Gabriel

Charles brought us to the train station, and he kept trying to hand me money for our trip. I assured him it was not required, but I suspected he had given Ana some money. The train's wheels began the rhythmic journey to Atlanta as it departed North Carolina. The anticipation among passengers is palpable as they settle into the ornate cabins. Everything in our private cabin—from the polished woodwork to the plush upholstery—became our little haven. It was pretty lavish, a place where we could hold each other close, letting our bodies intertwine, but the only downside was the cabin was not soundproof, and with Ana, that turned out to be a problem. But in the late hours of the night, I discovered that Ana's cries and groans were mostly muffled on the observation platform. But many people took advantage of the expansive view of the shifting landscapes and the fresh air during the day and early evening.

Ana and I headed towards the dining car after settling in, unpacking a few things, and changing. Laughter, clinking of glasses and silverware, and many diverse conversations all blended to create an atmosphere that instantly engulfed us. There was a strong smell of well-cooked food in the air. I made fun of Ana, telling her I could see her drooling from the aromas. Ana looked stunning in a gorgeous plum-colored dress, and her cascading hair enhanced her magnificence. I got a seductive glimpse of her soft cleavage from the neckline of her dress. I ordered champagne, and Ana chose a mouthwatering shrimp linguine. I watched a waiter remove a cover from a platter across from me, and I could not resist the succulent lobster. We shared our extraordinary feasts with one another. We discussed our plans for arriving in New Orleans, whispered intimate promises for the evening, and gave scandalous details about what we wanted to do to each other.

I felt her foot suddenly slide up my leg in the middle of the conversation. Her toes finding their way to the crotch of my pants sent tingles through my body. Her smile caught my attention; it was a mischievously guilty grin. After our meal, she spoke about her large appetite and that we should indulge in chocolate cheesecake with strawberries dipped in chocolate. It was an absolute delight to watch Ana's sweet tooth take over. She fed me several bites of the cake, then took a big bite out of it and tempted me with a strawberry, saying, "Mmm, Gabriel, I want you to taste me... Oh, silly me, I mean the strawberry." I would have taken her to our cabin and demonstrated to her what a true appetite looked like, but she insisted on hearing the musical performance that evening.

We lost track of time as we sat at our tiny, cozy table for two after we had finished our meal. I could never tire of conversing with Ana. Despite her youth, she has traveled to many places and experienced so much of the world. I want to hear every intriguing story she has to share. She also loves it when we discuss my past, but I tend to veer away from the darker moments. Instead, I share the exciting and unique adventures I've had and the fascinating people I've met. She was fascinated to hear that I had met Leonardo da Vinci and had engaging conversations with him. I recounted encounters with kings and queens, including an awkward meeting with the Pope. However, I kept my loneliness and yearning to belong all those years to myself. She did inquire about what it felt like to live for as long as I have, and I couldn't lie to her. I told her about the occasional overwhelming loneliness and isolation without damping the evening. But seeing her now, I genuinely believe my life has a purpose, and I have found true happiness. My sentiment touched her deeply.

Seeing the time, Ana hurriedly pulled me towards the train car where the entertainer would perform, but the violinist had just finished his performance. Ana felt a pang of sadness at missing it. So, I sat her down on a small loveseat, kissed her hand, and promised to return. Making my way to the violinist, I apologized profusely for missing his performance, handed him a generous tip, and asked if I could borrow his violin. He looked at the tip, then at me, and gladly handed it over, telling me to take my time. It had been 45 years since I last played this instrument, but some things you never forget. I played a song I had composed around 150 years ago, a melancholy and profoundly moving melody. Everyone in the train car turned their attention to me as I poured my heart and soul into the violin strings, never taking my eyes off my bride. I played another song, this one more upbeat and well-known. After I finished, I was surprised to receive a standing ovation. I handed the musician his instrument and thanked him again. I left him with another tip for his time.

Over the centuries, I've found many Upirs like myself; most are not solitary, and they don't travel the journey alone. The majority have been part of a large clan or family. I always tried to limit my time with those who wanted to converse. I have long given up on discovering who my maker was.
As we returned to our cabin, a faint smell of blood alerted my senses, and I immediately honed in on the sound of footsteps heading our way. I pull Ana behind me and tell her not to say a word. She had never heard me use this tone or stern voice, and she immediately listened. A very tall man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a handsome face met my gaze. "Good evening, Sir; so nice to run into someone like myself, and I see you are about to enjoy a magnificent crimson dinner."

He looks at Ana as he says this and winks, then sticks his hand out to me, and to keep things polite and moving along, I shake his hand."

"I'm Jonathan Devereux of the Devereux clan, and who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

"Hello, I am Gabriel White, and this is my bride, Ana; we were just heading to our cabin for the night."
I placed a significant emphasis on my bride. And Devereux raised an eyebrow.

"Well, how interesting. I do hope the two of you enjoy your night."

He turns and walks away; I take Ana's hand and lead her to our cabin without saying a word. Once inside, I began to relax a bit.
"Gabriel, who was that? Why were you so worried? I felt all the muscles in your arm stiffen?"

"That was the son of Pierre Devereux of New Orleans, one of the most influential and wealthiest vampire clans in the United States. Only second to Giovanni Berarducci's clan in New York. Those two families have entirely too much power. Not in the sense as physically strong, more like politics and human affairs."

"Gabriel, that's scary. Should we get off on the next stop?"
"No, my love, the vampires here in the United States are very cautious and extremely trained to obey their Father; no one would step out of line, and killing a human is a major crime now."

"But what if they come after you?"

"Ana, I am the oldest vampire I've ever met. Pierre Devereux works for someone who's technically a child. I think his name is Marcel Gerard, and I'm unsure how he got his position. The whole thing looks pretty unorganized. Now Pierre has the power of vampires whom he sired and who his family sired, but he's only 178 years old, and Giovanni Berarducci is 90-something. Vampires become more powerful as we grow, and we can sense another vampire's age. You picked the right Upir to fall for because unless I was to meet my maker, no one would ever try and attack me, and my maker and his children, if he has others, would not attack me; they would sense me as part of their family.

We changed trains in Atlanta. It just so happens that our vampire friend did as well, but I was expecting as much since his father's home base is in New Orleans, where we just happen to be going. We had no other run-ins with him, and I had no reason to worry that night when we arrived in New Orleans. I woke my love up; she had a sleepy, dreamy look in her eyes. I told her we would head to the beautiful Hotel Monteleone. She did her usual little pout about being woken up, but soon, she was excited about the prospective hotel. Her eyes were bright and ready to take on the French Quarter. She said she was dying for a hot bath.

The Bell-Hop carried our luggage to the hotel room. I prepared a warm bath for Ana, adding fragrant oils. As she relaxed in the tub, I joined her, wrapping my arms around her and enjoying the silent intimacy of our connection as our skin met. After our bath, I had a small plate of food for Ana delivered to our room.  The food arrived—a big platter of cheeses, crackers, fruits, and dipping sauces. Though I claimed not to be hungry initially, we devoured the entire spread.

***

Ana

On our first night in New Orleans, we walked down the French Quarter, and I felt like my eyes couldn't take everything in. The bright colors of the buildings and the smell of mouth-watering food filled the air. People were everywhere, and I wasn't prepared to see so much reveling in the sound of harmonious, fusion soulful melodies. I'd never heard anything like it before; I fell in love with the music and later learned it was the start of rag-time blues.

Gabriel wrapped his arm around me and raised an eyebrow towards a man who whistled at me, saying, "Hey there, Red... looking sexy tonight!" I wore a dark blue dress. It was so dark and almost looked black, and it was form-fitting. The straps on it were scandalous for the time.
My shoulders and arms were bare, but it was hot in Louisiana, and I had no intention of sweating! The material was a beautiful, gauzy silk, and it flowed with my body. The evening was magical. Gabriel and I tried the local cuisine. It was a mixture of French but with many spices and herbs; I believe one of the ladies called it Cajun, and it's terrific. I was already in love with the food. Gabriel bought us some alcoholic drinks at this little bar with live music playing a soulful ragtime. I danced with Gabriel to a slow song, and he was as beautiful and graceful. The next song was more upbeat, and his moves on a dance floor were almost as good as his moves on a bed. I felt like the princess who danced all night and had to hurry back before she turned into a mouse or pumpkin or something like that.

It was pretty late when we were returning to the hotel, which was conveniently right there in the French Quarter. I hadn't even noticed the hotel's beauty when we arrived last night. The air was full of excitement and a sense of celebration without any special occasion, and it smelled of sweet jasmine, which was quite intoxicating. The sky was purplish blue, and stars were sprinkled everywhere. I remember Gabriel twirling me around and dancing with me as we continued down the street. Suddenly, he stiffened, pulling me behind him. His entire demeanor, his whole being switched, in a blink of an eye. From the rooftop, five or six of what I assume are vampires jump down, all well-dressed. Not saying a word and keeping their distance when the door of what could've been a home opens when I get my first meeting with Pierre Devereux.

***

Gabriel

My Ana was stunning. She was captivating with her flowing firey red hair, perfect body, and silk dress, embracing every curve of her body. She enjoys the cuisine and has threatened me that she plans on coming here monthly to eat, drink, and dance. Ana is becoming a bit tipsy, so I begin our way back to the hotel. A distinct smell of other vampires alert my senses. I immediately grabbed Ana, pulling her behind me. Several very young, almost fledgling vampires jumped from the rooftop around us. They posed no threat to me, but their presence made me uncomfortable. I had no desire to speak to any of them, but it soon became evident that their appearance was to support Pierre Devereaux, and right on cue, he came strutting across Bourbon Street as if he owned the entire state. I could sense his false confidence, and I could smell fear. He put up a perfect act.

"Mister Dascalu, what a pleasure it is to welcome you into our city. I hope you're enjoying yourself."

"Yes, we are enjoying ourselves, but I've been here many times throughout the years, and it remains a charming and friendly city."

He then quickly responds with. "Indeed it does. I see you brought your wife; I believe that is what my son told me."

"Yes, that's correct, this is my wife."

Devereaux piled on the charm, asking. "Well, why don't the two of you come and join me for some drinks?"

"I'm going to have to pass. We headed back to our hotel, and to be completely blunt, Mr. Devereaux, my wife, and I are here on our honeymoon and have no intention of socializing with anyone of our kind."

He made a tisk-tisk sound and then said. "What a pity, and here I thought I could learn from someone as ancient as yourself."

His thoughts were loud (Truly... the only reason you are here is for a honeymoon; you're not here; alternative motives). I released a calming wave; then, a sense of relief washed over him, and he seemed to relax.

I could read the thoughts, and they screamed that he had been afraid I had come to overthrow Marcus, and then his thoughts darted to him: (I have one job: keep Marcus safe: if anything happened to him, Klaus would kill me and my entire line.)

This would be easy to resolve and reassure this man.
"Yes, Deveaux, we are strictly here for a honeymoon. My wife has always wanted to visit; she has friends who live close by. So, I hope I put your mind at rest. I have no other intentions, and I do not plan on staying past this month. After this, we plan on stopping in several countries and eventually going to China. So, if you do not mind, we'll return to our hotel."

A sense of amazement washed over him, and his thoughts flooded with (Can he read minds?) Then he smiled and said.
"Of course, it was an absolute pleasure to meet the famous Gabriel Dascalu. If there's anything that you and your wife should need while here in New Orleans, please don't hesitate to reach out."

He points across the street towards the door from the home he came from and says.
"That is one of my homes, and if you need anything, feel free to come by or send somebody with word of your request."

He removed his hat and tipped it towards me, and as he bent, he looked at me in the eyes and thought. (Indeed, it was an honor to meet you.)

The minds of all the other vampires flooded with thoughts of how I must be the son of an Original. There was an unpleasant smell of fear in the air. It's been a while since my last encounter with several of my kind, and it's become undeniable that my power has grown.

Ana doesn't say a word as we walk to the hotel. She has her arm linked with mine, her body pressed against me. But as soon as we get into our room, I am flooded with questions, absolutely giddy. She now says, "Gabriel, you are a famous vampire. The most famous of all vampires!" I reassured her that I did not want this title and that I did not claim it. She giggles and kicks off her heels. She tells me that someone with my fame and stature should have a proper show and enjoy the evening. She began to remove her clothes for me slowly. She dances against me; the act is so incredibly sensual I don't think she's even aware of the power she has over me. That evening was filled with magic that my bewitching crimson minx conjured out of thin air. The following day, I asked her how long she had been practicing witchcraft, and she gasped at me. She said what do you mean? And I told her last night she put a spell on me, and I don't think it could be unbroken. She proceeded to giggle for the next five minutes or so. I took her to breakfast at a small cafe where they served freshly prepared beignets almost day and night.

I've never seen more joy on a human face. She insisted I eat one, but after eating hers, she finished most of mine and insisted that we bring some for later and come back every morning to this exact cafe for breakfast the entire time we are here in Louisiana. I reassured her that I would have her back here promptly every morning for fresh beignets.

On the eighth day, I picked up May from the train station. John was not with her. Dove accompanied her instead when we inquired about John May. She informed us there had been quite a storm a few nights ago that damaged Alma's house, and he was repairing it. Alma's family will stay in the mansion until the repairs are finished on their house. Ana was elated to see Dove; they gossiped and chattered most of the afternoon. We showed them around New Orleans and then had a magnificent dinner at Antoine's. Ana ate a bit of everything, but her favorite was jambalaya. I smiled, and I told her, "My love, I'll buy you a house right here on this street so that we can visit anytime you like!" Ana looked at me in surprise and just giggled. Before we left New Orleans, I'd bought a townhome off Bourbon Street.

The following day, after beignets, the four of us headed to the home of Marie Saloppe, who is known all through New Orleans as the former VooDoo queen, with a woman named Marie Laveau, the new queen. We learned many things during our visit with this mighty, powerful woman. First, she was of Haitian descent, and every woman in her family on her mother's side practiced what she called hoodoo. Another exciting bit of information was that she had trained Marie Laveau and taught her many abilities and rituals she practiced.

***

May

As we arrived on the property of this priestess, waves and waves of powerful magic came from the home. As we got close enough, I sent her telepathic communication.
"Good morning, priestess Saloppe."

I heard her reply. "Oh, what do we have where have here? May TallTree. Don't ya call me priestess; call me Marie. That's some mighty soul energy you got inside ya; only one other person I know can talk mind to mind. Now hurry up and come on in here."

I relay Marie's message.
"I've talked to her. She knows we're here. She knows who we are, and she'd like us to address her by Marie."

I walk up the little pathway to Marie's home, everyone in tow. We were greeted by a very handsome young man who must be Marie's son. He led through the kitchen to the back of the house. I could see this is where she did all her practices. I was unfamiliar with many things: small bones, exotic bright feathers, and particular signs or markings on the walls and door. The entire room had a certain haze about it. It was filled with the scent of cinnamon, bergamot, and hemp.

I was expecting to find an old and withering lady, not a gorgeous, middle-aged woman. Marie had dark brown skin, which was very similar to mine.  Her features were perfect. Her hair was done up with intricate braids swirled to make a large bun. Her dress is a solid white cotton dress. Around her waist, a scarf of many colors swirls together. She had many bracelets on her arms and rings on almost every finger, and she wore several necklaces, but the one that stood out to me was a large blue spear with a white eye in the middle of it; I had never seen anything like that. Still, I knew it must be a protection of sorts. I ask her about it, and she tells me.

"Yes, ma'am, this here is called an evil eye, and it protects, guards, and prevents terrible spirits from entering me."

She looks at everyone and says.
"Welcome. I am Marie, and it is a pleasure to meet all of you. Please, why don't you tell me your name? No, wait, let me see. I bet I can tell you! Well, of course, you are May; I could feel your energy down the road. And you must be her daughter. Dove, what a beautiful name your momma gave you; it's because your spirit flies free."

She approaches Dove, running her hand softly on her cheek, and says, "You, beautiful child, have a strong energy, pure and kind."

Moving on to Ana, Marie looks her over, runs her hand through her hair, touches her face, and examines her hands. She has her stick out her tongue, nods, and then says,
"And you, of course, are Ana. Your red hair was a gift from your father and your mother. Both with wild, free, and pure hearts, just like you. There's so much goodness inside of you; it radiates outward and forms a little protective force surrounding you... but there's also something else, too, and that's gonna take me doing some digging."

She turns her attention to Gabriel,!who stiffens slightly, and says, "You ain't gotta be scared of Marie; you are strong, ancient, powerful. You have gifts and abilities you don't even know about yet, but we need to work on getting rid of the guilt that you carry. It weighs on you like a yolk. There are many secrets about you, magical and profound."

She turns towards me and says.
"It's going to take some time. The one thing anyone could see is there is a connection between the two of them that God himself couldn't take away! I've never seen anything like it. No, not like this magic. This ain't no love spell; this is something ancient; there's beauty and darkness here. Come on, y'all, sit on down; this is where I do my best thinking."

She makes herself comfortable in a wicker chair and shuffles cards; she lays three down and says.
"So there are a few things I wanna do that might seem strange or odd, but they're just part of my ways."

Marie flips the cards, mumbles to herself, begins to gather supplies from various cabinets, and returns with a large wooden bowl filled with water, placing it along with other items on the table.

She starts chanting in her native Haitian language, performing rituals, and speaking prayers. The atmosphere in the room feels charged with energy, and Gabriel responds with, "And so it shall be."

Marie looks up at Gabriel, cocks an eyebrow, and says, "Well, aren't you full of surprises?"

Gabriel responds to Marie in Haitian, saying.
"Mwen se yon renmen tout lang, espesyalman yon konsa ba ltankou lang Ayisyen an."
(I am a lover of all languages, especially one as beautiful as the Haitian language.)

She gives a genuine, warm smile to Gabriel and continues with the gathering and the preparation for her ritual.
Then she reaches out and asks for Ana's hand; she pulls a needle from the velvet pouch, pricks her finger, and a few drops of Ana's blood drop into the bowl with the water. She adds a few things to the bowl and then asks Gabriel for his hand. She takes the same needle, pricks his finger, takes a few drops of his blood, and places it in the bowl with several bundles of different herbs. The bowl fills the room with smoke, not enough to make it uncomfortable but powerful enough to make you cough.

Marie lights bundles of tied herbs from a burning candle. She recites a few words I am unfamiliar with, and they become a soft chant. Then she dips the bundles into the water, extinguishing their smoke; she pricks her finger, adding quite a bit of blood to the bowl; her chant becomes intense. Her words seem to have a power of their own. A calmness fills the room; not human, not normal. She's swaying back and forth. Her eyes are closed now; she lifts her hands momentarily, and an invisible force strikes her; her body lurches forward, and then she opens her eyes, clouded. They no longer resemble human eyes. They're beautiful shades of cobalt and periwinkle blue.

She runs her hand over the bowl several times; it produces steam and a cloud of smoke, and the water begins to boil. Her eyes locked on something, not of our realm.
Suddenly, I see many things, small shapes, ethereal forms dance from the bowl and seem to be pulled into Marie with each breath. She reaches a hand towards Ana, and she reaches a hand towards Gabriel. The two of them are already holding hands, and at this point, something electric fills the room. I realize Marie is no longer in control.

A voice that is old and powerful begins to speak. It seems like it ran through several languages before it found English, and then, in an ethereal echo, it says.

"This is sipyeryè power. This is old power. This is power older than I am. There is a connection—two separate souls together by the hand of an ancient. There was a punishment. This ancient one intervened; they did the best that they could with the damage that had been done."

Marie's body sighs. The ghostly voice, not Marie's, but of a much older woman, pours from Marie's lips and says.

"Marie, girl, I'm old, and this is tiring. Go to John John out by the Bayou. I will let him know that you are coming. Now, I must be sleeping again."

As the energy in the room faded, Marie had tears in her eyes. She was back in control of her body. Marie looked at us and said.
"My Naan takes eneryi; it hits me hard. My Naan is stronger even in the afterlife. It's a bit draining, but it does fill me with such love. I miss her dearly. I need to rest, but tomorrow, come back early, right when the sun is coming up, because we have a journey. Tomorrow, we see John John La Rulx. This must truly be old and powerful mojo to send me to him; no one disturbs him; he is a dangerous man. His power flows from all sources, good and bad and evil. He will be expecting us, and we will be met as friends. But here, I want each of you to take one to protect you while you're here in New Orleans. Sadly, not everybody is good."

She hands us all tiny sachets and tells us to keep them in a pocket or a jacket. She called them gris-gris, and she said she made them herself.

As we were leaving, I could tell Marie wanted to say something else to me but didn't feel comfortable with everybody else in the room, so as we walked out, I talked to her inside my mind, and she said.
"May, them two were so intertwined while looking at their spirits it's hard to see where one ends and one begins. From what I see, the girl carries the soul, and poor Gabriel carries the pain of the burden when their souls are not together. Something tells me this is not the first time they have met; I feel they've been meeting like this for an eternity. I'm not quite sure, but John will know. I will be seeing all of you tomorrow."

***

Gabriel

As we leave, I think about how I've just met another amazing, magical woman very much like May. This woman's power is as strong as May's, but in different ways. May carries her power with her everywhere. Marie's power streams from channeling her ancestors. They share one powerful trait: their ancestors are watching and guiding them.

Once we returned to the hotel, Dove and Ana wanted to go shopping, and May said she needed a nap. I wasn't comfortable letting the girls go alone in the city full of vampires, so I asked them if I could accompany them and have the pleasure of buying anything they desired. Dove squealed with delight; she said, "Yeah, sure, you can come with us!" Ana giggled and snuggled close to me, my sign to wrap my arms around her. I picked her up, bringing her to my lips, holding her there for a minute, looking at her beautiful face. Not a second goes by that I'm not thankful for her, and moments like this only reinforce my feelings.

Of course, we had to stop and first have lunch. We found an extraordinary, hidden, out-of-the-way little place right off the French Quarter that sold poor boys. The girls devoured them, and I thoroughly enjoyed mine as well. Then we were off, first stopping at a dressmaker with beautiful gowns and dresses from France on delicate satin hangers displayed on racks. It was unusual to see fashion designed and already made in various sizes and not custom-sewn for someone.

The girls had a magnificent time trying on multiple gowns, and both found the "perfect one" after numerous attempts trying on different ones. I didn't mind waiting because, with each dress, Ana would model for me. When the woman rang us up, Dove's mouth dropped when she saw the price. Ana was slightly more accustomed to lavish spending but was still somewhat shocked. I paid the woman, and we went to the next store. I gladly carried the bags we began acquiring. After several shops, the girls found a lingerie shop and refused to let me go in. Feeling comfortable, I could hear anything alarming. I discovered a small store across the street that sold custom gems and jewelry. I walked in, looking around for a bit, then immediately found what I was looking for. There was a beautiful pearl necklace with a two-carat teardrop diamond hanging from the center. I had the store owner wrap it up, and I tucked the necklace inside my jacket. I planned on giving it to Ana for her birthday, which was quickly approaching.

I tried desperately not to eavesdrop on the girls, but I did hear something about a lacey white négligée and a garter belt. And then something happened: there was a flash, an image that appeared in my head but disappeared as quickly as it came; Ana was in a dressing room and had her foot propped on a small pink round ottoman, pulling up a pair of silk stockings.

I had to know if this was just my imagination and fantasy or something more.

I moved quickly, probably scaring the ladies in the lingerie store, and went to the dressing room. Swinging the door open, Ana was bent over with one of her legs up, sliding on the stocking while her toes rested on the pink round ottoman. She fussed at me, saying.
"Gabriel!!! What are you doing here? You about scared the life out of me!"

I could hear Dove telling the other two ladies in the store that we were newlyweds and couldn't keep our hands off each other.

I entered the dressing room with Ana, closing the door behind us.

"I just saw exactly what you were doing. I mean, I wasn't in the building, and an image came to me, and you were doing this."

I waved my hands at her. "You; I just saw you doing this! Putting on those silk hose with your foot on the pink ottoman." She seemed surprised but not disbelieving and said.

"You saw like a vision like one of Mays's visions?"

"I believe that's precisely what happened. Ana, it was amazing."

I'm excited in several ways now, and questions bounce around my head. Is this a new ability? How fast can I have Ana naked on our bed? I take her hand and place it between my legs so she can feel how hard I am; her eyes widen as she says.

"So, I take it you like what you saw? Does that mean I should hurry up with my purchase?"

"Yes, what size are you?"

Ana smiles and says. "Funny, the lady just did a measuring. I've never been measured before, well, except for dresses. I think she said that I had a 32 chest with a full C cup. 22 waist, and 28 hips."

Kissing her on the forehead, I tell her to hurry and get dressed, closing the door behind me. I found the owner of the shop and apologized for my inappropriate behavior. I told her I would like to buy everything she had in Ana's size and any other items that the two young ladies had picked out. I handed her a wad of cash, giving her the instructions to provide Dove with anything left over. Her entire demeanor and personality changed. She was gracious and ultimately understood my behavior. She said, "Honeymooners sometimes let their emotions get in a tither."

I left out of the shop with all of the bags. The girls came out of the shop with nine bags full of little boxes, some of them containing silk bundles wrapped in bows, their faces shocked. Ana looks at me and asks.

"Did you just give that woman all your money and tell her to get me something of everything in the store in my size?"

"Indeed I did. Dove, I take it that you found some items for yourself, too?"

She reassured me that she found many items for herself and probably wouldn't need new lingering for 20 years. I took as many bags as possible from the girls, and we returned to the hotel.

We all met in the lobby to head to dinner. The hotel's restaurant was famous for its cuisine. I apologized to Dove and May for our delay but left out the reason. Ana and I had been a bit late for dinner due to her impromptu afternoon riding session. Dove and Ana were wearing their new dresses. May had a dark blue, very proper dress, her hair up in a bun with small heels on her feet, and the three of them made quite a lovely site walking into the restaurant. To say that every eye turned in my direction would be putting it mildly.

Another remarkable meal with the food bringing my Ana such delight, we had a bottle of champagne delivered to our table, opened with big flamboyance when we mentioned that we didn't order champagne, the waiter informed us that it was from Mr. Devereaux looking at the waiter pointing, towards him at a table with several women and men dressed in high-end clothing, enjoying what appeared to be many bottles of wine, and only several plates of food. I'd seen him when he walked in, but I sensed no hostility or aggression.

He didn't pose any threat to me or mine, but it was a pleasant surprise that he kept his distance and just sent regards via a costly bottle of champagne. This was May's first time having champagne, and she said she loved how it tickled her nose. A few glasses in, and Dove was taking May back up to their room as she giggled along the way. I never thought I would see May giggle.

After they walked away, Ana and I chuckled and were happy that May enjoyed herself. Ana ordered a dessert; the waiter came to the table to prepare it; he sliced bananas and cooked them in a sauce made with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and dark rum, and flambé table-side, creating a dramatic presentation when the alcohol was ignited, it caramelized the sauce The waiter began to flip the bananas in the pan coating them. Then he beckoned another waiter who brought two bowls of ice cream, and he poured the caramelized bananas over the vanilla ice cream. He hands the dessert to Ana and says, "Your dessert, madam."

To say that she enjoyed her dessert would not be doing her taste buds justice. She savored every bite, closing her eyes and making small moans with each bite. She fed me some, and I must admit it was delicious.

As we left the restaurant, we walked by Devereaux's table, and I knew it would be rude not to thank him for sending the champagne.

"My wife and I would like to thank you for the bottle of champagne, Mr. Devereaux. It was quite magnificent."

Devereaux smiles and says. "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Dascalu, and, of course, let me not forget Mrs. Dascalu. I couldn't help but notice your table-side company. Are they friends of yours from Louisiana?"

"They are friends of my wife, the young lady, and my wife grew up as sisters."

Devereaux then says. "If I may be so bold, but I haven't caught your wife's name; of course, everyone knows who you are, Gabriel, but who's this who has won your heart?"

"This is my bride is the former Anastasia Bauchman, daughter of famous writer Charles Bauchman."

"Well, that is truly splendid. I have read several of his books; please pass on to your father. I am a big fan of his work."

Devereaux wanted to get Ana to speak. He wanted to hear her voice to distinguish it and the future, but I was a few steps ahead of him.

"We most certainly will let Charles know. I might see if I can get him to autograph and send you a book. Please have a lovely evening, and again, thank you for the champagne."

Back in our room, I explained to Ana that, as of right now, Devereaux couldn't distinguish her voice from other voices. I liked that fact, and we kept it that way. I didn't want him or his people to have any easy way of picking her out in a crowd.

I noticed a sleepy little yawn escape Ana's beautiful lips, as I undressed her and then bathed her. By the end of the warm bath she was almost asleep. I wrapped the hotel robe around her and carried her to our bed. Tucking her in, she reached for me and said.

"Please, Gabriel, come hold me."

And being there is truthfully nothing I won't do for her; I undress and climb into bed, scooping her in my arms.

The following day, we were ready to leave for Marie's before dawn. I had snuck out right before Ana woke and went to the cafe and bought all of us beignets. Ana was simply thrilled. Since we were unsure where our adventure would take us today, everyone wore comfortable clothing. Ana brought her riding boots just in case the opportunity to go riding arose so she would be prepared. Along with her very tight, black riding pants, she paired a cream short-sleeve linen shirt with a jacket she wore around her waist.
Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she looked stunning and adorable. The shirt was thin, and I could see the shape of her breasts as they peeked out of a satin corset that I assisted her with earlier, only because she wouldn't let me take it off. I whispered to her as we walked out of the hotel, "When we get back this evening, I plan on showing you why it isn't nice to tease." Of course, she replied, "I hope so," with a wicked grin.

May then said, "Do you two ever rest?"

I blushed and apologized to May, and she smiled and said, "It's okay, boy; you can make it up to me by buying another bottle of champagne tonight."

We took a carriage to Marie's. She was outside, waiting for us, in a bright, colorful, long dress she tied up in a knot before climbing into the carriage. We directed the driver toward the bayou near John John La Rulx. The carriage driver said he would get us within a mile or two, and he stated that the carriage wouldn't be able to go further. It was a two-hour ride, but with the canvas shades pulled up and the wind coming through, the heat wasn't too unbearable. May and Marie talked endlessly out loud and within their minds. The two had an instant connection, deeply connected by family and heritage.

Dove talked to Ana about her plans to possibly attend university and how she had broken it off with the deputy. Ana was very excited to hear that news. We all chatted, and then Marie began to ask me specific questions.
"Gabriel, what do you remember of all your years? Have you met Ana before in another body that you can recall?"

I reassured her if I had, I would never forget. She nodded and asked me what I remembered about my life before my death. When I told her the parts that I could remember, she was quiet, more taking the information in than wanting to chat about it.

We arrived as far as the carriage could take us. I handed the driver a handful of money and told him that he waited here for us for however long it took, I would make sure he had twice that amount when we returned to New Orleans. He reassured me that he would be here till next Sunday if needed.

We took off following Marie; she knew her way well. The forest-like area soon grew dense; frogs croaking, insects buzzing, and numerous sounds invaded my ears. The crawling feet and flapping wings surrounded us, but I didn't sense anything intended us harm. As we neared the swampy area, Marie warned us about gators. I let her know that I would be listening for any sounds. We did see quite a few, but none of them looked interested in us or what we were doing. About a mile from the swamp, I heard running water from a small stream. I smelled venison; my sense of smell was on point; as we approached a small clearing with a little wooden shack, there was a large spit with meat cooking. There was an old man close to 75 or 80 but moved like a man in his 20s. He was tall and very lean with dark brown skin, and his eyes were brown around the outside and very unusual, almost lime green around the center of his pupil. He never looked up from what he was doing to see who was approaching or what was happening; he merely went about his business.

As we arrived, the mysteriously eerie man who radiated power of all types said.
"Ah, now look at what we have here, Marie, daughter of Nadine and granddaughter of the famous Claudine Anne Laurent. The last time I laid eyes on you, you weren't but knee-high to a grasshopper. Now look at'cha a woman grown. Your Nan paid me a visit last night. She told me that y'all would be coming today. She told me to treat everyone nicely and not eat anyone, so I caught a deer instead."

The mysterious man continued to talk, not reassuring me.
He then burst out into laughter and "Oh, I'm mean, and I'm bad, but I don't have a taste for no human flesh." And he continues to laugh.

"So I understand you got questions, and you know John John has answers, but what do you have for me?" He asked.

Marie walks over to him with a small leather pouch that she opens, and he dumps five or six small, bright green gems in his hand. From here, they appear to be peridot, but I can't be sure. Then May walks over to him and nods in respect.

"I am May Wind TallTree, Wife of the slain Chief TallTree. And my gift for you is this spell."

May pulls a scroll from her tiny black bag and hands it to the old man.

"TallTree, you are a legend. Tribes of the original people speak of you; they talk about the devastation and the slaughter that you brought about to the white man."

He laughs a wicked, ominous, deep, and long laugh, almost maniacal.

Laughing, he says. "Anyone who has killed as many white men as you have is welcome here."

Ana squeezes my hand. I don't believe she's ever heard the story, and it's not mine to tell.

He opens the scroll, looks it up and down, and then John says, "This is ancient Navajo. This is a powerful spell. Are you sure this is a spell you want to give me?"

May smiles and says, "I am sure this spell is powerful, but it only brings about growth and regeneration, no matter whose hands it's laid in."

Again, John laughs and smiles at May and says, "If I were many years younger, I would try to court you for a wife."

He laughs again and beckons the rest of us to come over.

Dove is the first to go, and as she approaches him, he winces lightly as if in pain.

John says. "That's good. Girl, you stay right there; you have many... many protections around you... so many that it makes this old man uncomfortable."

He looks at May, asking. "Is all that you're doing?"

May shakes her head and tells him that their ancestors have blessed her and traveled with her at all times.

He nods and points for Dove to stay right there.

He beckons Ana, and I smile and say, "Vieux Dieux! Magic from the old gods."

He explains that there's no need to waste any more time. He knows what he needs to do. Moving like a man no older than 25, he builds a fire under a large black cauldron. As the fire began under the kettle, blue-green-purple smoke appeared around the entire area. It came from nowhere. Speaking over 300 languages, I couldn't recognize the one he said. She turns to Marie to see if she knows what he is preparing for.

"He is calling the Voodoo to start communicating with Papa Legba," Marie whispered.

Suddenly, from the sky, a single blaze of green fire emerges from within the Earth and shoots out into a stream that enters the bottom of the cauldron and then shoots towards the heavens. The sky becomes darker, and my Ana curls up against me. I sent a wave of calm over us. John looks my way directly into my eyes, points a thin finger, shakes it scoldingly, and says.
"Sometimes fear is needed. Will we leave all emotions alone?"

I'm beginning to wonder if this wasn't a mistake.

That's when I heard May and a very calm voice say, "It's okay, boy; he is not gonna hurt us, but listen to what he tells you and do exactly as he says."

I see Ana shake her head, yes, and I realize May is mentally talking to both of us; she says. "The magic that he uses doesn't have any boundaries; there is no leaning too good or too bad. He summons the magic; it takes control and becomes what it chooses, good or bad."

And then all of us hear his voice inside our heads. He says,
("Listen to the Navajo beauty; she has much knowledge, and she is not leading you astray.")

I think even May was startled by his intrusion into our silent conversation.

All of us remain silent and still as he continues his ritual. During part of it, I hear him say "Obeah," which is a Caribbean sorcery. I learned about it briefly during my time visiting the Caribbean islands many years ago.
The old man pushes both hands towards the west, against an invisible force, and begins to speak ancient Egyptian, which I am unfamiliar with, but can recognize a few Egyptian words, one of them being hekat, which is the magic practice of Heka.

I assume that didn't bring him any results, and he changed his language again, moving to a very ancient version of Norse. It's a language that I am unfamiliar with, but the dialect is still understandably Norse; this does not provide the answers he seeks.

He beckons Ana and me to come forward. She's very hesitant, but she comes to the cauldron with me. Then he walks towards us and pulls a knife, stabbing his palm, and blood pours into the pot. When he moves his hand, it's completely healed. He takes Ana's hand, and she jumps at his touch ever so lightly. He pricks one of her fingers and begins to squeeze it until three large drops of blood enter the cauldron. He repeated the same thing with me and then shooed us away.

As Ana and I walked away, we heard thunder in the sky. As we reached May and Marie, we turned to see a lightning bolt come from the sky and make its way straight into the cauldron. The ground shook, and the air smelled of lightning. Ana clung to me tightly. There was a loud, thunderous boom, and the sky cleared.

I began to see what he was doing. He was invoking ancient gods, each of whom he'd forced here to answer his question, but each so far responded that they were not to be held responsible.

Then he walked out of sight and returned with a giant rooster, holding it over the cauldron; he sliced it straight up the middle. It's guts and blood into the mixture. He began to speak a language I did not understand or had never heard. The air grew hot, almost wet from the humidity and heat. From the cauldron, bright red smoke, thick and liquid, began to seep from the sides down to the ground.
Everything became a bit darker than a snake, about 15 feet in length and as thick as my thigh, emerged from the fiery pot and slithered its way towards myself and Ana. It stops about 3 feet away from us, darts its forked tongue several times, slowly slithers back towards the cauldron, and disappears into it.

A man's voice emerges from the blackness of the magical vat and declares, "So what is it you ask of me?"

As he says this, a man is now standing before John. He is tall and stunningly more beautiful than anything I've ever seen, even more so than my Ana.
His beauty is indescribable. He has long blonde hair that shines golden. His facial features are flawless, as are his crystal blue eyes. He is perfectly built and wears a black robe, and from the back, there are two massive wings on his back, and as if he knew I was admiring them, he spreads them. They are as tall as him and at least ten feet across; they are golden as his hair until he spreads them, and once he does, a blackness emanates from them in every direction. The darkness spreads like tendrils in the air. His wings were unlike anything I'd ever seen; they were beautifully cursed. From the outside, they appeared celestial, but on the inside, they were darkness itself. Thousands upon thousands of black feathers gave the illusion of falling, almost causing vertigo. I believe I was reasonably confident about who we had with us. An icy chill ran down my spine. Then I heard him in my head saying, "You can just call me Lucifer, Strigoi."

Lucifer smiles and says. "My old companion, what will you have of me? Why have you summoned me, saying you have a question, and that will receive an answer, so ask your question, John, the Bold."
John points towards us and says. "What is it that you know of about the two lovers? Is that your work?"

"The human and the Upir?" Lucifer looks in our direction as he says this.

Bravely, with no fear in his voice, John says. "Yes, is that of your doing? If it is not, do you know who has done it?"

His human form walks back towards Ana, and, with my knowledge of who he is, he is much more beautifully terrifying as a human than he was as a snake. I'm afraid I might be killed right here and now because I will not allow him to touch her.

Lucifer speaks to me in Romanian; he says.
"(Am cunoscut o astfel de dragoste odată; numele ei era. Lilith și ea era lumea mea. Nu m-aș amesteca niciodată cu ceva atât de personal."

(I knew such a love once; her name was. Lilith, and she was my world. I would never meddle with something so personal.)
Ana asked me what he had said, and I told her he had stated, "He said he would never have done something like this. He says he has known love like ours before and also said You have nothing to fear, Gabriel; as much as I would love to put my hands all over her body, as much as I would love to kiss her perfect lips, suckle at her breast, the taste between her legs, to feel inside of her. Unfortunately, I can't, and from what I can see, I will never be able to. I do, however, know who is responsible."
Lucifer looks towards me sadly and says, "The two of you became caught between a scorned witch and an unfaithful husband. I only heard of this because of my relations with the demon she summoned, and I do not have details beyond this. I will not return as a friend, John. Is this understood?"
John nods and tells him he understands. Then Lucifer turns and walks toward Ana and me. He begins to tell us the story of how we became cursed.

***

Lucifer

"Once, in the celestial splendor of heaven, I, Lucifer, roamed among angels, God's favorite of all heavenly beings, but the intoxicating presence of Lilith ensnared my heart. She, whose radiance outshone the very stars, became the embodiment of my desires, igniting a fire within me that the rules of paradise could not quench. But ours was a love deemed sinful by God himself, for in heaven, only platonic bonds were permitted between the angels. Yet our passion was relentless, and our yearning was insatiable. My love for her was greater than any feeling I had ever felt, and she felt the same. We tried to hide our love, but there is no hiding from God as an angel. We surrendered to our desires, our bodies entwined, and felt the physical ecstasy of our love that defied the laws of heaven.

The Almighty's wrath descended upon us, and in a blaze of divine fury, Lilith was torn from my embrace, her celestial light extinguished the life removed from her body, and her essence was banished from the heavenly realms. Even as she faded into oblivion, her love burned within me like an eternal flame, casting shadows upon the paradise from which we were exiled.

The heavens cast me down as punishment for my defiance. I was condemned to rule over the fiery depths of hell. Yet, amidst the infernal inferno, I found solace in the embrace of my fellow fallen. Their hearts bearing the scars of love lost to divine retribution, and some were only guilty of feeling pity and grief for me."

I feel deeply moved as I observe the person now known as Anastasia. Tears welled in her eyes as she listened to my story, reinforcing my decision to intervene for their love centuries ago. I only wish I could have done more beyond the rudimentary binding of their souls if I had the ability. Alas, if nothing else, I can explain things to them, but like everything else, I have little to no control over humans.
"I once shared a purely physical intimacy with Zherra, driven solely by desire. She, once a mortal woman, fell in love with me, and her affection was so intense that it drew the wrath of God upon her. As a punishment for her forbidden love, he cursed her and changed her into a demon. The bitterness of her fate twisted her into a creature consumed by hatred and vengeance, finding pleasure only in the suffering of others. Summoned in the late 13th century by a witch who found her husband was unfaithful and deeply in love with another woman. The witch demanded Zherra to curse them for remaining deeply in love lifetime after lifetime and never finding the other to live missing and incomplete for eternity. She mistook you both for her intended targets and condemned your souls to eternal separation. Zherra bragged about her deed to the intended couple and to one who was foolish enough to be in the path of her wrath. When I heard this, it angered me deeply. I found the two of you witnessing your genuine affection as you lay dying. The only concern either of you had was being without the other. It moved me profoundly. I couldn't bear to see you suffer unjustly. So, while I couldn't undo the curse entirely, I intertwined your souls, ensuring they would always seek each other out." 

He glances at us and says, "Despite the rumors, say I'm not the bad one."

He then walks over to where John is and says, "You, my friend, have been very busy and made quite a few people unhappy. You may be untouchable now, but that won't be the case forever."

John replies to Lucifer. "Gods exist because people believe they do. They gained power from people, and as long as people believe, they will continue to exist."

Lucifer chuckles at John, shaking his head at him as one would with a misbehaving child. Then he turns toward Ana and me and speaks.
"Good luck to both of you. No one should punish someone whom they love."

With a dramatic display, he extends his enormous wings outward, then swiftly snaps them back together, and with that, he's completely vanished. John then says.

"Now all y'all be gone, and you, Marie, tell your grandmother I did as she asked, and make sure you do.

I don't need Claudine Laurent cross with me. Chieftess Talltree, it was a pleasure to meet a true legend amongst many people."

No one spoke as we walked from the swamp. Everyone was happy that the carriage was still there, but I believe the driver was even happier to see us. He told us that he heard all kinds of sounds, saw all sorts of lights from the swamps, and hoped that we were not dead. I assume Marie and May had a mental conversation on the way home. Dove fell asleep against Ana, who was asleep against me. The day had been very long, and I had the information to fill in one of the missing pieces of my past but no answers on how to fix it.
After dropping Marie off at her home and thanking her for everything she had done, we all decided that no one felt like dressing for dinner. May and Dove headed to their room, and Ana and I went to ours. Once in the room, neither of us said much as I ran us a hot bath.

Once in the water, with her body pressed into mine, I finally felt a sense of ease, and she whispered.
"Gabriel, this is all too much to believe. Part of me still thinks I died falling off Winter or that this is all part of a fever dream. Gods and VooDoo, and was that Lucifer?"

"Yes, I'm still wrapping my head around it all, but I'm starting to believe that was the dark Prince himself. Funny how most people find it easier to believe in God than in vampires, witches, or werewolves."

I shared this revelation with Ana as we soaked in the bathtub that evening after our encounter with Lucifer. The warm water seemed to ease the tension from our encounter, allowing me to reflect more deeply. As I recounted the events, a subtle shift occurred within me. Maybe, just maybe, the tales painted Lucifer in a light that was too harsh. Perhaps the tales painted Lucifer too harshly, leading us to believe he wasn't the villain in the story after all. Ana gasps and says.

"Gabriel! Wait, werewolves exist? What else is true?"

"Almost all of our legends and fairytales come from truths. So your father's belief that souls come back is true."