"Poor girl, you have no idea do you," Freya said, gesturing for Hilda to have a seat.
"You were still very young when your mom passed on. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you." Freya added, her voice a bit husky from the tears that were building up. She dabs her eyelids with a piece of cloth, clears her throat, and then begins;
"It was Mardi Gras, the 16th of February, 1988. The town was lively with the beautiful parade, sensational brass music, and displays of different colors. The day was sunny and everything was going just fine and everyone was happy. All races except the young vampires joined in the parade, their skins would burn if they were exposed. Only ancient vampires like your dad, Ian could move about at day."
"What do you call it?" Ian asked, referring to a lady holding a white cat.
He had seen her from the other side of the street during the parade with her cat, nodding her head and moving her body to the beat of the music. She's having fun. He finds her utterly attractive and decides to say a word or two to her and maybe if he does a good job, he'd have her warm his bed tonight. It's not a difficult task for a person like him who had seen the undergarments of several ladies of high classes and different calibers and even had the honors of taking them off to see and interact with the sweetness that lay beneath.
"Gia, it's a girl." Layla replied, brushing her hand against its fur that it let out a "purr"
"That's a good girl," Layla said, cooing at the cat.
"That's a weird way to show affection. You seem very fond of your cat." Ian said, a bit skeptical.
"Yes, I am," Layla said, smiling. "It belongs to my friend, Gia," Layla added.
"Gina and Gia… How cheesy." Ian said, laughing.
"That's not very nice.." Layla said, frowning a bit.
"What is? I just spoke the truth… It wouldn't kill to give the cat a different name or just call it what it is." Ian said, defending himself.
"I see you're not a cat lover," Layla said, picking no offense.
"I guess it shows," Ian said, smiling.
"Not that you even try to hide it," Layla said.
Ian notices that he has offended her, and he employs his last-minute trick. Ian dips his hand in the bag he is holding and brings out a can of soda, handing it to Layla
"Here… I think you need it." Ian said with a wide grin, exposing his very white teeth, too white for a savage who feeds on blood and with a little gap between the upper and lower incisors.
"Thanks," Layla said as she collected it from him, she couldn't pretend like she wasn't thirsty because Ian had earlier sensed it.
"I'm Ian, quite a big deal around here," Ian said, as he took a sip of his soda.
"I'm Layla and I wonder why you're not already ashes," Layla said, looking all over him, hoping to see the slightest burn.
Ian laughed in surprise at what she said. He wondered how she figured it out, he normally took pleasure in revealing it himself.
"I'm ancient, I've adapted to the sunlight over the years that it doesn't affect me anymore," Ian said, with a little speck of pride sensed in his tone.
"Aren't you scared of me? You know what I am and you still walk by my side, unfret." Ian asked, a bit confused.
"I'm sure you're not after my blood, you want something more. Yeah, you're a big deal around here. I know what you want and you won't get it." Layla said as she hastened her footsteps until she joined the great crowd of carefree dancers.
"The nerve…" Layla said, a bit upset about his motives but something in her took notice of how completely desirable he is.
"Maybe if he didn't want something that shallow…" Layla sighed before she drowned herself in the singing and jubilation.
"I've never been rejected before! Am I losing my charms?" Ian pondered as he walked to the giant mirror fixed into the door of his dresser, the size of a standard room.
He looked at his hair. "Maybe I didn't style it well," Ian said
He looked at his clothes and his shoes, hoping to find a fault but didn't see any. He still wondered how Layla could tell that he was a vampire.
One of the privileges of being an ancient vampire is that you can't be smelt out randomly like other recently transitioned vamps.
While he was trapped in his self-generated upheaval, "brother!" Connor shouts as he rings the doorbell.
"That must be Connor, he may know a way to help me." Ian leaves his room to get the door.
"I have a surprise for you. Meet Helena and Helena… I call them Helenas!" Connor said, laughing as he staggered his way in, holding the two ladies by the waist.
"Connor, I'm not sure I'm in the mood for this. I have more important concerns at the moment." Ian said, disappointed that Connor is wasted and can't help him.
"What do you mean? I brought them for you. I'm sure you've made no arrangements for tonight." Connor said as Ian helped him sit down to prevent a fatal fall.
"You can go overboard. I made sure they're cleared." Connor said before he passed out.
Ian Greyson and Connor Elan have been family friends for several generations, starting from an unbreakable bond formed in the past. Ian, being quite old has witnessed two generations of the Elans go by. It's quite odd that Connor and Ian are very close, considering the age difference between the two of them.
They act like brothers and call themselves that too. They both love partying and sex, of course, Ian showed Connor the ropes. Aunt Cersei always kicked against their closeness, saying that Ian is a bad influence on her nephew but she couldn't keep them apart as Connor grew older.
Ian looked frustratingly at Connor as he wasted away on the couch, unable to help him unravel his mystery, and then at the two girls dressed in brief clothing.
He needed to clear his mind and had just the perfect distraction.
"Care to join me upstairs?" Ian asked, ogling at the girls as he felt his hormones acting up.
"Yeah." They both announced, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the minibar before following Ian upstairs to his bedroom.
Ian's house is practically a mansion. It's too big for just one person to stay in, maybe that's why Ian needed girls around or hosted parties.
"How was the parade?" Gina asked her friend, Layla that was unusually excited.
"It was fun. I had the time of my life." Layla replied, giggling.
" Layla, I have the feeling you're not telling me everything. You don't always seem this happy about the parades. You either complain about how loud it was or how fast the dance was." Gina said, raising her left brow in suspicion.
"It's New Orleans! I'm finally accepting the city for what it is." Layla replied, still giggling.
"Spill, Layla. Something's most certainly up." Gina said, utterly consumed by curiosity.
"I met a man and I think I like him," Layla said shyly, covering her mouth with her hand instantly as though she wasn't conscious of letting it out.
"I knew it! My hunch is never wrong." Gina said, laughing.
"Gina! You have to stop doing that. You're violating my privacy." Layla said, folding her arms, pretending to be offended.
"I'm sorry… I was just too eager to know what's making you so jolly." Gina said, faking an apology.
"But what fun is it if I can't use my powers in times like this," Gina added.
"I agree.." Layla said and they both laughed.
Layla and Gina have been best friends since childhood despite their separate races. They are both the same age, 19. Layla is a banshee with the usual conspicuous scarlet hair, brown eyes, full lips, and a curvy body. Gina, a witch born with true sight normally called 'the seers' is also exceptionally beautiful with a slim build, black hair, dark gray eyes, and thin lips did almost everything together except the coven lessons for young witches when they were little. And now, Gina doesn't want to practice witchcraft anymore. She claims it's boring and barbaric but her mother, Esther who is the current regent of the witches is not in support.
They are both very attractive, although Layla being more aesthetically appealing than Gina.
"So.. Tell me about him, I bet he's very handsome," Gina said, smiling with eagerness to hear everything.
"Yes, he's very handsome. His blue eyes are so dreamy, that I was almost caught staring at him. I had this burning desire to touch his silky hair, he seemed very rich and powerful.
He's very generous and sensitive.. He offered me a drink to quench my thirst" Layla said, reminiscing.
"He's a keeper then!" Gina shouted in excitement.
"But I don't think he's attracted to me the way I am to him. He just wanted to get me laid." Layla said, changing her countenance.
"How are you sure about that. Did he tell you?" Gina asked, a bit irritated.
"You know my dad taught me a lot, if not everything about vampires. I know that they love partying and sex, I don't want to be one of his sex machines, I want a real man." Layla sighed.
"I understand. Don't let it bother you, you're beautiful and I'm sure another handsome guy would come your way." Gina said, patting Layla's back.
"There is something else… He's an ancient vampire, I don't know how old but that's what he said." Layla said.
"Whenever I hear ancient, I interpret it as danger. Take my kind for example. Just be careful, okay." Gina said, disturbed.
"The mayor invites everyone to his daughter's birthday party in three days. We'll go right?" Gina said to Layla, in an excited tone hoping to get a positive response.
"That spoilt brat, always getting lavish parties," Layla said, looking frustrated.
"You're not jealous, are you?" Gina said, not surprised at all. Layla and Yvette, the Mayor's daughter never really got along.
"I'm not. You can go without me. That girl always picks fights with me and this year, I'm grown. I won't let her embarrass me anymore." Layla said, fuming with anger.
"Calm down. You can avoid her, it's a big party. Besides, Whitney Houston is performing and that's why we really should go. Please, please, please…" Gina said, trying to convince Layla.
"Whitney Houston? Are you sure about this?" Layla asked, the anger suddenly disappears.
"You know I have my ears to the ground. Of course, I'm sure." Gina said, smiling.
The party is at the mayor's house, it's a very lavish and formal one. Everyone is dressed up in fancy dresses and suits, and people from different walks of life attended the party.
Layla and Gina were at a corner, observing everything and everyone.
"Let's check the list…" Gina said, taking a thorough look at Layla.
"What list?" Layla asked, a bit confused.
Gina, ignoring her question, carried on with what she's doing.
"Your hair, check. Your dress, check. Your face, check. Now let's test your confidence." Gina said, smiling.
"Gina.. What are you up to this time? Don't get any crazy ideas, I beg." Layla said, begging.
"You need a man, right? We'll get you one. There's a guy by that corner, he's been staring at you the whole time. Let's give him a chance." Gina said, winking at Layla.
Layla hates when she winks because she's so bad at it, it's almost like the kind of reaction you give when you have something in your eyes, total bullshit.
"You have to stop doing that," Layla said, laughing.
"What guy? Give him a chance?" Layla said, turning back to look at who Gina is talking about.
"Don't look! You'd ruin things." Gina said, turning Layla's face back.
"I'll be back, Layla. I just spotted Hanson, I'm going to say hi." Gina said, shouting as the music is turned on.
"Yes, run along to your sweetheart." Layla said, sighing.
"Come on, cheer up, you'd invite wrinkles at this early age. You don't have a man yet, you know." Gina said, teasing her.
"You always have to remind me about this, Gina. I'll eventually find a man." Layla said, smiling.
"Good luck!" Gina screamed as she walked away to meet her fiancé, Hanson. She had earlier reminded him about the party, Gina is one party lover.
Gina waltzes away, leaving Layla alone and available to be approached by any interested young man. Layla wasn't comfortable being alone and wished that Gina comes back quickly.
Just as she was waiting for Gina, the music stops and the mayor comes out through the central aisle to the decorated stage with Yvette, drawing everyone's attention. You can tell just how affectionate the mayor is about his daughter by the way he held her hands as they walked down like a father leading his daughter to the altar on her wedding day.
Yvette is very beautiful with her brown hair and dark gray eyes wearing a fancy ball gown that projects her as a princess. Possessing the charms to swoon any young man she pleases, Yvette is very arrogant and full of herself. Everyone loved her still and thought it normal for her to be that way, judging from her background, everyone except Layla. She disliked her for that, there's no justifiable reason for someone to be that spoilt.
"You all are here to witness my darling's 19th birthday. She has been everything to me since I lost my wife seven years ago.
I want you all to eat, drink, and be merry. There's plenty to go round!" said the mayor.
After the announcement, Yvette and her dad left the stage. The light goes off and when it comes back on, the famous Whitney Houston was there.
Everyone screamed with excitement. Whitney gestured for them to clap just like it's done in concerts while the band played powerfully and she sang flawlessly.
"…ohhh I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody…. With somebody who loves me…."
Layla was about to run to the stage to do God knows what when a voice stopped her…