Avenge (10 page)

I licked my lips imagining the fresh,
warm doughnuts that would no doubt be a new favorite addiction if I
could eat them. “It sounds amazing.”

“
It really is, sugar.
Bourbon Street is a small part of what New Orleans has to offer.
When I was a little girl, I used to take the streetcar into the
Garden District and imagine I lived in one of the Victorian homes.
Years later when I signed my first major recording contract, I
bought one of those homes that I used to marvel at.” Sadie Ann
shook her head, coming out of her memories and back to the present.
“Now, Bourbon Street itself is a fine place to be on a Friday
night. They have a little somethin’ for everyone and no one will
judge you there. It’s a great place to let your hair down and live
a little. Which is why the vampires have such an easy time findin’
prey. Everyone lets their guard down and ignores the warning in
their gut tellin’ them somethin’s wrong.”

Chapter
Eleven

“
So how exactly is this
going to work?” Cassie asked. “Are we going to walk up and down the
block looking fierce and scaring the bad guys away?”

“
Sadie Ann and Elizabeth
came up with a plan before our arrival. Do you want to outline it,
ma’am?” James walked a few paces behind her so she could have the
floor and our undivided attention.

“
We’ll walk and talk. We’re
still quite a ways away from the center of the city and it’s after
nine, just when things start to pick up.”

We said goodbye to Louis, who would be
manning the headquarters while we went into the city. I was
surprised Sadie Ann’s team wasn’t joining us, but she explained
that they got a call about an attack in Shreveport and had to
leave.

We walked to a trolley station and
stopped. “We’re taking public transportation in?”

“
More like we’re hitching a
ride,” Sadie Ann explained. “It’s the easiest and fastest option.
When we get to our destination, we want our presence known to the
enemy. We need to present a formidable and united front that will
make them fear crossing us. We’ll walk in a single, wide line and
take our time. I want to look in every alley way and dark corner to
make sure no one is lurking, and to let them know we leave no stone
unturned. Keep your weapons out and visible. Let them know we mean
business. ”

“
And be prepared for any
sudden attacks. The young ones may think it a good opportunity to
rise in the ranks,” Adam chimed in.

“
A foolish opportunity,”
Lola muttered under her breath.

“
Thank you, Adam,” Sadie
Ann agreed, ignoring Lola’s comment. “I don’t think they’ll try
anything with a group our size, but it’s always better to be
prepared for the worst. And Lola, I agree with you as well. It
would be foolish, but we’re not dealing with Mensa members
here.”

“
Yes, but we can’t
underestimate them either,” James pointed out. “While they lack
common sense and intelligence, they make up for it in cunning at
trickery. Their only goal is power, no matter the cost.”

We rode the rickety streetcar through
the Garden District and onto the edge of the Quarter. Max let me
sit against the window so I could take in the sights, for which I
was grateful. I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to travel much
outside of Florida during my lifetime save for a few trips to
Atlanta and one cruise to the Bahamas. The city reminded me of St.
Augustine with its Spanish moss trees and in its ornate
architecture. Both cities were among the first to be colonized in
the South and were remarkably well preserved.

When the train ride ended, I was
saddened to end my sightseeing. Max leaned his head on my shoulder
and whispered in my ear, “After this is over, I’m going to show you
the world.”

My heart fluttered at his words and I
knew they weren’t only wishful thinking. He really would move
heaven and earth to make me happy, and I wanted to do nothing more
than to kiss him endlessly in thanks. We didn’t work a normal 9-5
schedule, with weekends and holidays off. We worked hard because we
liked the job and we took pride in it, not because someone forced
us for a paycheck. If we wanted time off, it was usually
approved.

Max took my hand to help me to my feet
and we stepped off the train and onto the outer edge of Bourbon
Street. Neon signs welcomed us and advertised stores and goods
while crowds of people laughed and drank as they walked down the
center of the streets, cups in hand. The street was closed off to
motor traffic, allowing people access to walk and drink. Street
performers set up their posts every few blocks, drawing large
crowds and delighted cheers.

Everything about it appeared to be the
ultimate party, but if you looked closer, you noticed the fist
fight between two drunks, the drug deal going down on the corner,
or the pick-pocket weaving between the crowd, lightening tourists
of their hard-earned money.

“
Stay close to the center
of the street. We want a visible presence.” James and Sadie Ann
capped the ends of our line while Max and I took the dead center. I
wouldn’t be using any weapons unless absolutely necessary since I
was the only one who could protect myself and wanted to keep my
hands free to call up a shield instantly if necessary. Adam,
Cassie, Lola, and Zander stood between us with their guns out,
cocked, and ready to go. I was glad the tourists couldn’t see us,
because I’m sure we would have scared the crap out of a few of
them.

We took our time marching down the
street, slowly making our way block after block. We passed several
blocks full of strip clubs, girls hanging out the doors giving
passersby a “sample” of what was inside. Next, several blocks
offered bars with every kind of music or dancing you could ask for.
People gyrated and sloshed their drinks as they danced, not caring
who might be watching. Then, a few streets later, there were
several gay bars. The bright feathers and outlandish costumes from
the drag show inside were visible from the street.

We took our time walking, checking
each dark corner and making our presence known as we took in the
sights. After walking a dozen or so blocks, we came to the end of
the crowded bar section and hit a more residential area. On the
corner of one of the streets, an old woman clutched her cane and
toddled out of a lamp-lit bar, beckoning us forward. “I seek a word
with you.”

“
Is she motioning for us to
go over?” I asked. Surely I was imagining it and she actually meant
the group of drunken frat boys vomiting behind us.

“
Yes, that’s Madam Dufrane.
She’s a local voodoo priestess and a bit of a local legend. She’s
also one of my informants. I’ll be right back.” Sadie Ann jogged
over to the hunched, wrinkled woman and was led into a small
courtyard. While we waited, the rest of the group broke formation
and took a look around.

“
I know she looks like a
sweet old grandmother, but that woman scares me,” Lola whispered to
Cassie and me.

“
It is pretty scary knowing
someone can see us. I’ve been assuming for years that no one else
could. I wonder how many have been secretly spying on me.” Cassie
shuddered, rubbing her hands up and down her arms and looked around
the street before turning and walking closer to James.

“
I actually like it that
there are some who can see us. It gives me comfort that there’s a
way I could get in touch with my loved ones if I really had
to.”

Lola nodded in agreement before
replying, “Is that even allowed?” I shrugged, having no answer.
Lola was quiet for a moment, before whispering, “There’s something
about that woman’s eyes that give me the
heebie-jeebies.”

Max came up behind me, placing both of
his hands on my arms and leaning close to my ear. “Did you hear
that?”

I looked at him quizzically and
listened for anything out of the ordinary. “I don’t hear
anything.”

“
I swear I heard a
growling. Maybe it was a dog.”

“
We should check it out.
What if it was a werewolf?”

Max nodded, but then scrubbed his face
with his hands. “Adam told me Cassie’s not feeling well, and James
went with Sadie Ann.”

“
Lola, Zander and I can go
with you,” I suggested. “It’ll only take a few minutes to check
out. It was probably a dog. Louis told me no werewolves have been
spotted in this area in months. They don’t want to compete with the
vampires.”

“
No, you girls stay here.
I’ll go with Zander to check it out. With Cassie not feeling well,
I want you to be here to back them up. Don’t go anywhere, and stay
together. James and Sadie Ann should be back momentarily, and Z and
I will only be a minute.”

Twenty minutes later, we were still
waiting for Sadie Ann and James to return from her talk with the
psychic woman. Adam and Cassie took seats on a stoop of a nearby
house where he was gently rubbing her shoulders. I wished I knew
how to help, but Adam was with her, and he told me to keep watch.
Max and Zander still hadn’t returned, and Lola and I were growing
restless.

“
Do you want to look in the
window of that antique shop with me?” Lola motioned to a shop
several doors down that was filled with relics from the turn of the
century. “I’m pretty sure I saw some old records from the 1950s and
I wondered if one was Sadie Ann’s.”

“
You go check it out. I’m
going to wait here for Max. He should have been back by
now.”

Lola shrugged her shoulders. “Suit
yourself, but if it were me I wouldn’t wait around for some man.
Let him chase you a little every now and then.”

“
It’s not like that; I
don’t want him to be worried if I’m not here when he gets
back.”

“
Sugar, it’s a half a
block. He won’t even need to strain to see you.”

“
I’d still rather wait, but
you go on ahead. I’ll holler if I need you.” I gave Lola my biggest
smile to convince her I was all right and watched her walk away,
muttering about how times had changed. I leaned back against a
fence and watched the happenings around me. This end of Bourbon
Street wasn’t as crowded, but there were still several people
milling about. A ghost tour was in progress across the street, with
the guide explaining how he too had the ability to see spirits that
remained trapped on earth. I snorted at his assertion and wondered
if I should run up and yell “boo!” to see what he’d do. The crowd
ate up his story and snapped photo after photo with their phones
and cameras as he pointed out one of the most haunted bars in the
city.

As they continued on down the street,
I caught a bit of motion out of the corner of my eye coming from
the back of the tour. Looking more closely, I didn’t spot anything
strange. Everyone continued to listen to the guide’s stories and no
one seemed out of place. I shook my head, convinced that whatever I
thought I saw was a self-fulfilling prophecy. I turned away,
glancing in the opposite direction to see if I could find where Max
and Zander went, but I detected no one. Lola was immersed in the
store window, cupping both of her hands against the glass to shield
her eyes for a better view.

I was about to stand behind Cassie and
Adam, who were lost in their own world on the stairs, when I
spotted an inhuman flash of color by the tour group. I took a few
steps toward the group to investigate, but they were almost a block
away by now. I jogged a few paces and finally locked my gaze on the
source. A vampire was hiding in the center of the crowd. It was
easily recognizable, with its skin taking on a grayish hue and
bright, pulsing veins popping up against the surface of its skin. I
opened my mouth to yell for my team, but the vampire put his finger
to his lips indicating quiet.

How odd
, I thought silently.
Is he actually
asking me to keep his presence a secret
? I
smirked at the ridiculous notion, but before I could do anything
else another vampire peeked out of the crowd. I hadn’t noticed it
hiding in the center of the throng because it was so much shorter
than everyone else.

It was Jessica. My baby sister,
complete with bloodied fangs from what was no doubt a recent kill,
was standing in front of me half a block away. Seeing me, she
giggled, and the sound knocked me back a few steps. It was my
sister’s laugh and smile, wrapped around a bloodthirsty monster who
didn’t even bother to clean the blood off of her mouth.