Augusta Fern's Blog - Posts Tagged "factions-of-past"

For the two weeks, Estella and I keep guard over Babet, Scarlet and Henri at Audubon there is little to no advancement or declination in the family’s situation. We are either on rotating shifts or allowed mutual time with the young mother. Estella still had her obligations to the Queen, but I had gained exclusivity with Babet. I had been taken off collecting bounties until this was resolved.

It had been enlightening, refreshing and revelatory to spend quality time with Babet who seemed to have newfound peace, but every good must come to an end and I was in house the night she got a call from a Cruise Line business office. The children were asleep upstairs and silently I listened while she was informed of her mother’s disappearance while in Cozumel, Mexico.

Mrs. Bridgette Lancaster Beauregard had not returned to the ship from her dinner in the southern city the night before. Babet sat quietly sobbing with her hand to her mouth staring at the floor while the representative insensitively delivered the blow. In that moment all the reassuring conversations and hope that maybe this was coming to a close was diminished in her eyes. Intense thoughts raced behind those eyes, her life was still in peril, and the hands of whatever was after her had stretched its claws to her mother in another country. She sat, fixated on the work of art hanging high on the wall in front of her, and then she quickly looked to me.

“I just….don’t understand….I thought….I just have come so far and feel I have no more tears to cry” But her face revealed a different story and baubles of tears began to trickle down from her eyelid to her cheek. She stood up but I grabbed her before she could get far. I pressed her to my chest until the tension in her body ease into me and I felt her hands lightly grasp the lower part of my back.
I rested my chin on her head and my body began to tense as her scent filled me. I was determined not to give into my deepest, darkest desires; I just wanted to comfort her, as I had wanted to during all the early morning conversations between us.

I wanted to be the support she needed, without the complications of our natures. We stood embraced momentarily until I felt her pull slightly from me. I lifted my head to look down at her. Babet, stared into my eyes and this beautiful creature, so fragile, so human and so sad, made my cold heart, burn and ache. I wiped the tears from her eyes and brushed the hair back from her face, the tiny strands glued to it by her already dried tears.

“To cry”, I said and positioned my hands securely around her face, staring directly into her, “is to know you’re alive.” I hold her delicately before lowering my hands. She sniffed a couple of times before standing on her toes, closed her eyes and lifted herself to meet my face. She kissed me gently, her mouth so warm and soft, like two hot rose petals closing in on my lips. She kissed me again in this way and I felt her body flush with warmth, she then began to lower herself from her heightened status.

I opened my eyes expectantly as she landed flat on the floor, but before she could pull completely out of my arms I brought her back to me, leaned down and kissed her in return. My large hands encased her hair and the fragrance of her radiated from it. I didn’t linger in the kiss as I felt it was more of a comfort to her than an invitation for anything other than that, but I desperately wanted her. Her frailty enchanted me and challenged me. Before I could wrap my mind around what was happening between us she was back up to my level, her eyes closed and her mouth engulfed mine, her tongue swimming happily against mine.

I clasped my hands around her face, the warm silky texture of her skin gliding over my fingertips. I rounded my hand to her neck and pulled her closer, the nape an inferno. I pulled away from her, my mouth hung open and my teeth ran out, I tilted my head to take in Babet’s response. She stood staring at me panting and a slight smile came across her face. She licked her lips, swallowed and asked, “Can I?” Her hand reached up to touch my prominent teeth.

I didn’t move and her delicate little fingers stroked the inside and then outside of my extended canines. Our exchange was interrupted by the faint sound of cooing. Like lightning Babet turned her attention to the sounds, waiting to see if the baby continued. Henri must have been dreaming and Babet turned back to face me. The aura emitting from her changed from desire to embarrassment and she nervously laughed, then took a deep breath and blew out the air from her lungs, as if extinguishing a candle. My teeth retracted and I broke the silence, “I’m sorry.” I said.

Although I knew exactly what was overtaking the sensibility I had mastered during the centuries. I still didn’t want to leave her side. I wanted to never let her out of my sight, like the first night I saw her, keep her protected. I am also aware that subconsciously I wanted her for more selfish reasons than not. My compulsion was more than the simple vampire yearning. I felt a kinship to this woman, I could relate to her loss in her short years. She was like me, aside from her children, she was ultimately alone. But she had not lost these mortal ties naturally and I had to get beyond my own selfishness. I shifted back to face her once again, and her eyes, indifferent.

“They’re, “and she faltered in her speech and for a moment I was fearful that we were back to square one. But she surprises me constantly and tonight was no different, “So, sharp.” And she smiled, her own teeth showing a little more. I couldn’t help but return the gesture. For the remainder of the night I hold her, until the ever presence of dawn began to crest the Earth that would soon reach the tiny corner Babet and I had laid out for ourselves, I took my leave of her once it was apparent that she would be safe for the brief moments it would take to return to my haven.
The following evening I was to attend the Queen in Estella’s absence. I by no means would serve drinks and flit around the floor, but my existence at her side is a requirement I grew less and less obliged to. For some time I hungered for release from the Queen’s employment and the closer I would get to obtaining it, she drew me back to her side. Be it intrigue of what was at the time unknown to me. Once my curiosity fulfilled, I was instantly regretful of my decision. Her power is undeniable. Human and Vampire, we are all possessed by her. One look in her eyes and your addicted to her; our Queen.

My arrival to Morte is as it always is a quietly stealthy entry into the sacrificial chamber, positioning myself where I could observe the patronage and the Queen. Her grand arrival had already commenced and I greeted her, standing to her left as she nodded and returned her gaze to the floor below her throne of a balcony. She spoke directly at me but did not make my eyes.
“We have a guest Cian, someone I think you’ll recognize.”

Appearing at the Queen’s right shoulder stood my brother Keane. His sandy blonde hair a tousled mess. Stopping at his shoulders, long rogue strands hung in front of his piercing blue eyes. Keane. His attire much different from mine, my once brother in arms stood before me in an ebony Armani suit and striking tie; the garnet and crimson paisley design screaming from behind the prison of his fitted vest. His hands overlapped one another in front of him.

As if waiting for me to speak, he dropped his hands and began to come toward me. “Still an old hard stone, huh Cian?” the surprise rising in his voice.

I kept my guard and when he was close enough I smirked and said, “Old Dogs, Keane. Can’t teach us a thing.” We both laughed heartily and I grabbed by brother and brought him to me, he slapped my back and we separated.

“Good to see you my brother, it has been too long.” He remarked turning his finger at me.

I nodded, “Aye”, and after the moment of reunited bliss passed I became suspicious of Keane’s arrival into New Orleans. “What brings you to the city?”

“Ah, a most gracious invitation from her majesty brings me to your fair metropolis.” He says and while he does he bows courteously toward the Queen and in return she nods in his direction with a faint smile. I witness this exchange and before returning her concentration to her business she flashes me a glance that implies to me her pleasure in Keane. I resumed my position within the club, while Keane and Madliene discussed things only to themselves.

Once the festivities for the evening had officially died I excused myself from the Queen. With not only the urgency of appetite but a great longing to retreat from Keane, I knew he sensed my pace to be too hasty for my normality. Because no matter how long we have been apart, Keane knows me better than I know myself. He is someone I have known since childhood and we have bonded in more ways than any real or biological brothers could. We are kindred spirits he and I.

“Where you off to brother?” The echo of his baritone is uncanny in my head. I turn and stare for mere seconds, but in our world seconds are lifetimes and finally I tilt my head, motioning him to follow. He bows graciously to the Queen, taking her hand to kiss the back of it.
“If you will excuse me?” She of course gives her consent and Keane set out to join me at my flank, his original position when we were lads. We exit the Club through the back corridor.
He quickens his pace slightly to meet mine and we are striding together once again, exact footsteps, a single being with four legs clomping through the streets.

“Fed for the night?” I ask and in my peripheral I see a glint of bright white shine clearly against the night’s sky, Keane’s smile a definite sight for my sore eyes.

Keane and I fed; I, from a blood bag I obtained, while Keane took to the street to search out his perfect meal. By the time he returned to the townhouse procured for his stay and sat the statuesque human female on one of the overstuffed chairs residing in the corner of the large receiving room, I had long been satisfied. She was, of course, beautiful. The girl’s black hair is short, the bob haircut resembling that of a wig and most likely is. Her face is overly made up and the black around her ice blue eyes looks like fireplace soot, making the blue stand out that much more.
I continue to observe her calm behavior, more and more humans were becoming less and less wary of being in the presence of vampires and from the girl’s demeanor she had been in our type of company, plenty. From what I could see of her body, she bared no sign of being fed upon, but once she removed the jacket over her mini-dress it was apparent that she had spent more time with our kind than I had assumed. Her arms from shoulder to wrist, inside and out are marked, some wounds old, some new and scars on top of scars. She readjusted her seat, folded her hands in her lap and looked directly into my eyes, unafraid of whatever powers she thought me to possess.

“Name’s Shi, what’s yours?” she asked engaging me in conversation, while crossing her legs. Her face is pleasant and inviting.

“Cian.” My tone less than inviting.

“Nice, got a brother Abel?” she said and laughed at her own cleverness.

I didn’t reciprocate the feeling and she discontinued her jest, rolling her eyes and looking around the room for Keane’s location. But I could tell she was becoming uneasy sitting across from me and my seriousness. I didn’t begrudge Keane his preferences, he had his lifestyle and I chose mine, but I can honestly say I didn’t like conversing with someone who would soon cease to be. Keane reentered the great room and Shi’s eyes lit up.

Keane is a handsome vampire, like we all are. The man has eyes so intense they bore into your very soul. It’s his gift, soul searching, a vampire who can read the souls of others, humans and vampire alike. Very few soul searchers survive in our community. Vampires aren’t keen on the idea of another being able to see though them and the tales of other’s souls can break and wear down a reader.
The eyes of a soul searcher hold a kind of gentleness, I think of it as a catalyst for the reader, a welcoming feature allowing them to proceed; this all commences without the human or vampire’s knowledge and it’s very interesting to watch. This look has been described in our histories accounts as “puppy-dog eyes”.

Keane glides over to the girl, peering down and into Shi’s eyes. I instantly felt her body relax as he offered his hand, she takes it and is lifted her from her seat. Keane led her toward the spiral staircase central in the townhouse, I watch as he weightlessly slithers up guiding Shi. Her high heels clump up one and then two steps. Then the clopping turned into a whooshing sound as Keane whisked the girl up, my eyes can’t help but follow their path.
Just before crossing the threshold to the bedroom, he glances down the at me, smiles and I could see his teeth had run completely out. I couldn’t help but smirk and shake my head at him.
Keane emerged from the room, easily and quietly closing the door, he had not extinguished Shi’s life and was allowing the stranger to slumber in his temporary haven. I had to admit I wasn’t surprised, Keane had always been attentive; not only in battle but even after the wars, he never let the grief consume him so it showed to his younger siblings and his mother. His father, of course always knew what his son had endured and seen.

“She’ll be here for a day or so.” He said as he reached the bottom of the staircase. His suit slightly disheveled, the jacket and ornate tie were gone and the collar of his white dress shirt hung open. Since his shirt was still tucked into his pants I knew he had not had sex with the girl, but being as she would be in his haven for more than the night, it was definitely in his plans to do so. “I kinda like her, what do you think Cian?”

I nodded and stood up from my seat, beginning to feel that Keane’s presence was more than a simple visit to the Queen, be it by her request or not. “Now that you’re fed, I have a few questions for you, if I may, of course?” I said as he took Shi’s former seat.

His face turned from confused to inquisitive in a matter of seconds, “Sure Cian, Spanish Inquisition?”

http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-Cia...

In no time we are flying over the Riverwalk, I take lead of Keane and we land just outside my warehouse haven where, there, sits the very nice car Myra described. A Jet black Mercedes C series, four door sedan with its sleek body style and alloy wheel rims sits gleaming under broken street lamps. The windows and windshields are tinted so dark it’s indiscernible who is inside.

Keane and I stare at the darkened front windshield as it fades revealing, a petite bleach blonde behind the wheel. She sits absolutely still until I begin to approach the car and her blonde head tilts. She shoots up a single finger directing us upstairs; the windshield fades back to black. I look up to see the lights of my haven have been illuminated; I return my stare to the car as I walk toward the door to the warehouse.

Keane and I take the rickety elevator up to the fifth floor; I reach down to fling the gate up when he remarks on my dwelling, “You live here? Cian?” Sympathetic undertone dances around my name.

I don’t have the chance to defend my haven before we recognize a familiar voice, “Of course he does, self-flagellating bastard that he is.” I look inside and see Fallon dressed to the nines in a black pinstripe suit.

“Fuck me! Fallon!” Keane rushes past me to happily embrace our brother, but I am less than receptive to not only his arrival but his impudence in breaking into my warehouse. I slowly cross the elevator threshold and slide the gate to latch. Fallon uncrosses his legs and rises from his seat on the old couch. He tosses his long bone straight brown locks over his shoulder, grabbing Keane in a tight hug. I saunter over and see a black cylindrical case strapped to Fallon’s back and before I have the opportunity to ask Keane comments on our outdoor eye-sore, “Nice ride brother, who’s the girl?” Fallon ignores him for the time being.

“Do you have no love for me brother?” Fallon says to me, arms open, “How many years has it been?” He chuckles and looks to Keane for explanation.

“Don’t mind him; Cian is dealing with some serious shit at the moment. What brings you in to town?” Keane is still hoping to keep the peace; I too wanted to know why Fallon is in New Orleans.

“Right. I’ve been in Las Vegas with Collette,” he turns and holds his hand out, motioning toward the oversized windows of my haven, “and I heard through the vampire grapevine the former King was returning to New Orleans. I figure Madliene is in for some of her own serious shit, eh? Oh and before you ask, no; I didn’t register with her. Will I? No, I won’t. Look, two seconds…” Fallon slides his hand into his front jacket pocket and retrieves a high tech cell phone. He slides the screen up, presses a button and puts the device to his ear. “Come up my darling, all is well.” His tone is sickeningly sweet. He then slides the phone down and back into his pocket, “Send that contraption down for Collette.”

“If she’s intelligent enough to push a button, she can make it up here on her own.” I say relinquishing my wariness of Fallon’s arrival and embrace my brother, “Good to see you brother,” I pull away from his now smiling face.

“There, that wasn’t so bad was it?” And he chuckles again, waving his hand around the air of my haven, “Not nearly as bad as this. Cian, how long have you lived here?” Once again I am interrupted, Collette has reached the fifth floor and we were about to meet Fallon’s latest flavor. “Help her with that thing Cian, she’s mortal.”

I slowly walk over to the elevator, flip the latch and tug it open, as I do so in my peripheral I see a mass of long wavy bleach blonde hair, straight bangs covering her extended lashes as I focus on her, we lock eyes and I proceed to quickly look her over.

Collette is a rail thin young woman of no more than twenty-one with hazel eyes so light, they are almost yellow. Her button nose is also obviously augmented and her pillow lips are painted a deep burgundy. Her overly large, fake breasts are holding her long hair hostage off the side of each of them and for the second time tonight someone blows past me to get to Fallon.

As I turn around, he is holding his arms out to catch the slender beauty, dressed in black tight leather pants, driving jacket, and black stiletto heels that clatter across the floor before she jumps to land in his grasp. Her heels click together as they grip around his waist. Keane and I look on as they all but consummate their relationship in front of us. Fallon lowers her to the ground when Collette proceeds to sicken us further, “I missed you.” She says batting her long lashes at Fallon.

“And I you, my love.” He says before taking her chin betwixt his thumb and index finger, pulling her to him and planting a gentle kiss on her surgically perfected nose. “Gents, this is Collette.”

Fallon spins the girl around to present her to us, Keane takes her hand and states his name and then motions to me, “This hard-ass is Cian.” I offer my hand to her and in her reluctance she turns to Fallon who nods in approval.

Collette takes my hand and I gingerly shake it, “Hello.” I say and she responds with a slight smile.

“She’s my pride and joy brothers. Smart, stunning, and I have helped turn her into a skilled fighter. She’s my right hand and my lover all rolled into one. What can I say boys, I am truly happy.” He says and kisses her again on the nose. She remains silent.

Keane begins to ask Fallon another question but I am distracted by the buzzing in my back pocket, I reach back to retrieve it. Estella is calling. I excuse myself from the group but not before looking over at Keane who is eyeing me quizzically, “Estella.”

Before I can answer my phone I hear Fallon ask Keane, “Estella, huh?”

“E?” I say but she is frantic, her speech barely audible, “I’m on my way.”
I close the phone not paying a bit of attention to the audience I have attained as I slide it back into my pocket. “I’m going to Audubon, something is wrong.”

“Someone’s whipped.” Fallon says not aware of his ridiculous assumptions, which I ignore.

I turn to Keane, “You coming?”

“Uh, yeah…” He motions to Fallon and Collette, who I had momentarily forgotten in my frenzy to exit the warehouse, “What about…”

Fallon seems to have gained some grace in the last five minutes, “Let us drive you, I know you’re spent from the flight.”

“Nice!” Keane is like a dog, anticipating the ride.

The interior of Fallon’s Mercedes is of course leather and smells so. It is black with burgundy covering the front bucket seats and backseat. The dashboard is illuminated in red as Collette inserts and turns the key in the ignition, I notice Fallon is watching me take it all in, “She’s a beauty, eh Cian?”

“Aye,” I agree and sink back in the soothing rear seat, running my hands across the smooth leather of the arm rest and door frame. This is luxury, I will give Fallon that, but I jest with him even though inside I am sick to my core, my nerves are on high alert regarding Estella’s unknown predicament.

I don’t show this to Fallon who is seated comfortably beside me. Keane is in front toying with the switches and gadgets; tinting and lightening the windows with the push of a button, Collette drives silently as I ask Fallon, “Mercedes huh, what no Maybach or Bugatti?” I tilt my head smiling at him falsely.

“Well, after the Maybach was stolen and I wrecked the Bugatti, I decided to go with the Mercedes. It’s flashy without being too flashy, but in front of your warehouse a Ford Fiesta looks flashy.” He mirrors my head gesture. We smile at one another and as Collette turns left onto Tchoupitoulas Keane finally pipes up.

“Why drive in the first place Fallon? Have you considered red-eye air travel?” Keane is now the jester.

“I suppose it’s all because of my other love,” Fallon strokes the black cylindrical case now resting between his feet, “This, I’m sure you both are familiar with.” He opens the case and draws out his infamous Morningstar, “They want me to check it. In almost two thousand years she and I have been inseparable, I don’t intend to start now.”

“So where did you find Collette, Fallon?” Keane clearly lacks a brain to mouth filter. I roll my eyes at his bold inquiry but Fallon seems not to care, in fact he seems to thrive off of her and it clicks in me, I am envious of Fallon.

Strange thought as it may be, I finally realize it. I want what he has, not his car or his clothes or any of his blatant extravagance, but his relationship with Collette I am coveting. This makes my heart ache and my stomach turn; we can’t get to Audubon fast enough.

“I picked this little Philly up in a Las Vegas strip club; the music initially drew me in. Nine Inch Nails’ “Reptile” with its heady bass and industrial ticks coaxed me into the seedy dive and once I was inside I saw this heavenly creature gyrating and grinding before me. It was love at first sight.” He explains and then winks to Collette who is watching him through the rear-view mirror.

“She certainly is quiet.” Keane says while looking from Collette to me to Fallon.

“Aye, but smart and cunning.” Fallon is still longingly gazing into the front seat.

I can’t hold my tongue any longer, “Show me what this baby can do.” I say in hopes of reaching Audubon faster.

“Collette?” Fallon says.

“Sir.” She replies and I think, “sir”?

“Oblige Cian please.”

“Yes, sir.” Collette’s mouth stretches into a wide smile and she punches the accelerator, roaring the German engine to life. We are all thrown back into our seats as she flies down Magazine St. In no time we are at Audubon and I direct Collette to the stand alone townhouse segregated from the others.

Collette slows the car and before she can stop I am out and Estella is meeting me half way to the door, “Cian! Thank God!”
“What is it?”

“Babet…she’s gone.”

“What do you mean she’s gone?” I am livid that I allowed Fallon to talk me into the ride, I immediately want turn on him but my focus is diverted when I think of Scarlet and Henri, “Where are the children?!”

“Inside.” Estella has clearly taken on more than even she can handle, she is paler than usual and I can feel her exhaustion.

I blow past her and cross the threshold. Scarlet is playing with Henri when I enter and to my surprise she jumps up from the floor and rushes toward me. I am expecting the worst but I am surprised further when she crashes into me, wrapping her tiny arms around me, her delicate head resting on my sternum. For a moment I am still, and in shock; I recover and encase her into me. Henri, the most perceptive little boy known to man watches me with his sister before pointing a finger at me.

“Cian!” He shrieks, lifting his little body off the floor to teeter over and join us. Scarlet breaks from me, bends down and picks him up. He reaches up for my face, I bend to him and he traces his chubby little digits from my forehead to my chin and says, “Mamma.”

I straighten and turn to see through the still open door Estella is outside meeting Fallon and Collette. She looks terrible, as if she just ran a hundred miles. I walk out to collect her, “E, talk to me.” I say pulling her aside.
Before I can get a word out Fallon chimes in and I wish he wouldn’t, “Can we be of assistance?” His arrogant smile playing on his lips.

I refrain from tearing his throat out for the time being and respond, “No, thank you but I think the kids have had enough vampire interaction for a lifetime.”
Fallon simply shrugs this off, “Right. Collette and I are off then, we need to procure a hotel room…” he says nuzzling into her neck, “…sooner than later.” She giggles and they turn to leave.

Estella and I begin to walk back to the still open door; Keane is trailing behind, “I will return. I need to take care of some of my own business; okay?”
My eyes are wide as I turn to face him but he calms me immediately, “Shi, Cian. I need to take care of Shi.” I wave my hand and head toward the door. I see Scarlet has resumed entertaining her baby brother; I nod to her when she meets my eyes and I pull the door ajar. Estella and I still outside.

“Estella, talk to me.” Her hand is plastered to her forehead.

She takes a deep breath and looks deep into my eyes, “After we parted ways I arrived here and I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, her car was here and the lights were on. But the closer I got I saw a cell phone in the driveway, it’s hers.” She pulls the device out of her cleavage and hands it to me. I pocket it and wait for her to continue.

“I, of course came in. The kids were nowhere to be found; I called for them to no reply. I started to read the energy but I was blocked. I tried, Cian. I tried over and over; I cannot penetrate whatever is surrounding the house.” She begins to cry, she is clearly spent from the constant attempt.

This is beginning to make sense; Madliene would of course put an enchantment on the house, but an enchantment that blocks Estella’s gift, why? Any gifts we possess would be beneficial for the situation. I pull myself from the daze.

“After I was dragged to the floor for trying so hard I heard Henri’s voice. That pulled me right out, I ran up the stairs and listened until he did it again, but he didn’t so I manually searched and sniffed them out. They were huddled together in an upstairs closet, Scarlet said it was the ‘plan’ her mother gave her.”

Clever Babet, “Let’s go in.” I say and open the door for Estella who is visibly weary. I close the door behind me and stride into the room where Scarlet and Henri are, Estella sits down with the little boy to take over for Scarlet, “Can I talk to you Scarlet?” She looks up at me and over to Estella who is already engaging Henri.

“Sure,” she says getting up from the floor. She kisses Henri on the top of his blonde head and waits for my direction. I motion for her to accompany me out to the terrace, but I can see Estella wants to hear what the teenage girl has to say. I instead direct her to the couch. She sat but kept her eyes on Henri; I sat beside her and composed myself as to how to approach the sullen teenager.

I take a deep breath, “Scarlet, what was the plan your mother gave you?”

The girl meets my eyes and it’s the first time I have had the opportunity to really take Scarlet in. Her eyes are exactly like her mother’s, vibrant lustrous green but her scent is different. The lavender is there but the undertone isn’t rose hips, its citrus flower. She’s gorgeous, like her mother and her great aunt but now I can see less of the teen in her eyes and more of a young woman. A transformation I was sure was due to the unfortunate chain of events transpiring before her.

Revelations of Cian

http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-Cia...