Reunion

The Reunion

The phone call came abruptly in the morning. I was awakened by a frantic Gwyneth, needing me to come to New Orleans right away. New York had been my home for decades. I was used to the thin northern air, and the affects it had on mortals' blood. My mouth became parched at the thought of the salty southern air, accompanied by rotting fish. But she needed me and so did Brian. In fact, we all were going back. Jason, Tifani, Richard, and possibly Stefan & Davidson! Brian had just given up on his vampire life, and he was slowing dying without the help of all of us, he would surely die. Davidson had a mixture of ashes from his ancestors. Combined with that of the blood of a first or second generation, Brian could be reborn into his vampirism and have a new chance. Brian had sunk into a depression after he feigned his death. Brian was a very successful Rock star. But he had to step out of the spotlight or fear his secret being told. Besides he never aged, someone was bound to catch on!

I had packed for my journey when the taxi horn interrupted my deep thought. I went alone. Raine begged to come, but I needed her to guard my place. I told her she could come down closer to Hallo's Eve. That was ultimately the night Brian was to be reborn. Besides, I hadn't explained Raine to my coven yet. She was to be 18 soon and I had not divulged the truth of her past. I didn't need the coven stepping in. This was something I had to handle. It was none of their business.

Gazing out the window felt odd to me. I felt so caged. Like my wings had been clipped. It was not refreshing at all. I hated flying this way. Looking at the mortals around me, they truly believed this was the ultimate way of travel....I laughed to myself. If they only knew the true beauty in flying. The moonlit sky lighting your way like a beacon, the aroma of the night filling your nostrils, the freedom.....I cannot describe it any more descriptive than that, to make a mere mortal understand. The flight was long and tedious I thought.

Stepping off the plane, the air was thick, and I could smell the bayou, rotting with fish . Even the blood of mortals smelled salty. None of them were awaiting me at the airport, which puzzled me. So I strolled through the airport and hailed myself a taxi.

The driver looked at me strange when I requested the De Copplè address. He commented about a hefty tip, throwing my bags into the back. I handed him a $20, rolling my eyes, growling to shut the hell up with the attitude.

The drive gave me time to re-group before I saw them. The fog was rolling onto the shores as we drove out the winding road. Passing moors and cementaries, the fog crept in like a ominous creature, swallowing up the land and trees. The driver stopped in front of a long driveway playing host to a rusting wrought-iron gate. The gate had the elaborate initials D C on them....this had to be it, I thought to myself.

I tipped the driver as he sped away, bags sitting beside me. I released an enormous sigh, grabbed my bags, and began to walk the driveway. The property was wretched, dead trees arose from the decreped earth like tombstones. I could see a small glow of lights from within the Castle. As I set my bags down on the enormous concrete steps, my eyes drank in the magnificent architecture of Brian's castle. Gargoyles guarded each peak, glaring down at me. Windows clad with velvet drapes let light escape through the openings. I was in awe.

The doors flew open, startling me! It was Jason and Gwyneth with warm greetings...

We hugged with excitement and for a moment things seemed like old times. We paraded into the Castle and down the corridor, towards the den, I gathered. Throwing down my bags by the stairs, we continued talking noisely. Once into the den, I noticed a shadowy frame by the fireplace. I recognized it immediately as Richard. He turned to me with a shit-eating grin on his face, smiled and said hello. I was shocked to see him, it had been years. "I still thought you were in Antartica or whatever, Richard?" I scathed at him. His eyes lit up,"Au contraire Jessica, I have found myself, since you heard last, I suppose." he gloated. With a stale look on my face, I skipped a reply. Instead, I watched him gulp his wine, arrogantly. How odd to see him act this way, I thought. Many times before, I would have welcomed his prickish behavior, but something about it was not right. He seemed to still be hiding behind a facade. His new act did not fool me.

Gwyneth interrupted the tension by piling onto the couch and bringing up fun, old times. That did seem to get us all talking. I hated sparring with Richard. It had been way too long.

Little did I know that upon my arrival to the stale grounds of Louisianna, my life would undoubtedly change forever. Betrayal awaits me. I could feel it in my bones. I felt safe in the fact that Raine was still at home. I was not ready for the repurcussions of my actions where Raine is concerned. It was none of their business yet.

Gwyneth showed me to my room, so I could unpack. My room was absolutely lovely. A sophisticated atmosphere adorned with candles, my favorite incense, & music. I headed towards the french doors, throwing them open, to view the seascape. Simply breath-taking! My eyes caught a shadowy figure in a window in the adjacent wing of the castle. A lanky, pale figure, most-likely Brian, I thought to myself. Curiosity, would of course, get the better of me. Secretly, I tip-toed towards the east wing of the castle.

Giant candles burned, lighting my way down the musky corridor. I slid my boots off, to silence my approach. My eyes caught a shadow proceed through the huge door at the end of the dimly lit hall. Continuing, I stopped momentarily at the door to listen. A frail voice, startled me. It called to me, by name, to come in.

There in the darkened room sat Brian, pale, thin, and streaks of gray throughout his once, luscious ebony locks. My eyes bulged at the horror, I couldn't believe how he let himself go. He once had it all, how could he not be happy? Could he ever be? He scolded me, for my thoughts, he had read my mind. I couldn't apologize enough, but I begged him to understand my shock. We talked for quite sometime. Memories we shared, I only hoped he could be saved. I could not lose him.

Our conversation was cut short when Gwyneth came in, to check on Brian. I told him I would return again & we would continue our talks. He gave me an intense gaze, replying that I had something to tell him, he knew it. I just cast my eyes to the floor, thinking of nothing to deter his attempts to read me. Putting her arms around me, Gwyneth escorted me to the door, closing it, leaving Brian alone. Silently, we walked back to join the others.

Things had changed drastically while I was gone. Things seemed to be falling apart in each of their lives. I think what I was feeling at that moment was actually fear. I was fearing something within our coven. It was a sense of hopelessness, all being lost. That was eating me for quite sometime, though I bothered not to share it with anyone. They seemed to be lost. I was the type that took on all the responsiblility of making our weekend plans, gathering the group together...I felt like a mother-hen to these people. Caring and sharing for them, with them. I enjoyed it do not misunderstand. It just seemed odd to me how things had regressed since my departure.

I felt as though I couldn't breathe. I had to get out and explore the grounds, maybe get a snack...."snicker". Quickly I selected something to wear for the evening, my favorite of course, sleek black leather pants & boots, and a loosely-tied billowy cotton pirate shirt. Underneath, my black lacey bra peeked thru the laces of the shirt. Throwing on my favorite cloak, I carefully listening as footsteps passed my door. It was the rest of the group going out for the evening. Knowing I was exhausted, they knocked only once, then assumed I had retired for the night. "Perfect," I thought to myself. I acted alone, always. Strolling out the terrace doors, I leaped to the grounds below in silence. The moon played cat & mouse with dark, omninous clouds. To me, the night was devine. Curiously I followed a path that seemed to lead to the shores. There below the cliffs of Castle De Copple was the shores of the Gulf. I gazed back towards the path, and a aging litehouse caught my eye. I had not noticed it before my descent. I felt that I had found myself a secret refuge when I felt it necessary to avoid the others. I was delighted!

A gnawing pain ate at my stomach, alerting me of my growing need. I took to the sky, looking to satisfy an all to familar feeling. My senses took me towards town, where I knew the others would be. I could smell the thin blood of a homeless street musician, below me. I hovered as I watched him pathetically pick at his wretched guitar. With movement quicker than the eye I grabbed him & fed before his screams could escape. I tossed him back into the alley. Turning to walk away, I noticed withered dollar bills from the tattered empty guitar case, blowing in the breeze. Ironic I thought, his soul escaped much the same way. With my hunger satisfied for that moment, I continued my night out.

Continued onto the next page