The Vampire (THE VAMPIRE Book 1) (85 page)

He thought about his own family today. He did miss them. But they were enjoying themselves right now, and so was he: Augere. New Orleans. Genier hospitality. Holiday cheer, food and beverage in excess. It could not be any better. Jason sipped at the tasty drink. Oh, yeah, and seeing his first ever full body apparition. Perfect. He nodded. This trip was really going well.

Soon James returned with a small plate of food, and sat with Augere, and Jason went to the buffet line. He returned and sat with Augere as James left again. Allen returned with some food and set a plate down, and then left. It appeared they all had the same thought without conferring about it: keep Augere company so he would not feel uncomfortable.

Jason noticed a subtle shift in Augere suddenly. If he had not, by habit now, been so attentive to him, he might not have noticed. But he did. He stole a glance at Augere. The features were tense as he directed a cold stare across the room. Jason took a discreet glance in that direction. He saw two people approaching whom he recognized: Matt and his son Sean. They were making their way across the room and it seemed to Jason they were heading for this table.

Both James and Allen suddenly reappeared, each with food or drink in hand, and they sat down just as Matt and Sean reached the table.

Father and son offered greetings and Christmas wishes to all at the table and all responded cordially except for Augere, who made no acknowledgement of them. He sat coldly silent, in a casual pose, legs crossed, one arm dangling from the chair arm. The two men soon moved on. A brief palpable tension folded around the table.
Now what was that all about?
Jason wondered. He didn’t have long to reflect on it, however.

A live jazz band began playing and some people were up and dancing. The soft lights and cheery elaborate decorations helped to create a festive atmosphere. This was an especially beautiful time to enjoy the city, with its holiday best in evidence everywhere. More people came to the table to extend their good wishes; Augere nodded to them, but rarely said more than a word. It seemed he was being more than just tolerant though; he appeared to be more relaxed now, and even somewhat contented.

“Jason, you will be joining us for the bonfires, tomorrow evening I hope?” James asked. “There will be some spectacular fireworks too. We are expecting quite a few people; there will be extra warm clothing available if it is needed.”

“Yes, sure. I’m really looking forward to that. Are you going too, Mr. Augere?” Jason asked. He got a nod.

“Tonight a lot of people will want to get home and spend private time with family and then maybe attend some of the festivities later on. Do the two of you have any plans for tonight?”

Augere and Jason looked at each other. It appeared they did not.

“You are welcome to join us for a late night buffet at the Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez Cafe.”

“I had something similar in mind,” Augere stated pointedly to James.

James looked at him and nodded slowly. “Would you like me to accompany you? I could drive.” Augere seemed to reflect on this, and reluctantly stated that yes, perhaps he could.

“Jason, I’ll give you the address; maybe you will join us at the buffet later on then?”

Jason said he might. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but it appeared James and Augere were going somewhere together that evening.

Jason walked back to the hotel, feeling pleasantly stuffed once again, really needing that postprandial stroll, and then some, to help work off the excesses of the past days.

Once he got to his room he immediately flung himself onto the bed. He needed a quick nap. He was really exhausted, but he couldn’t sleep. After a restless half hour he realized it was going to be dinnertime soon. More significantly, it was already cocktail hour. He decided to go to the hotel bar, maybe have a brandy, and then try again to sleep for a while, to be rested and refreshed for more activity later tonight.

While seated and enjoying the bar’s specialty drink, a Voodoo Cocktail, he overheard two young men talking excitedly several feet away. He recognized the logo on some equipment bags they had with them, and on one of the guy’s T-shirts: it was the name of a paranormal organization familiar to him. He eavesdropped, intrigued by their comments.

After a few minutes he approached them and introductions were made. He told them he had done a fair amount of paranormal investigating himself. They identified themselves as out of town members of a local group, as Jason had suspected, and then the three of them shared anecdotes from their personal experiences. The men explained they had never investigated this hotel before, but they knew it to be quite paranormally active by reputation, especially at this time of the year. They had booked their hotel room months in advance.

Jason was very eager to share his recent experience, with anyone, and these guys were the perfect recipients. He had no proof of what he had seen though, and naturally he could not mention Augere. He couldn’t really provide many background details of the whole incident either. It would sound like empty bragging; a made up story with vague details to impress two strangers. It was frustrating.

Jason asked if they had had any experiences yet. Maybe they had seen something of the young transparent girl too. Not yet, they told him, but were hopeful this would be the night. They expected to capture and record something.

“Like—EVP? Mysterious activity?” Jason wanted to know what they knew about any alleged hauntings there.

“Yeah, some of that. That is what several people got last year. But the year before that—a half body apparition just appeared: head and torso—a woman in a grey dress—floating for just a few seconds, in a hallway. We weren’t here; we just heard about it. That’s the kind of thing we’re hoping to catch, maybe on film.”

“Rather impressive.” Jason nodded. He was excited at the thought of seeing something like that too. To add to his already unique experiences. “And what floor was that on?” They replied it was on the 3rd.

“That’s my floor! I wish I had brought more of my equipment. But I do have two cameras, a digital and a 35mm. I hope I get to see something.”
Else,
he thought, eager for more of the kind of encounter Augere had provided for him.

They exchanged emails and promised to share whatever each experienced here. The two men said they would be around for a few more days yet.

Damn
. If only he had some proof, maybe he could have told his story. The incident had only lasted a few minutes—but that would have been long enough to get some photos. Without tangible proof he did not feel comfortable sharing any circumstances of the event; lies would be inevitable, especially any part of it concerning Augere.

He had another drink but was still too restless to return to his room to try to sleep. He took a walk around the French Quarter. Christmas Day. There were some people around, more than he had thought there would be. He was contented and peaceful and he leisurely took some photos of the cheerful displays and decorations around the city.

He arrived back at the hotel in time to see James drop Augere off and Jason was startled at the sight of him: Augere was wearing clothes that did not suit him at all—they were bland, oversized and plain looking, like workmen’s clothes. He also had leaves, mud and twigs clinging to him. What on earth? Jason said nothing, and Augere headed to his room without a word. It left Jason trying to imagine what he and James had been up to.

He got himself ready for the evening’s event and was waiting in the lobby for the car to pick them up, when Augere appeared behind him, impeccably dressed as usual. He appeared calm, languid. Jason took note of his eyes now: they were brilliantly violet with a hint of blue. This seemed to confirm his suspicions. But he seriously doubted Augere had just killed someone, especially with James along. An animal was more like it. But Jason was a little stunned to realize this. It was still so recently that he had finally conceded what Augere truly was. Yet how all of this worked was still something of a mystery to him. He had to acknowledge there was much he still did not know. And though he was intensely curious he was still not quite ready to be fully exposed to all of the truth just yet. The facts of Augere’s existence had been something he had been desperate to learn. Now he needed more time to absorb facts and details more slowly.

The late night buffet was in a part of town Jason was not yet familiar with, a place with a homey feel to it and excellent food and drink to go with the atmosphere. There were some local specialties he had never tried before and he felt adventurous. He was surprised to learn that once again Augere would be present when others were eating. He had been led to think this would be an uncomfortable experience for him. Now Jason began to question even things he thought he knew.

But Augere remained in a private salon apart from the others and out of sight for the most part. James and Allen were attentive to him, as was Jason, and he seemed content alone, sipping wine.
So, this is how they handle this kind of situation,
Jason surmised.

He was introduced to James’ wife, Lisette, whom James affectionately referred to as “my Creole beauty.” Jason noticed the radiant look in James’ eyes when he looked at his wife. It made him think of Zavi suddenly, and he thought probably he already had that similar look of pure affection whenever he looked at her. And Lisette truly was a beauty: with her pale complexion, petite, girlish figure, and her long shiny dark hair worn in a casually layered style. She had kind eyes that were a stunning deep blue and a most genial and gracious smile readily lit up her face. Jason was charmed by her casually sophisticated air. He was deeply touched that she greeted him as if he was an old friend of the family. Jason met the Genier’s two children, a boy and girl aged nine and eleven, Deveraux and Taraleigh. The children mirrored their parents’ looks, and Jason noted how socially poised they both were. Lisette asked about Mr. Augere, and James explained he was tired and had wanted to come only if he could be off by himself. Jason noticed her somewhat dubious expression, and was surprised she hadn’t seen him at all yet. She mentioned that she hoped Mr. Augere would be up for some dancing during the next day or so. Had Jason heard her right? Augere had not seemed in the least tired to Jason, not once lately. As he wondered if it was possible for Augere to even get fatigued, the very mention of being tired had made him yawn.

When Augere learned it was 1:30 a.m. he announced he had to leave now, and Jason was glad to accompany him back to the hotel, driven by private car. Jason had just picked a little at the buffet and still managed to eat more than he should have. It was all so good but he really needed sleep more than anything else now and he could not wait to fall into bed, knowing he would definitely sleep good and sound tonight.

He did sleep soundly, but not for long. He restlessly began to toss and turn, his sleep inexplicably interrupted. He plumped his pillows and drifted off again, only to be pulled back to wakefulness. He lay with his eyes shut, focusing on sleep, but there was…something… A sound. He sleepily opened one eye; tried to listen awhile but then drifted off again. And then just as quickly, the sound returned. It was an indistinct sound that woke him again. He lay in bed, trying to hear it once more. He strained to hear for several long moments. Nothing. Maybe it was just some fragment of a dream or even his tired imagination.

He rolled onto his other side, his face pressed sideways into his pillow, and he began to drift off again. But there it was now…a rising, moaning sound. He heard it more clearly this time. He opened both eyes as he rolled onto his back. He lay there, NOT wanting to hear anything—but then it was present again. He just wanted to go back to sleep. It was a woman’s voice; he could detect that now, a little more clearly. A soft moaning sound which grew louder; a cry of pain and then more moaning. Then a softer, more plaintive sound. He propped up on one elbow, listening. The same sounds again—distinct and disturbing. Someone was hurt, in pain; crying out and moaning, and it was happening close enough for him to hear it. A female was definitely in distress.

He got out of bed and pressed his ear to his door, listening out to the hallway. He knew he needed to call down to the desk to let them know, so they could investigate. He heard the sounds again, sharper and louder this time. But it wasn’t coming from the corridor. He stepped back and then eyed the connecting door between his room and Augere’s.

As he approached that door to listen, the cries and moans were more insistent and almost rhythmic. As he stood listening at Augere’s door, certain now this was the source of the sounds, he became scared and horrified. He couldn’t call down to the desk. Not if Augere was involved in this. What was going on? Was he attacking someone, right here in the hotel? Jason began to feel physically ill. Hadn’t he just…killed….something—earlier that evening?

He continued with his ear to the door, wanting to stop listening, but unable to do so. The moaning grew, faded, rose again, rhythmically, almost in synch with the sound of …bed springs…Jason blushed suddenly. Then he listened a little longer, until he was fairly certain. He climbed back into bed and pulled the covers up around his neck, settling in again to get back to sleep.

No one was in any pain in that room, unless it was the pain of pleasure. He shook his head again before resting it on his pillow once more.

But he was still unable to sleep. The sounds of pleasure and gratification continued unabated, occurring steadily and sounding clearly through the thin walls. Jason realized he would just have to wait it out. Embarrassment flamed through him at being witness to Augere’s private activities.

He can’t keep this up indefinitely,
Jason thought.

He was wrong. When he checked his bedside clock again, for the fourth time, it was two hours later, 4:30 a.m., and the varying cadence of the pleasurable sounds still emanated clearly from Augere’s room.

“Unbelievable.” Jason shook his head; his only real option was to lie awake, waiting. The sounds continued throughout the night. By the time the first light of dawn crept into his room through a small space in the heavy curtains, either the pleasurable activities had ceased, or Jason had finally been able to overcome the evidence of it, because he had drifted off to sleep. And with Augere’s room finally silent, Jason managed to sleep in a little longer.