“We have to go see Vivian. She may be able to help us.”
“You just said you didn’t think she could do anything.” Ivy stopped her pacing for a moment.
“She might not, but it’s worth a try.”
“Come on, Mina,” Lucy pleaded, tugging on her hand. “We can’t sit here and do nothing and let her win.”
“She’s right, you know,” Ivy said, having joined Alcide on the balcony. She took a drag from her own cigarette and blew out the smoke. “Get up, go wash your face. We need to go to Vivian. It’s the only choice we have. If you want to keep Sebastian.”
“Of course I do.” She looked at Alcide, who nodded. Steeled by the support of her friends and brother, she took a deep breath. She reached out for the handkerchief offered by Lucy and dried her eyes. “Give me a minute. Then let’s go take care of this bitch.”
Ivy smiled. “There’s my girl.”
With a shaky smile of her own, Mina climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. It was time she got herself together. If she ever wanted to be with Sebastian, lying in bed and crying was not the answer.
* * *
The bell above the door tinkled as the group walked into Enchantée. In moments, an ancient-looking woman appeared through the beaded divider separating the shop area from the back room and living quarters.
“Something has happened,” she said, surveying the group that was bunched up against the glass counters that lined the sides of the room.
“Yes, Madame,” Alcide said.
“I was afraid of that. Come see, my child.” She motioned to Mina. Mina approached the old woman, who embraced her. “You’ve been through much tonight?”
Mina nodded, hoping she wouldn’t have to replay all of the night’s happenings to the woman. It was simply too much.
Alcide stepped forward then. “It was Catherine Rousseau, Madame. She has cast some kind of spell to keep Mina away from Sebastian.”
“I have heard rumblings in the Vieux Carre that she has been practicing dark magic. It will take planning and power to overcome this spell.”
“Like what, Madame?” Lucy asked.
“First, you must tell me all about what happened. Don’t leave anything out.”
Her voice shaking, Mina recalled all the events from the courtyard. How she had felt compelled to move away from Sebastian, even when he had stepped closer to her. She described the necklace Catherine had worn. When Madame pressed her for specific words Catherine had used, though, she couldn’t remember.
“She did say the spell would last a hundred years,” Mina said. “What am I going to do? I won’t live that long!”
She looked at Mina. “How badly do you want this man?”
“I want to spend forever with him, Madame.”
“You will have to spend years without him first.”
The old woman’s words filled her with despair and confusion. How would she be able to endure such a wait? “What do you mean?”
“I thought that necklace had been disposed of when Antoinette Bonaventure died, but it seems Catherine has gotten her hands on it. Antoinette was the most powerful voodoo priestess in Louisiana. That necklace was hers.”
Vivian looked at Alcide. “It will take a full century to summon the power we need to fight this spell. We will have to wait it out. Perhaps after all that time, Catherine will have amused herself and moved on. But we can make plans in the meantime.”
Alcide nodded. “Whatever it takes, Madame.”
She smiled and patted his hand. “Always the faithful protector.”
“Me too,” Ivy said.
“Careful, child, this may ask more of you than you want to give.”
“What do I have to lose?”
A smile tugged at Vivian’s lips. “I’m going to need reinforcements tonight. I can’t turn you all.”
Turn? Mina’s blood went cold.
“Yes, my child. You will have to become immortal. If you want him, you will have to fight for him, and that will take a power that humans don’t possess.”
She knew she would have to become a vampire to be with Sebastian, but to make that change without him? What choice did she have? She would have some kind of support with Alcide. It wasn’t the life she thought she was going to lead this morning when she’d woken up, but it was the life she’d have to lead to get what she wanted.
“Whatever it takes, Madame.” She reached out for Alcide’s hand. No matter what happened, she and her brother would be together forever.
Alcide took her sister’s hand in his and turned to Madame Vivian. “I’m ready to do what I need to do.”
Vivian patted his shoulder. “You’re still too young. Your time will come to perform your duties.”
Ivy walked around the shop, touching some of the wares, obviously deep in thought. “Madame Vivian, what about me?”
“You can turn as well. Mina will need a good friend by her side.”
“I’m in,” Ivy said. “You guys aren’t leaving me behind.”
Lucy shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t leave Tobias. Not now.”
Mina patted Lucy’s hand. “It’s okay, my friend. I understand.”
The bell above the door chimed again, and a beautiful blonde woman dressed in a floor-length gold evening gown came in. To Mina, she looked like a goddess with her hair done up the way it was. She moved like one too, quiet yet exuding power. “You needed me, Vivian?”
“Yes, Selena. Thank you for leaving your previous commitment to come here.”
“Whatever you need, Madame.” She pulled off long white evening gloves in a manner much like Catherine had earlier. Mina shivered.
“I need you to turn someone.” Vivian looked at Mina.
“And me,” said Ivy, stepping forward.
“Madame, I can do one, but not both. Not in one night,” Selena said. “I will need help. Let me send word to Sebastian.”
Ivy spun around to look at Mina, her grey eyes wide. It was obvious that Sebastian would not be able to get close enough to Mina to turn her, but he could be there for Ivy. “Mina?” Ivy asked quietly.
Mina nodded. “It’s okay, Ivy. Only if you’re sure about doing this. You don’t have to.”
“I’m positive.”
Selena turned and talked to the man who had entered behind her. He left the building as if the hounds of hell were after him. And perhaps they were. Mina wouldn’t be surprised at anything that happened tonight.
“Come,” Vivian said, motioning for them to follow her to the room behind the beaded curtain.
Mina’s heart started beating faster. So hard she was sure everyone in the room could hear it. But not once did she want to turn and flee. Ivy reached out for her hand and she took it.
“Ladies,” Madame Vivian gathered two blankets from her bedroom and placed them on the floor, “this is not going to be pleasant. This is going to be painful and you will die. You will have to drink from your maker within moments or that death will be permanent.”
Dizzy, Mina grabbed the counter.
“You can say no. But say it now, cher.”
She shook her head. “I’m doing this.”
Alcide placed his hand on her shoulder to steady her. “I am here for you.”
She reached up and put her own hand on his. “Thank you, brother.”
The door bell chimed again, and soon Selena entered the small room, closely followed by Sebastian. Mina’s heart clenched, the pain of longing to throw herself in his arms but not being able to flooding her. The more she yearned for his proximity, the farther away she had to move. It was frustrating, cruel, and her hate for Catherine swelled.
Vivian nodded. “The repel spell is strong. We will not be able to do this with them in the same room. Sebastian, would you wait in the store, please?”
He nodded, a twitch on his lips, red-rimmed eyes still on Mina, mournful.
Selena reached out and rubbed his arm as he walked out. “This will all work out, my friend. You will see.”
&n
bsp; His lips turned up in a half smile. “I hope you are right.”
“Come see, ma cher.” Vivian gestured to Mina. “And you too, Selena.”
Vivian pulled a chair out. “Sit here, Mina, and give me your hand.”
Mina sat in the white wooden chair. Her friends’ looks of encouragement gave her the strength to hold out her hand.
Vivian took it. She said a few words in a language Mina didn’t understand, all the while running her fingers over Mina’s wrist. Fear flooded her body as the enormity of what she was about to do sank in. Would it hurt when Selena bit her? What would it feel like to die? A thousand questions ran through her mind as Vivian continued her ritual.
When Vivian finished, she offered Mina’s hand to Selena.
Selena nodded, then, displaying her vampire teeth, she brought Mina’s wrist up to her mouth. Pain like Mina had never felt rocked her body as Selena began drawing the life out of her. As if in a trance, she felt Alcide there, his hands on her shoulders, and heard his voice murmuring words of comfort.
As Selena took her blood, Mina’s heartbeat slowed. A delicious lethargy took over her body. There was no pain, no thoughts, only an almost irresistible desire to sleep.
“There, there. That’s enough,” Vivian said, and Selena released Mina’s wrist. “You two may stay with Mina,” she said to Lucy and Alcide, “but we need to begin with Ivy. Selena, take Mina into my bedroom.”
Selena picked up Mina like she was a child and carried her into the next room. Alcide followed.
“Lucy,” he said. “You stay with Ivy, I will go with Mina.”
“Yes, Alcide.”
Selena laid Mina on Vivian’s bed. She brought her own wrist up to her lips, and tore a piece of flesh out, causing the blood to flow. She placed the bloody wrist by Mina’s mouth. “If you don’t drink this, you will die.”
Mina felt like she was enveloped in some kind of dream as she began sucking the blood from Selena’s wrist. The liquid felt like fire in her veins. It was worse than any liquor she’d ever tasted. Sweat broke out all over her body, and she began to convulse.
What she felt earlier was only a pinprick compared to what she was feeling now. White-hot pain wracked her. She fought for control, for comfort, only to find none. Alcide was there, a cold, damp rag in hand to try to bring her some relief as he wiped her brow.
“I must go,” Selena said. “I must feed after this. She will hurt for a while, but she will wake up feeling better than she ever has in her life.”
“Thank you. I will owe you one.”
“No. I had a debt to Madame I needed to pay. It is now settled. Take care, Alcide.”
“And you.”
Mina could hear the conversation as she trembled on the bed. This was worse than any illness she had ever experienced. This was hell.
In the next room, Sebastian—her love—was turning her best friend.
* * *
“Are you ready for this?” Sebastian asked Ivy. Although he wasn’t certain if the question was meant for her or himself. Turning a female was always sensual, the pounding of each other’s hearts. The intimacy of the contact of teeth against flesh.
“Yes.” Her voice was soft and shaky at first, but stronger when she repeated, “Yes.”
He could hear Madame begin her slow chant, could see her through the doorway, Mina’s hand in hers.
“Damnit!” Frustrated, he slammed his fist against the counter. “That should be me in there!”
Ivy placed her hand on his. “I know, my friend. This is such a bad situation for us all. Do you think I want you to do this? She’s my best friend.”
“I will be quick about it,” he said, sharper than he meant to, and Ivy raised an eyebrow.
“Well, not too quick, I hope. Let’s make sure we do this right. I want to come back, you know.”
He smiled then. “I could never do harm to my love’s best friend. Well, not permanent harm, anyway.”
The back room went quiet, and Sebastian knew Selena was, at the moment, drawing the blood, the life, out of his Mina. How he ached to go to her. To whisper words of comfort as her body drifted off, then as the pain came.
He sighed, wanting so much. The agony of not being able to touch her was almost more than he could bear.
Madame entered the room then, “Come now, it is your turn.”
4
New Orleans
October 29, 2020
“Double, double, toil, and trouble…” Lucy giggled as Madame Vivian sprinkled more herbs into the bowl she was stirring on the table.
“Hush, child!” Vivian scolded her, reaching out to slap a hand that wasn’t even there, which only caused the apparition perched on the counter to laugh harder.
“Are you implying we’re three witches, Lucy?” Ivy asked, raising a brow. She leaned against a counter in Madame’s workroom, twirling a small glass container filled with a dark liquid in her pale hands.
“I don’t know about witches,” Lucy giggled, “but there’s another word that would fit.”
“Well, you definitely got that right,” Ivy replied.
“Are you two done?” Madame said. “Ivy, hand me that bottle. I need to finish this before Mina gets here tonight.”
Lucy reached up and twirled a lock of dark brown hair around a finger. “Seriously though, Madame, it’s going to be quite the weekend.”
She glided off the counter and walked around the small shop, trailing a ghostly hand along the counter that held various glass bottles of herbs, liquids, and only Vivian knew what else.
“Do you think we can do it?” Lucy asked. “Going against Catherine is going to be tough. She’s only grown stronger from what I hear.”
“Yes, child, but so have we. Mina’s bringing the last ingredient she needs for the second spell to work. Make yourself useful, child, and hand me that jar of sweetgrass. Mina is going to need its protection…”
* * *
Later That Night
Music played from one of the many jazz bars in the French Quarter. Mina stopped for a moment, enjoying the sounds of the piano and trombone.
“Do I know what it means to miss New Orleans?” she muttered to herself. “More than that mortal will ever know.” Thinking of Sebastian, she frowned as she pulled the backpack she carried on her shoulder a little closer and continued her trek down Bourbon Street. She huddled into the hooded jacket she wore, trying not to attract any undue attention. It wouldn’t do to have Catherine aware of her presence in town before they were ready.
There was a chill in the October night air, but Mina didn’t feel it. One of the perks of being undead. One of the many. She smiled, careful to keep from exposing her fangs. Not that she’d attract that much attention in a place known for debauchery, costumes, and joie de vivre.
New Orleans hadn’t really changed. It still smelled of the river that flowed nearby, gasoline, and human bodies. Nothing like her quiet plantation just a few miles north. She preferred the night sounds of the frogs and alligators. The smells of night blooming flowers. It was the only thing that had brought her peace in the last century.
She stopped again on a busy corner, seeing the elegant letters of Trudeau’s, a New Orleans staple since the late 1800s. A line of customers already waited to be seated, some looked over the menu posted in a glass enclosure on the wall outside. Some sipped from to-go cups from popular places in the Quarter, waiting patiently for their turn. There was only one thing on the menu that Mina wanted, but he still remained just out of her reach.
I know you’re here…
Sebastian’s dark and sultry voice intruded on her thoughts; a sip of his blood she’d received from Madame had allowed them to communicate when they were close. She stepped back, almost bumping into a tourist dressed as a vampire. Had she been anywhere else, she would have smiled at the irony. Not here though, and not now.
She stared up at the balcony of the building, willing him to come out. If only to see him for just a moment. Her breath caught in her throat as
she watched. She had stood here before, in the days and weeks after Catherine had cast her evil spell. Sebastian on the balcony, so close, but so far away.
Finally, she’d stopped tormenting herself, and him, and moved to the plantation. She hadn’t stood in this spot in decades. Funny, how it hadn’t really changed. The lights had changed from gas to ugly electric ones. Vehicles prowled the streets now instead of the horses and buggies, although they were still there too.
A slight hum passed through her body, and she looked up again to see Sebastian on the balcony. His clothes had changed with the times, and his hair was different, but those eyes were the same. He stepped forward, as far as he could before the invisible wall separating them stopped him.
Mina stopped breathing, so affected by the sight of him after all this time. Even from across the street, she could see the pain in his eyes. An emotion surely reflected in her own.
He raised his hand in greeting, and she did the same. Then she nodded and turned and walked away.
* * *
Sebastian longed to jump down from the balcony and follow her. But he had to resist. Using preternatural skills in this day and age, with cameras everywhere, was asking for trouble. Instead, he used the back stairs and walked as fast he could without attracting unnecessary attention in the direction she had taken.
Her thoughts weren’t hard to follow, and soon he was skirting through the shadows, following her footsteps, careful not get too close. Catherine had probably already detected that Mina was around and would no doubt make an appearance soon to torment them both.
He simply wanted to see Mina again. They had exchanged letters over the years. Notes always signed the same way, with the same red lip print as the one she had given him all those decades ago. He had carried it with him, always in his jacket pocket, until time had run its course and it had fallen apart.
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