A/N: I took this story down a while ago because someone had stolen and posted it on another platform pretending it was theirs. However, now that that has been cleared up, I decided to bring it back. I am so sorry to those of you who added it to your favorites, followed or reviewed it the first time only to have it removed. I hope that you are still interested in this tale. While it was down, I went through and edited it and added some new characters. I hope that you enjoy this new version just as much as the old one.

"It is a big world, full of things that steal your breath and fill your belly with fire...But where you go when you leave isn't as important as where you go when you come home."

-Lindsay Eagar-

Music pumped through the massive sound systems, as swaying bodies littered the neon dance floor. Bartenders hurried to fill the never-ending piles of drink orders as the waitresses struggled to balance it all on neatly stacked trays, before dashing off to serve the waiting party-goers.

Bouncers patrolled both the perimeter outside and the crowded inside, looking for any who were trying to disturb the jubilance of the club. Limber trapeze artists dangled from silken cords, and reinforced ropes, attached to the ceiling. Delicately, they stretched their bodies and twisted into unfathomable positions to the beat of the music. It made them look more like club decorations than humans. Live art for the viewing pleasure of the clubbers.

In the middle of the floor Arsetti danced without a care in the world. Hips swaying to the music as she eyed the tall, dark and handsome man across from her, dancing sensually with a sweet blonde girl, who looked much too pure to be in a club like Paradise. Though beautiful and with a body made for sin, the blonde seemed young to Arsetti, and looked like she hailed from a very religious family. Once again, this club was no place for such a girl.

Paradise was the hottest club in Miami and a favorite of hers. It was the best place in the world for a club kid who just wanted to dance and an even better place for supernaturals to mingle without restraint.

The club held a mystical vibe that lent to the illusion that the creatures that filled it were all make-believe. Simply, people in costumes living out their wildest fantasies but unlike the humans here, especially the poor blonde girl, Arsetti knew better.

She eyed the guy across from her seductively, watching as his eyes slowly lifted from the neck of the beautiful blonde, he had been inconspicuously drinking from, to meet hers. Giving him a wicked smirk, which he gladly returned, he offered her a drink from the poor blonde's wrist.

He had wrongly assumed that she was like him, a vampire. She couldn't fault him for his assumptions; the pheromone glamor she had spelled earlier had still not worn off. So, by scent alone, she would seem like one to him and others like him. There weren't many conjurers in Miami, so to blend in she often used a glamor.

Better to be a vampire in disguise than a conjurer in a city with little to none. For very good reasons, those like herself that still resided in Miami chose to live on the outskirts of the city. Shaking her head, she rid herself of those morbid thoughts and brought her attention back to him.

Politely, she declined his offer and raised her glass of dark red wine to her lips, giving it a slight tap with the tip of her nail. Getting her unspoken point, he nodded his head and gave her a wink before disappearing away from the dance floor and slinking off into the darkness.

He knew the rules just like anyone else that came there. No feeding on the dance floor. The club's illusion had to be kept and since she liked it there, she often gave a gentle reminder to those that tried to upset the club's delicate balance.

Undeterred by having to police the obviously new and makerless vamp, she continued to drink her wine and sway her hips, getting lost in the rhythm of the song as a wistful smile pulled at the corners of her lips. For a small second, the horns and drums of the tune playing made her miss New Orleans.

The way the French Quarter practically burst with energy during Mardi Gras. The way people lined up to give the magic practitioners gifts, in hopes of receiving a yearly blessing. Even, the way the city smelled after a fresh rain.

She missed how the smell of wet earth, mixed in with the fragrant scents of the spiced food, and French pastries, could calm her like nothing else she had ever known.

However, as soon as the feeling had come it was gone when the DJ changed the song to a DaBaby track.

Not really feeling the song, she exited the dance floor and made her way to the balcony outside, to get some much-needed fresh air.

While not like the air in New Orleans, Miami's was quite nice and always warm. Bringing with it the smell of the salty sea and distinctly Cuban, and sometimes Haitian, flavors with each passing breeze.

It was here in Miami that she had found peace. Here, no one knew her or her family. No one in Miami had all these great expectations of her, that she had no idea if she could even live up to. There was no judgement in Miami. Here, she was just like everyone else. Arsetti could blend in, live carefree, and she loved it.

However, there was also no MeMaw and no Sunday morning Beignets and Creole' cream cheese. No coffee with sweet cream and chicory. No cousin Fe's laughter echoing down the hallway. No Aurelien dropping by to check on her with food from her homeland and the latest in the in vampire—witch relations. It was a well known fact that anytime Aura dropped by you could expect homemade Lambi to be on the menu. No Bianca dropping by to with a cheery disposition despite her tendency to annoy those around her. Although they'd call and sometimes facetime, it wasn't the same as being there.

She had been running away from her eventual responsibilities when she had initially left New Orleans, but now she loved the life she had created for herself in Miami. Even if she sometimes got home sick, leaving had been the best thing she could have done for herself at the time.

At that, the last words her grandmother had told her on the day she had left replayed itself across her memory.

"Responsibility has a way of finding you no matter where you are at or how far you run. When it's time, it will drag you back kicking and screaming. No matter if you're ready or not," she recited the words softly to herself as she sat her now empty glass on a nearby table.

Her phone ringing startled her out of her thoughts. Placing a hand to her racing heart, she used the other to pull her phone from the safety of her bra and looked at the name that popped up on its screen.

Sighing, she mumbled a few curses before pressing answer and placing the device to her ear.

"Fe you have some kind of timing, don't you?" Came her slightly agitated huff, more angry at herself then him for having "thought" him up. "What is it this time? More city gossip or has the guy you've been running around with wife finally found out about y'all?"

She could hear him kiss his teeth through the phone and didn't have to guess that he was probably frowning too.

"Setti, shut the hell up and listen," he demanded calmly. "Now, MeMaw gave your ass as much time as she could to go out into the world and sow your oats but it's time you came on home."

Frowning, she sighed out. "Man, I told you I'm not ready just yet. This is a lot for me to not only process but then to—can't I have a little more time from all this? Can't you talk to her for me? Please, cousin?" Putting a honeyed emphasis on the last part, she waited to hear his response.

"I wish I could but I can't baby," Fe sighed. "It's time Setti. Even if your not ready MeMaw is and her body ain't gonna hold out for much longer. She tried, she really did, but she is ready and you need to come on home and accept your responsibilities," he explained sadly.

"Alright, I'm on my way. I'll take the first flight I can get back," Arsetti conceded sadly. "Kiss MeMaw for me and tell her I love her and will be there soon. I'm sure Uncle Merrick ain't exactly happy about me having to return, is he?"

"Don't nobody give a flying fuck about Uncle Merrick. Haters gon' hate but his ass gonna fall in line just like everybody else," laughed Fe'. Then after taking a breath, added softly. "You know, it ain't as bad as you think it is. Sure, like anything else it has its downside but baby the benefits outweigh all that. Plus, you have me. Quinton's flaky flighty ass can always take a leave of absence from LSU if you need him and you know Aura is gonna help get you through it without you even having to ask her. Even Bianca's overly positive 'the sun's always shining somewhere' crystal packing, mugwort and lavender smoking ass is here for you. She might drive you crazy with Fleetwood Mack on repeat till you either cuss her out or take a stab at her—but she'll be there for you nonetheless. The point is—we family Setti and you know we not about to let you fall."

"I know Fe'," came her whispered response. Cradling the phone to her ear, she smiled, "I love you, cousin."

"And I love you too, baby girl," beamed Fe' warmly. "Now, hurry up and bring your narrow ass on home," he yelled out before promptly ending the call.

Sighing, Arsetti tried not to be offended with the way her cousin had just hung up in her face. Slowly, she made her way from the balcony and left the club. It had been fun while it lasted but it was time to go home. Just like her grandmother had said responsibility was calling, and she had no choice but to answer.

In no time at all, she was at her small apartment in South Beach. Stumbling slightly over shoes and haphazard clothing, that littered the otherwise clean floor, she threw everything that would fit into two duffel bags and a couple roll-a-ways. Pausing only once to take a look back at the place she had called home, she shut the door and left the small seaside apartment.

She'd managed to find a redeye that left in four hours and, after a short Uber ride, found herself checking in her bags at the near empty airport. Quietly, she contemplated what to expect when she returned to New Orleans as she checked in her bags. What people would say? How they would treat her and how many she might have pissed off with her arrival.

Arsetti was so deep in her thoughts that she nearly missed hearing when her flight number was called.

It was time to board.

Taking one last look around at the city she had called her home for the past four years, she bid it goodbye as she headed down the terminal and got on the plane.

"Thanks for the memories Miami. It's been fun and I'll treasure my time here forever, but now I'm going back to assume my responsibilities. New Orleans needs a queen," she wistfully announced with a mixture of both sadness and resignation.

She pulled down the flap over the window of the plane as the engine roared to life and the plane began to take off.

Getting comfortable, she tried to get some sleep but couldn't. Her mind was plagued with guilt.

Since she had selfishly tried to outrun her destiny it left her ailing grandmother to rule and, due to her illness, her MeMaw had not been able to actively participate in the upkeep of the Crescent City's fragile truces. Arsetti couldn't help but wonder what state she'd find the city and its factions in when she got there.

For the first time in four years, Arsetti Fenouit LeRoux, felt remorse—and she should've.