You know that is not an option, Davina," he reminds her gently. "It's not safe for you to leave the church. Marcel told me earlier he's going to bring you something later."
Davina rolls her eyes at Josh's response, pointing a finger towards the church's exit. "Have you seen it out there?" she asks him, "the last time the city was in party mode, Marcel forgot to bring me anything because he was too busy trying to keep the city under control. Remember?" she asks him, raising an eyebrow at him. "It was just last weekend."
"Marcel felt bad for days, " Josh says, walking closer to her. "He brought you ice cream every day to make up for it too."
Davina couldn't keep the smile off her face. "Yeah, he did do that," she says, thinking about the past week, but it does nothing to squash the need she is currently feeling. "I just need ten minutes out of this room. I will come right back."
Josh shakes his head again. "You know that is not an option, D. The streets are way too busy tonight, and someone might see you. What about drawing or painting? You know that relaxes you."
Davina nods her head. "Yeah, it relaxes me, but it does nothing for my hunger for food. I'll just go to Cami's. I can take the alleys all the way there and back. It will be fine."
Josh raises an eyebrow at her. "The alleys are out of the question. That's where the vampires get their fill of blood."
Davina crosses her arms. "I'm not completely defenseless, you know. I can drop a vampire if I need to. Besides, Rousseau's is just around the corner.
Josh lets out a long-winded sigh. "If Marcel finds out I let you go, he will bleed me dry for days, Davina."
"Marcel doesn't have to find out, and he won't find out if I play my cards right."
Josh stares at her. "Marcel has ways of finding things out since he has eyes all around the Quarter. Someone can see you and rat you out before you even get a bite to eat."
Davina closes her eyes, counting to three to regain her breath and fight for what she needs. "Josh, if you don't let me out right now, Marcel will be the least of your problems," she says through her teeth.
Josh narrows his eyes at her. "Did you just threaten me?" he asks her, "because that is not winning you any points with me, Davina."
Davina bites her lip, feeling prickling in her eyes. "Please," she pleads softly, "I don't want to hurt you, but I will break your neck if you don't get out of my way, Josh."
Josh frowns, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Is there something wrong?" he asks her, studying her face, "if there is, you need to tell me."
"Why do you think something is wrong?"
"You have never threatened me before," Josh says.
Davina shakes her head. "No, nothing is wrong. I'm just hungry, and it's making me feel a little lightheaded, is all," she says, hoping that he will believe and listen to her because she is feeling lightheaded, and it's not because of hunger. "I'll be quick."
"Fine, you can go," Josh says, stepping out of the way, "but you owe me."
Davina rushes forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Josh's neck. "Thank you, Josh," she whispers, feeling her eyes growing wet. "Thank you. I don't know how I'll make it up to you, but I will find a way," she adds as Josh pulls her deeper into his arms.
"You'll think of something," Josh says, pulling back from their hug. "Now, go before I change my mind. I'll warn you if I get word that Marcel is heading this way and promise you'll be careful," he tells her as she walks around him.
"I promise," she says over her shoulder, marching her way to the doors until she is standing on the front steps of the church. The feel of fresh air on her cheeks is a welcomed slap to the face. It feels so good to be outside for the first time in so long. She can't remember the last time she sat on these stairs in secret, hoping that Marcel wouldn't catch her taking a few precious moments for herself.
Music is flowing down the street like the currents of the Mississippi River, washing over the loud chatter of people. Davina hurries through the front gates and into the crowded sidewalk. She smiles as she passes a man with a trumpet, playing a jazzy tune she loves so much as the blue notes manage to lift her spirit. Chipping the tightness in her chest like an ice pick. She wants to stop so she can hear him play some more, but she can't since she is on borrowed time. Music is something else that she can no longer enjoy because Marcel says that it might draw unwanted attention since the church is supposed to be abandoned.
Davina jumps when two men start arguing, swearing loudly at each, leading one to push the other man down to the ground. The young witch picks up her pace, wanting to get away from the scene as far as possible because this is something that will draw Marcel's attention. He tells her that he fights to keep the peace in the Quarter, so it's safer for tourists to flourish on his streets. She turns a corner, and through the heavy streams of people, Davina sees Rousseau's signs hanging above the sea of heads, and soon the doors are in front of her. She pushes through them, crossing over the threshold, and a giant wave of relief washes over her, adding another crack to her loosening chest, and at the same time, Davina sort of regrets coming here as the place is packed with people.
To her surprise, Davina spots an open chair on the other side of the bar itself and makes her way to it, hoping it is still open by the time she reaches it and groans when she sees a sign saying that it's reserved.
"You can sit there, Davina."
Davina looks up to see Cami walking over to her with a cocktail shaker in her hand. "Are you sure?" she says, pointing to the sign. "It's taken."
"For you," Cami says, pouring the drink she is making into a martini glass and drops a stick of olives into the clear liquid.
"You knew I was coming?"
Cami smiles at her, placing the glass on the counter for the waiting customer. "That is some best friend you have gotten," she says, "Josh sent me a text, telling me that you were on your way here. So, when the seat opened up, I placed the sign so you would have somewhere to sit since I'm so busy tonight."
"Thanks," Davina says, touched by Cami's kindness, "you didn't have to do that."
"Luck seems to be on your side tonight," Cami says, pulling a glass from underneath the bar, filling it with ice. "You just missed Marcel. He was here a few minutes ago."
Davina feels her eyes grow wide at Marcel's name. "He is?" she asks, turning around in her seat to check the place for Marcel once again. "Where is he? Do I need to go out back?" she rambles, thinking of ways to get out of the bar as quickly as possible without getting caught.
"Relax, Davina," Cami laughs, setting a fresh glass of Dr. Pepper on the counter in front of her. "Was. I said he was Davina," she emphasizes, trying to calm the worried girl's mind. "He got a call and had to leave to deal with a situation."
"Oh," Davina says, placing a hand on her rapidly beating heart, taking a sip of her drink. "Sorry," she mutters, feeling embarrassed by her reaction.
Cami smiles at her, placing a hand on Davina's. "I told Josh to text me if anything changes, so you'll be fine. Now, do you want your favorite?"
"Basket of shrimp with extra hot sauce?"
"Our shrimp is always cooked in hot sauce. Do you really need more?" Cami asks, writing it down on her slip.
"Like I always say, the hotter, the better."
"Geez, you are much braver than I," Cami sighs, giving her a strange look. "How does your stomach survive?"
Davina laughs. "My stomach is used to it by now and is as addicted to spicy food as me," she points out.
"You are insane. I am going to give this to the cook, and I'll be back," Cami tells her and moves in closer to her. "It's gonna be okay, I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Davina mutters, sipping on her straw when Cami walks through the door to the kitchen with her order. She is hit by a strange feeling that sends goosebumps up her arms that has her looking around the bar to see if anything has changed since she has entered and her eyes land on a guy staring at her from the other side of the bar. The hair on her neck stands up since she doesn't recognize the man as she doesn't recall meeting him in any of her recent memories. Good or bad. So, why is he staring at her?
Davina doesn't know he's staring at her makes her feel, but she is certain that it makes her feel warm inside. If she had to describe it, Davina would go with curiosity and something else she can't quite name. As she studies his expression, it allows her to take in his facial features finding him appealing to her eye. Wisps of brown hair crowning his head. Strong jawline. Full lips that are slightly parted. Not wanting to be rude, Davina sends him a shy smile, and his expression turns playful as he tilts the glass in his hand at her, causing her to look away. Her cheeks are burning as she tries to figure out what to do next and when she looks up, the guy is gone.
Davina frowns, turning to see if she can see him somewhere in the bar and when she doesn't find him, she wonders if she had imagined the whole thing. She is still looking around for him when Cami returns with her food.
"Here you go," Cami says, placing the basket of steaming shrimp in front of her, holding up a bottle of hot sauce. "Will this do?"
"Hell yeah," Davina smiles, taking the bottle and splashing droplets of the red mixture all over her food. "It will do," she says, popping a shrimp into her mouth that melted like butter. "So good."
"I'll leave you to it," Cami laughs, seeing a person waving at her over to them and goes to take their drink order.
Davina digs into her meal, popping one piece of shrimp after another into her mouth until her basket is empty. She frowns at the sight, pushing it away from her, feeling as if her meal went by too fast and means it's time to go back to her prison cell once again until her next stolen chance of freedom. She looks up to see Cami making her way over her just as her phone starts buzzing.
"Marcel is on his way to the church," Cami says quickly, and she picks up her phone to see that she has a text message from Josh warning her of the same thing.
"Shit," Davina mutters, reaching into her pocket for money to pay for the meal while getting out of her stool. "Here," she says, handing Cami a few wrinkled bills.
Cami shakes her head at the money. "I already paid for it, so you can get back to the church before Marcel catches you gone," she says, pushing Davina's hand away.
"No, absolutely not," Davina declares, pressing the money into Cami's hand, but still, Cami refuses to take it.
"It's already done. Now go before Marcel beats you there," Cami advises, moving away from the bar to grab a bucket of dishes and take them to the back to be cleaned. Realizing that she is wasting time, Davina shoves the money into her back pocket as she hurries out the doors to the street.
The witch retraces her steps that will take her back to the church, but the streets have gotten a bit more crowded during her time in the bar. There are lines of people waiting to go inside various places along the block, making it hard for a fast and steady pace. Davina turns left, walking down a street that is more known to the locals than to visitors making it less crowded. She can see the back of the church since the road goes straight into the back of it. Thoughts of what to say to Marcel are running rampant in her mind if he had made it to the church before she did.
The distance between her and the back gate is closing quickly, allowing her to relax slightly just as someone grabs her from behind, making her let out a yelp of surprise, leading them to slap a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet as they yank her into a nearby alley at a speed that makes her dizzy. She is slammed up against a rough brick wall, knocking the air out of her lungs. Her attacker latches their hand around her throat, pressing against her windpipe. Davina grits her teeth, feeling her fight spirit light up in her chest like a flame, and digs her nails into the flesh of the arm that houses the hand gripping her. They let out a loud yell of pain, and by the scream, she can tell this person is a man, and she stomps on his foot, earning her another cry of pain as his hold on her falters. She uses this opportunity to kick him in between the legs, making him let go and fall to his knees.
Davina throws her hand out in front of her, feeling her magic come alive in her veins, focusing on the guy on his knee, slowly closing her hands to bring him a harsh pain in the head. He yells out, holding on to his head, but he lets out a growl, sending a flash of fear down her spine as he flashes forward, grabbing her arms and pressing them above her head. This time his hold is much stronger, and the witch struggles to break free. She opens her eyes to see a face with veins snaking up his cheeks to his blood-red eyes, telling her that she is dealing with a vampire.
"Let me go," she says through her teeth, trying to wiggle free from his hold, and he laughs harshly, flashing his fangs at her.
"Not a chance. That bastard needs to pay for what he cost me, and you are the perfect form of payment. I'd prefer cash, but blood is just as good," he says, inching closer, and she smiles before headbutting him in the nose, and she can't tell which is more satisfying, the crack of his nose from the force of her head or the screech he lets out from the pain. She doesn't get to decide because this pisses him off even more, and he yanks on her hair, jerking her head to the side, exposing the side of her neck.
Davina screams out in pain when he bites roughly into her flesh. She tries to pull her arms free, but he tightens his grip, digging his fingers into her skin painfully. Davina opens her mouth to yell for help, but she is starting to feel the effects of her blood being stolen from her veins. Her energy is slowly slipping away with each drop he takes. Confusion sets in next when she feels the vampire's weight disappear, allowing her to slide down the wall to the ground, gasping for air as she tries to make sense of what's happening.
She forces her eyes open to see a blurry flash of movement a few feet away from her. She counts two blobs as searing pain in her neck steals her attention from the scene and presses a hand to her neck, wincing at the feel of warm sticky blood flowing from two open wounds. Sounds of flesh hitting flesh filled the air, followed by the sound of bones cracking in a sickly manner. One of the blobs falls to the ground in a silent heap as the other blob turns and begins to approach her, setting off her internal alarm bell. Davina throws up her hand, unleashing a hefty wave of magic flow out of her veins, and they fall to their knees, crying out in pain.
"Go away," she gasps, breathing heavily, pressing her hand harder against the wound in her neck to try and stop the bleeding.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
This voice is new, carrying an English accent that doesn't match the voice of her attacker, but that doesn't mean anything in this town. "Leave me alone," she says weakly, feeling a wave of dizziness come over her.
"I know that you're injured. Let me have a look."
Davina's eyes start to feel heavy. "I don't need your help," she tells him, fighting to stay focused on her magic to keep them down and away from her.
"Please, stop," they say, groaning in pain as they try to get to their feet. "I swear, I'm going to hurt you, Darling."
"You're a vampire. It's what you do," she tosses at them, dropping her arm as her magical link to her mind breaks as her energy begins to run out. Davina jumps when she feels a hand on the back of her head, and seconds later, they press their wrist to her mouth. "Uh uh," Davina mutters, shaking her head as she realizes what they are trying to do. She pushes the arm away, but they press their wrist harder against her lips.
"Just a little more," they say, and she winces at the coppery flavor on her tongue. A few seconds later, they pull their wrist away, letting her go. "There you go. All nice and new," they quip, sounding pleased with themselves.
Davina lays her head back against the wall, feeling her energy quickly returning just as the pain in her neck fades away. As the sense of the world becomes clearer to her, Davina opens her eyes to see their face is only inches away from her own. They widen in surprise when she finds that the face belongs to the guy who had been staring at her in the bar. Brown eyes scanning everything inch of her face, mirroring surprise of their own as he begins to place her as well.