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Folks in Louisiana, they got the right idea. Superstition, keepin’ bad things out. ‘Course, they see what other humans all over the country don’t. The reality. Monsters, creatures, demons, whatever the hell they are. One of the very few places in the country ya gonna find ‘em prepared for it is good ol’ Louisiana. Not the only ones with history, but the Cajuns, they’re organized. Suspicious. And Hell, rightfully so.
Under Jesse’s lead, they don’t come through often because of it. The fact there’s actual laws written against their kind. Ain’t like they’re claimin’ to be by-the-book, but it’s best they don’t get themselves caught off guard. If the folks here is serious enough to concern their boys in blue wit’ it, there’s no doubt they studied up on any weakness they can find in one of them. Those are the secrets they don’t tell. Pass the word along on how to spot a vampyr, spreadin’ their little rumors, but if they got sense, don’t go sharin’ their strategy on fightin’ back.
Crosses everywhere, for one, though those don’t truly do a damn thing. God don’t smile down on these parts or any other. Too infested with creatures. Lord knows they ain’t the only ones. And by now, there’s not enough worth savin’.
Like the loup-garoux. Voodoo magick. Ghosts and spirits. Poltergeists. Fairies. All of it lurking in the woods and swamps. Rumor has it each one has their own little secret societies around somewhere. Would believe in that, if they hadn’t come through the area and found no such thing in over a hundred some years. Guess it’s jus’ paranoid humans, thinkin’ everything’s about them.
Only need their blood. Don’t give a goddamn ‘bout overtakin’ their society and that. Ridiculous, the value they put in their made up little rules. Livin’ life tryin’ to be the most moral, only to die like filthy old dogs.
Gotta be a little more discerning, killin’ round here still. Stands to reason that, anyone that’s got a deep understanding of ‘em, prob’ly so happens to spot their weaknesses too. Maybe even more’n they know. Time explains the hunger, and the fuss with the sun, but there’s no knowin’ if the folk tales ‘bout silver and stakes and that hold any weight ‘til it’s tested. And you bet the Acadians prob’ly know for sure.
Mae loves Louisiana though. Used to go down there before she was dead, mingling in the party crowds, dipping in and out of the chaos. Testing fate, maybe. It wasn’t here that she turned. Lucky, that she’d found her family and not been grabbed off the streets while dancing with spirits and ill-intented men. Nowadays she wonders how many of the people wearing masks and face paint and elaborate, flowing costumes were hiding the symptoms of being undead underneath. There’s kinds of creatures different than them, whose flesh peels from their bodies, and whose eyes go dull. Exposing bone over time. Again, got every reason to be grateful for just bein’ a little pale, and a little cold. At least their kind can mostly pretend the role of human.
Of all of them, she’s just the worst at pretending. Lurking, stalking, it comes easier than being mundane. Guess that makes her the threat to carefree, vulnerable little things like she was then. Never thought of herself that way. Kept a knife in her pocket back then just in case someone assumed the same. But she just didn’t understand, how vast the world was. Vulnerable didn’t mean weak. Just meant fragile, like any life.
Her heart longs for it sometimes. The thrill of doing what she’s not supposed to. Harder, when she kills every night, to feel that kind of freedom. Mae isn’t allowed inside the rules she used to break. No rush from flirting with strangers and running off in the end. ‘Cause when she runs off, they’re already dead. Even Caleb, he was technically dead the moment she unclenched her jaw from biting him. Just died upright, slow and painful. All along it coulda been her, and it wasn’t. Kindness was her undoing. No fun in it. Just bitter betrayal. Never will forgive Homer, even after turning one of her own. He didn’t have the right kind of love in his old bitter heart.
She can admit that part of her wants to go back to New Orleans for her honey. Clueless as he is. Hanging around these places, whether she believed it or not, she had some idea of the creatures of the night. When all Caleb’s got to go off is the Bible, and that ain’t much at all. Deuteronomy says that consuming the blood of God’s creatures is forbidden. Exodus forbids killing. Ecclesiastes says that sunshine is sweet. By every stretch of the scripture, they’re the extension of evil. Might not say the word vampyre, but there’s hints at what he oughta think about their kind, according to his upbringing.
Down here in Louisiana, where they’re another part of the natural world, maybe it doesn’t absolve them of sin, but at least they can be understood. Not just hinted at as unnamed evil. Folks here, they wear their crosses, sure. Got probably more faith than anybody else Mae encountered, dead or alive. But there’s just somethin’ about being seen as inevitable, not easily prayed away, that makes a difference. At least it had in her heart.
And Caleb don’t complain anymore. Not out loud, not after he done his share of killing, but it don’t come natural to him. Like it was trained out without ever even knowing it because of that damn book.
Leaves him weaker than the rest. Proves that, ‘cause once they get there, one of the first things he does is walk straight towards danger.
Been on the road some time to get in where Mae is familiar, and then a little longer to find a spot to hide the station wagon they’re driving for now, put it near a not too deep in the city in the case they need to run, but not too far from their resting place come morning. Picked a bed and breakfast type place, so it’s nice and small and not monitored. Couple of old women runnin’ it, prob’ly the right kind of superstitious to not bother the likes of them. The second they settle they split, so’s all the death don’t happen to be in one spot. Need to feed after the traveling, just need to do it careful. Mae ain’t too sure where the others head off, ‘cause she’s got Caleb with her in the downtown area, blending in with the night life. Tourist trap that it is, there’s a never ending supply of faceless strangers. Could pick any one of ‘em from the crowd and they won’t be missed.
Gorging on alcohol and fried treats. Guaranteed to feel a little dizzy from their blood. It excites Mae. Has her boundin’ a little faster than usual, light on her toes. Almost forgets the boy clinging desperately to her wrist. Caleb ain’t so natural in a crowd, looks downright offended every time a stranger bumps into him. Silly thing. Mae drags him along so he’s at her side instead of behind, and pulls his arm around her shoulder. Close for the sake of bein’ heard.
“What’s that sour face for, mister?” She asks him lightly, teasing him for his reaction to the party crowd.
He tries to put it gently, since Mae obviously likes it, “Just.. don’t get how you like all this..”
Sort of hard to believe. There’s community here, actual life and spirit and joy, that they don’t always see in the middle of nowhere desert towns they visit. Part of her fascination is pure nostalgia, Mae knows that, but even with the supernatural, the danger, she can’t help but think of this as the embodiment of the gift of eternal life. Living and enjoying it and sharing it. She shakes her head, “It’s beautiful, Caleb! You don’t see it?”
“See what? All I see’re sweaty bodies and.. and filth.” Mundane complaints from the boy.
Mae can’t help but roll her eyes at him a little, scold, “‘Cause you’re lookin’ like a human. You know better.”
“I’m gonna get real tired of y’all sayin’ that, aren’t I..?” Deadpan, to hide his actual frustration. Sometimes it’s like they could do all in their power to lay it out clear for him, and he’d still manage to miss it.
Sing-song, in a way she knows is condescending, Mae reminds him, “Easy way to fix it.” Meaning, to let go of that old worldview. Stop his overthinking and just feel so they don’t gotta keep telling him.
“And I don’t know it. Mae-“ But his complaints are interrupted, by being run into. A drunk man stumbling right into his shoulder, knocking him off balance.
Shouldn’t be strong enough to do that. If Caleb had been paying any attention and not doing his whining, he wouldn’t’ve stumbled from a human’s touch at all. Mae can’t help but snort a little giggle at it, how much his problems are self made. Does the conflict resolution for him too, throwing a wink at the stranger, and her sweetest, “Pardon us.”
She waits ‘til they’re a couple beats away, before turning back to blow the guy a kiss. Might as well see if he takes the bait, trailing them down the alleys away from all the partiers, just to get ate. Got no interest in that mess, flirting just another strategy. Works better for her than the mocking like Severen likes to do. Prey don’t take so kindly to being embarrassed by a little girl such as herself. Ends up more trouble than it’s worth. Means nothing to her either way. ‘Cause there’s some that know plenty better. Looking her in the eye and seein’ her predator instinct. Label her a mad woman right away, no better than the damsel in distress thing. If she let it bother her, she’d have a miserable time here in her happiest place, or anywhere at all really. Not to mention how she met her honey.
Seems he still don’t register it. That she doesn’t put her heart into the kills. Just does it. Maybe not even how spur of the moment his own survival was. His by the book way of thinkin’, all that rule following, it’s like he doesn’t even grasp what a trick is.
He looks at Mae like she’s insane, “What was that for?”
“Is he followin’ us?” Just ignores that attitude and hints at her intention. Put him in his place if it’s necessary.
“What?” Caleb looks back, far too obvious. Real lucky it’s just the two of them, ‘cause she won’t mock him even if she keeps laughing. Can’t help it, softening to her own mounting frustration ‘cause it’s clear he’s mostly naive. Doesn’t catch what he’s supposed to be seeing anyhow, “Nah, I don’t think so.”
“Yes he is. Look.” Mae suggests it calmly. But she can feel the man’s presence. He’d turned ‘round and was tailing them, indiscreet ‘cause he ain’t sober enough for sneaking. Hidden among humans maybe, but his movements are messy. Loud. Like a tracker somewhere in her body, Mae can sense how far behind he is, which ways he’s taking down the cobbled streets, up and down the sidewalk, weaving among the bodies. Not even having to look to feel out prey.
Caleb, not so much.
“Not seein’ him.” He answers under his breath, and tries to turn back to his Mae.
But with Mae locked in on a hunt, she’s not paying the most mind to her boy. Sort of expects he knows best to follow her, keep his hand in hers to be dragged along. But he lets go to look, too busy thinkin’ he’s provin’ something. He’s fed before, but he doesn’t track prey. Just attacks whatever Mae brings him. That one second where he hesitates, he’s left behind. Mae’s gone, like she disappears. Lady of the night, playing the shadows so well she’s lost to any mortal creature. And Caleb too, apparently.
“Mae?” Weaving through the dozens of bodies pressed together, trying to follow the direction he thinks she went. His senses are overwhelmed by all the humanity around him. His vision and his attention narrowed down to their beating hearts and the smell of their blood. A strike of predatory instinct alights like fire in his core. Makin’ everything go fuzzy. If he could’ve found Mae, it’s not likely he could now. Tries again to call for her, “..Honey?”
Nothin’. Not trusting himself to not go batshit crazy with all this prey around, kill someone right in the middle of the street or some’n, Caleb runs. No sense of direction now that he can’t find Mae, he has no idea where he’s running to. Never been to New Orleans in his waking life, or been around this many people at once probably ever. Really, he’s probably fleeing more’n he’s actually running to find Mae. His instinct far from the one to keep him fed, but just to protect himself in a cowardly sort of way.
Guess it doesn’t serve him any good in the end. Gettin’ lost. It crashes down on him heavy, like even the stars above is takin’ the chance to point out he’s an idiot. Probably true. But he’s not a human anymore either. He should be able to handle this. Whatever vampirism is, a gift or a curse, he’s got it on his side toward provin’ himself and still falls majorly flat. Always the fool. Mae’s fool. And she’s not here.
Swallowing his panic, feeling vaguely like he might choke on it, Caleb tries to hone his own instinct. Close his eyes and feel out his surroundings like Mae can. At first there’s nothing but dark. The jazz music of the city is still loud right behind him, blaring over raised voices, lots of cars further back from the crowds. But if he focuses through it, he can hear nature still.
Crickets, katydids, frogs. Singing their little scratchy tune. It won’t find him what he’s looking for, but it soothes his panic some. Calms a longing he has in his heart for anything to ground him. Used to be home, no matter what havin’ to anchor back to the farm. It was his guiding point. His horses, his baby sissy. That’s all gone now. What he has is Mae. Mae holds his broken little heart in her nimble, strong hands and keeps it together. She’s not there, but the comfort of the country noise is like a bandage in her place. Caleb can’t help but seek it out.
It’s not what he’s supposed to be doing. Guess he doesn’t know if she left him on his lonesome on purpose, but that’d be for hunting. Breaking through the paved streets to the outskirts, passing by all that industrial mess that took over the green that clings to everything around here. Following nothin’ but his heart.
Seems reasonable enough, anyhow, that Mae mighta dragged her prey out into the woods. Found a swamp to bury spare parts in. Reaffirms Caleb, even though he’s got no idea what he’s doin’, that it’s right. Like the first night he wandered off, stumbling back to Mae in his knees, there was a little flickering needle point in his heart. Showing him relief. Confused, frustrated, Caleb wants that real bad. He might even be runnin’ some.
The sight of the trees is what makes him pause. Like nothin’ he’d ever seen before. Spindly, dead foliage twisting all around, what seems like hundreds of skinny trees circling a clearing in the wet land. Tall grass peppered with weeds and flowers from all that excess in the mud. But it’s the lights that get him.
Shimmering like waves, little balls of glowing light reflect on all those plants. Each one looks like it has its own green haze ‘cause of how strong the light is to reflect off the trees and that. But the way it moves and dances proves it ain’t just a pair of stray headlights or critter eyes, not enough all flushed out like it was a street light or some shit. It’s all individual, reminds him of little fish in a tank, big old fireflies in the grass or something hopeful like that. Childish dreams plastered onto something real, real beautiful. Unexplainable, how bright it is, while still wavering. Special and glittering, like magic.
Caleb looks back again. Not sure what he expects this time, without the crowd. Behind him is nothing but the pitch black darkness. The exact middle between the tiny streetlights he left behind, and the length of land between him and the distant swamp. It’s disappointingly far away, he’s realizing, almost taking off immediately to run. Doesn’t know why he wants a closer look. The sight had served its comfort. Calmed the ache in his chest. He should turn back and resume his search for his girl.
But he doesn’t. Caleb continues on. Careful steps over the steep side of a hill he’s using as a shortcut instead of following the paved path. Sliding partway down the muddy land, but barely stopping to wipe himself off. Gotta get closer and see those lights. They’re beautiful, the kind of pretty just like when he’d seen Mae for the first time, calling to him, physically wrapping around him and tugging him closer and closer.
His footsteps feel stumbly, unbalanced. Same as how he’d managed to drag himself home after he’d been struck by Mae’s teeth more’n her beauty. Confused then, and confused now. Lost, somewhere he’s never been. Feels like he doesn’t even know why he’s locked so hard onto these lights, distant then but growing closer.
Probably just a few minutes walk from here. Caleb wonders if he oughta go back. Try harder to find Mae. Immediately rationalizes this as his best attempt. Mae would chase something special and magical too. Might find her out there. And that invigorates his soul. Makes him push even harder.
Until, “Caleb!”
Mae’s voice reverberates up and down his spine like the impact from a bullet. Her urgency, the way she all but screams it, it snaps something in him that sets off his fear response. Makes him wanna run right to her instead.
She grabs his arm first and pulls him to her, both her arms going around him then. A hug that’s a lot more like a cage, to keep him exactly where she’s in control. Somethin’ he’s perfectly willing to let happen, after wandering off on his own the second she lost sight of him. He’s useless and knows it.
The explanation or excuse or whatever it can be classified as that he manages to come up with is just as weak, “I was just lookin’. S’pretty.”
Mae’d tugged him off his axis, so he tries to redirection himself, looking around for the lights he’s talking about. But she grabs his face so he can’t. Holds him still, directly lookin’ into his eyes and forcing him to do the same.
Serious as can be, she warns him deeply, “You look at me.”
They’re locked that way for a long while. Mae breathes heavy, the motion in her lungs pointlessly activated off fresh blood from her recent kill. Makes it hard to match her intensity, that Caleb can’t begin to understand what he done wrong, let alone keep up with her now that she’s got power in her veins. More alive, more feeling, and a hell of a lot stronger as she holds him still, forcing him to do nothing but just look back at her.
He breaks under the pressure. Can’t tell if her glare is extra threatening like this, or if it’s just the restlessness he’d followed this far out to begin with that makes him want to pull away. Seems wrong. He loves her to death, by definition he done that. Couldn’t tear him away from her. But that itchin’ in his body says he oughta try. Strange, now he knows it’s not pointing him to Mae at all. But just somewhere off in the swamp. Where the lights are.
It’s so harmless, even for an odd feeling, he can’t help his confusion. Asking Mae softly, coming out frustrated though, “What’s ‘a matter?”
“Them weren’t fireflies. What were you thinking?” Her voice shakes. Anger. He knows better than to think it’s fear. But what she’s angry about he can’t grasp.
If it’s for walkin’ away, it don’t seem fair. She’d lost him first. Oughta be a better guard if she dont allow him any freedom at all. Prickly, Caleb hurries to get all defensive again, “I don’t- I wasn’t doin’ nothin.” Naturally, his eyes sorta drift upward when he’s talkin’ like this. Trapped in his head between deserved frustration and his own stupid confusion.
Mae don’t react good to what she thinks is him trying to look away again. She hisses, downright drawing her lips back to show her teeth and hissing like a cat. Digs her nails in a little to his temples and the hinge of his jaw where she’s still grabbing onto his face. Cries, “Look’it me again!”
She takes him outta there just like that. Backing away from the sightline of the lights he’d been chasing. Only looking at one another. Anybody were to see them, they’d know something was off with ‘em. Probably assume they’re high as two helium balloons tangled up in some powerlines somewhere. Knotted together and waiting for the rough comedown. Sorta how Caleb feels all the time, adjusting to being undead and that. Doesn’t feel like he knows what the hell is ever goin’ on anymore. Just watchin’ life happen to hisself, no involvement in it.
Once they’re a distance away, back near the city, she lets him go enough to shake out his limbs and get that feeling of being collared off himself. But only to lecture him. Arms crossed and lips pulled tight into the most sour expression her sweet angel face can muster. “Caleb. What were you gon’ do once you went down there?”
Truly, he wasn’t thinkin’ all that much about it. Just following that feeling within himself. Whatever it was, he can’t explain it. Especially if Mae thinks it’s so wrong. Thinkin’ he can play her game, Caleb tries to come up with what she’d wanna hear, a romantic declaration, “The lights were.. It’s like you said. How the night is bright and that. That’s.. they’re like little stars.”
Just gets him a look that’s poisonous, deadly behind her eyes, “Except they aren’t. What have I told you?”
Lots of things. Had to be told what vampires were, what they had to do. Had to be guided through killing. Reminded of his moral standings when he got pissy. Leaving behind his old way of thinking has been hard enough. Can’t keep track of what it is Mae wants him to come up with. So he shrugs, knows he looks stupid doing it too, so he ducks his head down in a little bit of shame.
Earns him no pity. Mae takes him by the back of his neck, not so close face to face anymore but just holding him scruffed, “You stay with me. Always. I know you ain’t forgot that.”
Right, ‘cause he tails her around like a mindless puppy dog. Heard that one about a thousand odd times already. It gets old. Bein’ talked down on. Don’t usually do much about it, even though he oughta. Probably why they do it, rile him up, get a spark outta him. They want Caleb bitter and mean and ready to snap at ‘em.
Wouldn’t dare do it to Mae, but he’s not in his right head now. Maybe, probably getting desperate to understand all of this. So he tries to take a dig at her, undercut her ability to be responsible at all for bein’ the one that stalked away with prey, “You kill that guy?”
Doesn’t work so good. Mae’s able to turn it right back around on him, “Obviously! And you’re half starved ‘cause what, you thought the spirits of the swamps was doin’ their little peep show all for you. Boy, they was gonna eat you!”
“The.. lights?” Caleb asks, outright confused. He’s gettin’ yelled at, Mae strainin’ her voice with exasperation, and he’s standin’ here not understanding any of it.
She shoves him, from the point she was holding him. Too overwhelmed with how much of her own irritation is rising in her throat. Be nice to really scream at him. Maybe fight. Sink her teeth in and knock the sense back into his head with her claws. Havin’ to explain this like he’s never heard of the occult at all, it shouldn’t be like this, “Spirits I said! You think they’re lights. They ain’t. They’re like us.”
“Vampire.. ghosts?” Caleb takes away, stupidly.
Mae sort of scrunches her nose in something like disgust or disbelief, “Oh my lord you’re a lost cause..”
“Don’t-“
“Hush.”
Despite being cut off, Caleb starts right back up. Defending what he was gonna say, “I wasn’t. Swear it, I wasn’t complainin’ about you usin’ the Lord’s name in vain.” Which is true. He was only gonna express his hurt about her bein’ insulting.
Only, Mae doubles down too, and much more ruthless than him. Heavy on the sarcasm, “Well. Isn’t that darling.”
Doesn’t know what more he can say. How exactly he’s supposed to choose to defend himself when his crime was curiosity. And he still don’t understand it all that much. What he even done wrong. Mae’s still fuming or he’d ask. Just lets her drag him away, not stopping at Bourbon street where they’d started and crawling deeper into the city instead. Past where’s it’s alive and glittering.
In the quiet and the dark, Caleb’s thoughts just keep doubling. Crushing him down, ‘til there’s nothing left but the feeling of guilt, “I’m sorry you’re mad at me.”
Less biting, huffing out on a sigh, she reminds him, “I said quiet.” Clearly a last plea at something she’s not all too passionate about.
Hopes he can break her down with a, “I love you.”
Mae’s unimpressed though. With the general attitude of him, and the mess he got into. Ain’t so easily buttered up, ‘cause she’s certainly no love sick fool like him. She shakes her head, and levels with him, “Caleb. Do you want to eat tonight?”
“Yes ma’am.” Immediately agreeing instead of keeping up the snark. Playing her game, it just makes her better at it.
Clearly, ‘cause she dismisses him like it’s second nature, “Then hush.”
For now he listens to her. He ain’t so charming as to fix it with just his words. Even though his charm is usually all he’s got going for him. Proving double he’s just about worthless. Sorry sonuvabitch. At least those swamp fairies or whatever didn’t eat him. He’s got that goin’ for him still.
Wants to make it up to her. Be good. Be worth something. Caleb’s startin’ to feel a little desperate here. Got absolutely no clue where they are, not like he’s able to lead here. Should be reassuring that Mae’s headstrong and knows what they’re doin’, but he’s not sure if she does since she’s more upset than she is unbreakable. Might be leadin’ them to nothing, gettin’ ‘em lost. He’d be the only one in trouble if they missed the curfew of sunrise. Nothin’ can be Mae’s fault. Even if she’s the one that left him on his own.
Well, that’s not really fair. Not like she knew he’d see danger and walk towards it. It was a risk, she’d started with thinkin’ about how little he knew, and the fact they was not only split up, but that that worry come true, it spooked her. All this with Caleb assuming she’s mad, it’s sorta making her mad, ‘cause she was just upset at first. Heart aching thinkin’ of what could’ve gone and happened. Brushes with fate don’t ever sit well in her soul, Mae can’t stand it, havin’ weaknesses again.
Guess Louisiana was preferred as a sort of untouched memory, rather than the real thing.
She’s got most of her focus dedicated to keepin’ track of Caleb now, got him by the hand and don’t intend to let it go even if he’d try to fight her off. Squeezing too tight. Basically got him on a leash now that she knows what happens if she accidentally loses sight of him. Didn’t take her longer than ten minutes to bleed that man out in an alley and Caleb was gone.
They’re not on the hunt no more. She’s goin’ straight to the nearest one of the others. Needs the reassurance now. Havin’ one of her own, that she turned all by herself, it’s overwhelming. Worse than she remembers watchin’ the newborn baby animals on the farm at her old life. Always was worried they’d get trampled or starved, the tiny sheep and chicks she remembers raising. But they held their own. None of those defenseless creatures got themselves hurt, ‘cause they knew what to stay outta the way of. Don’t fight the big’uns, don’t play under the hooves of animals three times your size for the thrill alone. Plus they had mamas, and Mae ain’t anything of the sort.
Didn’t picture Caleb clinging to her so desperately when she gave him the bite. Even with fangs he’s weak. Scared or something. Bringing him here was s’posed to show him other things to believe in than a book that taught shame and fear and made him so fragile. But that didn’t work so good when she wasn’t keeping him in a chokehold and she can’t do that all the time. Mae’s so frustrated with all this it makes her sick. Wants to blame herself, but she can’t, ‘cause it’s not a fair burden.
She needs him to put the effort in so she can do the teachin’ him. Like this, she’s so busy corralling his ass back and forth there’s no sense to give him. Leaving behind his family and that, the destruction on their way out of his home, that was s’posed to be plenty proof of his commitment. But he’s just not doin’ anything. Wants it all handed to him. Like he’s a baby chick needs his mama. Like Mae don’t need hers. Damn grateful it’s Diamondback close by. Wouldn’t want it to be anybody else but her.
Needs to be calmed down before she can get her head on straight. Not focusin’ on her responsibility yet. She wants the comfort first. Forgets sometimes, that there’s always gonna be a piece of her that’s teenaged, no matter how much growin’ she thinks she can do. ‘Til it hits her hard that she got herself in over her head and all she wants to do is shut down and ask for help. At least she can. But it’s not fair that it makes her feel weak.
Mae’s looked weak from the start. There had been initial disappointment that Homer chose her. The consequence of looking like she did. Frail and young and girly. And dealthy afraid as the humanity drained outta her. She’d fought hard and honored the calling of the night by killing. She fit in cause she done good, played by their rules. Now she gets a chance and brings them to her territory she’d roamed as a human. But manages to fuck up. After the hell they raised taming Caleb. She tries not to get bitter about it, she knows it wasn’t on purpose. Hard though, when it’ll get wrote off as her knowing better, and Caleb just bein’ his same idiot self.
The brief flash of the idea that she shoulda let the spirits of the swamp get him makes her sick with herself. Guilt crawling up her spine and sitting heavy on her shoulders. Whispering in her ear what a witch she is, thinkin’ those things when she loves Caleb. Deserving of his fate. Not sure if that’s her conscience or a trick. Little fairies tryin’ to get to her now that her beau’s wisened up to their tricks and left her vulnerable with emotion. So she steels herself and ignores it. Focuses in harder on navigating the city and finding Diamondback closeby.
After a while, Caleb catches on that they’re not hunting, but knows he’s gotta feed. Been drilled into him so hard, he tries to pick up the slack. Size up some prey. His sights fall on a straggler far from all the crowds they left behind, bussing on a street corner doing magic tricks.
Matching her pace so he can turn his head and talk low, Caleb suggests to Mae, “What about that fella with the makeup?”
“You think nobody gonna notice him go missin’?” She points out, ‘cause easily, the man’s a staple of the area. But it’s not the only damn thing she finds off about him. It’s the eyes, all white, passed off with the makeup as part of some clown appearance done with contacts. Probably works for most tourists that don’t know about the area, and that’d be all any dark creature needed. She knows what that stranger and his bad aura is, “‘Sides, that’s a demon anyhow.”
“How d’you know?” He’s obviously skeptical, falling for the trap of a colorful exterior and a little bit of sleight of hand.
Bet once you watch a few of those kiddie shop tricks with cards and ribbons, he starts doin’ the stuff that's read in different kinds of books, soul magick and the like. Gimmicky hypnotism and palm readings and that, that’s how they get ya hooked. Feeding off the energy. Don’t need blood directly, some of ‘em. Just souls.
The man don’t look twice their way despite there bein’ nobody else on the street, and that’s the biggest hint. You’re beggin’ for money on street corners, and don’t harass a cutesy young couple like them? Hell naw. He sees them right back, felt maybe that they’re vampyrs and not to be messed with. Their souls already belong to the night, and tryin’ to take ‘em ‘causes trouble in the balance of things. Dark magick comes with its price. Maybe not the killing, but it’ll take away. Take events from history. Mess with timelines. Pick one soul up and drop it hundreds of years back in the past, for one little mess up. Summon the forces of Hell to deal with it, entire armies. Nobody gonna try that shit for an already broken-in vampire soul. The stranger ignores them like they ain’t there at all.
Ridiculous that Caleb wants so bad to do right by her, he messes up again and don’t see all that. It’s obvious without knowing as much as she does and he’s just not gettin’ it. ‘Cause he’s not trying. Mae feels like he’s latched onto her back and she’s got no room to even breathe. Smothered by his overeagerness. So she snaps at him, “I pay attention. And don’t walk directly towards danger.”
“If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t know you.” Caleb plays it off like this is a joke, some teasing.
Mae could say worse. Proves so with the thoughts in her head. But her scolding is a toned down version of the dig she wanted to take, about if he hadn’t, “You wanna be charming so badly.”
Caleb don’t know how to take that. Her bein’ mean to him. He sounds more confused and sad than confrontational, “I’m not?”
Instead of fixing it, hurrying to be all perfect girlfriend like he wants, she walks it back more subtly, “You’re a fool. You’re only lucky I think that’s sweet.”
“So you’re mad at me?” He finally grasps. But it feels sorta wrong. If only ‘cause Mae knows her feelings ain’t always fair, whether or not they’re earned. She’s always spiteful. Had the well of cruelty in her from the start to draw from when it came to the killing. Maybe that’s what it’s about, her demeanor, passing off as small and meek to harbor that energy and keep it protected.
Be nice if she could control when she felt it better though. Feelin’ like fuckin’ teenage crisis mood swings out here. Mae forces herself to be as honest as she can, “I don’t know, honey. But I’m not so worried about that now. There’s bigger things. Like you almost gettin’ taken.”
The shame seems to finally register for him, at least outwardly, an apologetic grimace on his face. Sorry he’s makin’ her act off, and if he’s gonna take the blame for all her messy emotions, it feels better than admitting she’s just a poorly planned wreck at the moment. So she makes herself clear, “I don’t gotta be mad. But I wanna be. You ever gonna put me in this spot again?”
Automatically, Caleb gives a, “No, ma’am.”
“Alright.” She nods, feels the tension in her jaw ease just a little. Not nearly enough to give him a less angry expression, but it don’t hurt in her head at least. Feel like she could snap her own teeth under the pressure of her anxious bite. Mae sighs, heavy, to try to force out the bad feelings even if she don’t need the air, and doubles down like a self-affirmation, “I’m not mad.”
Which, of course Caleb takes as the hint he’s supposedly allowed to run his mouth a little without gettin’ his head ripped off for annoying her, asking immediately, “But where are we goin’?”
“Findin’ the others.” Mae answers vaguely. She knows who she’s looking for but it doesn’t make any difference to Caleb. Boy don’t have enough connection to any of ‘em for it to change a thing. He’d be nervous no matter what unless it was their weakest link with Homer, and Mae don’t prefer to be alone with him if she can help it.
“Oh.” She’s right to assume it, because Caleb’s first question is a hesitant, “‘M I gonna be in trouble?”
“Prob’ly not. I might be for bringin’ us down here. You ain’t the first almost got eaten up out in these parts.” Mae explains easily. She knows it’s true, too. Not just sating him to shut him up. Feels better answering him like this, since it doubles as comfort to her. Making promises to him she wouldn’t dare make to herself while her head spirals outta control. That it’s a common mistake.
Got him curious enough to drop tryin’ to talk about her feelings. Clarifying, “Who else?”
“Who’d’you think?” Mae prompts him along. Hinting at that it should be somewhat obvious that they’ve all got their own weaknesses.
But Caleb blanks, staring at her with a confused pull to his brow, “How’m I s’posed to know?”
Guess bein’ defensive is fair, since she wasn’t her kindest lately. But it makes her roll her eyes a little, crack the first smile she’s felt on her face in hours, “I’m not bein’ sarcastic, silly. I wanna hear your real guess.”
Sheepishly, scolded by her bein’ gentle in tone after he finally bit back a little, he takes his best shot at a guess anyway, “Still don’t know. Homer I guess. ‘Cause he’s so little.”
“Well you’d be right. But not only him. A little bit of everybody.” Mae reveals. Not sure if she’s telling him to comfort him for his mess-up, or to remind herself that the others ain’t perfect and can’t treat her too terribly about enabling Caleb’s fuck ups.
“Here in New Orleans?”
“‘Cross the whole state. All of Louisiana’s got magick."
She knows that’s confusing to him still. It doesn’t all make sense to her necessarily, not when it comes down to the root of all that makes up such creatures and monsters and the like. Not sure if magick is the right force or if it’s just fate at work, if it’s curses and vengeance. But she knows the history and tells it, “Sev met a siren and knew it but tried to schmooze with her anyhow. Overconfident, got himself almost drowned in the end. Di got tangled up in the voodoo stuff lookin’ for regular tarot and that. Used to do it herself and wanted the cards, but almost got tricked. Homer was in trouble with a few of the swamp creatures. Was throwin’ rocks at ‘em or somethin’. He’d’ve been a letiche by now if he weren’t already immortal by then. Bit a chunk outta his middle real bad.”
“You didn’t mention Jesse.” Caleb points out like she messed up.
But no. Mae smiles when she tells him, ‘cause it’s so painfully goddamn cliche, “Jesse was the legend. Called him a serial killer back near the start of the century.”
Sure makes Caleb skeptical, “You’re messin’ with me.”
And Mae giggles, ‘cause she’d thought it was crazy too. Hearin’ about some old legend all the time, just to find out she knew him and his heart. He’d been brutal, sure, but that was before he had taming. Just him and the boys doin’ their worst, reckless ‘cause the law couldn’t catch ‘em then. Sure didn’t go on them statewide chases then like they done just for Caleb. Didn't terrorize the people for fun, that was their own stories and legends doin’ all the work. And if he weren’t then, he’s got a sweet streak in him now. So it is funny and hard to believe. For her. Caleb already don’t like Jesse. Should make perfect sense to him.
She tilts her head, questions his lack of trust, “Why d’you think I’d do that?”
“Make me feel stupid for not knowin’ things.” He mumbles. Reminding Mae she’s not the only one now with perpetual teenage emotions. Pouting over this like they aren’t all cold-blooded. She’d forced him to kill and he’s grumpy ‘cause she had a little attitude with him. That’s the most unbelievable thing.
“Everything ain’t personal, y’know. I need you afraid.” Mae puts that bluntly too, ‘cause it’s true. She was scared and desperate and he wasn’t anything at all. Enchanted by the false lights, the spirits he’d seen- enough to forget his sense. She was unfair and already admitted it, but she don’t regret it, that it got him listening and walking away.
Good to know he can behave. That's a little bit of comfort to her.
Better is finding Diamondback. She’s smoking a cigarette outside a bar, that glow to her skin that said she’s already fed too. Disposed of the body down some alley to be found later on. Takin’ her time on the come down while she waits for sunrise and to link back up with the group.
She senses them a long way down the street, smirk around her cigarette and a raised voice, “Well, excuse me. Do I happen to be encroachin’ on y’all’s territory?”
Mae finds herself jogging a little to come to her, the rush of relief all over, “No, mama. I was lookin’ for you.”
Diamond raises her arm to make room for Mae right at her side, automatic and caring. Bracing for her to settle against her. Her smile has that devilish edge to it that comes with being herself, but it seems genuine enough, “Me? How come, baby?”
“Got scared. Caleb seen the feu-follet. You can guess the rest.” Despite coming off a little embarrassed by it, Mae tells her as it is, and Diamond doesn’t seem to be all that surprised.
She tilts her head a little in thought, answering on the exhale of her cigarette, “They call ‘em that for a reason.”
Caleb asks immediately, not knowin’ a lick of French or folklore, “What’s it mean?”
“Foolish. Scatterbrained. Flighty. Everything you happen to be.” She waves a hand, somehow accusing and dismissive at the same time. Not too genuine when she says, “But that’s alright, darlin’. Everyone’s new at somethin’.”
“Not y’all. Not ever.” Grumbling again, like a pouty little brat. And he’s very much wrong, as already Mae told him.
“There’s fifty years ‘tween your most recent fuck up and my worst. Don't mean it ain’t happened.” Diamond puts it that way, smooth and charming, meaning to satisfy his self-obsession.
Boy takes it the wrong way and thinks that’s an invitation to mind her business. “What happened?”
Makes Mae roll her eyes before Diamondback has a chance to react, which then sets Di off laughing. Always findin’ excuses to embarrass himself, that boy is. Can’t parse out how nothin’ works on his own.
At least he catches that. Expression going all goofy at the realization of his mess-up. “What?”
Well fifty years ago, that could only be- “I turned, boy.”
Important to point out, Mae thinks, “If we coulda spotted ‘em before we got bit, none of us would be here.” ‘Cause it’s good to mess up. This slip up, the dangerous kind, maybe not, but getting here at all was special. Having each other.
For Diamond, she thinks that was an inevitability. Ignorant or not. And makes that known, confident in her choice, “Mmn. I prob’ly still would. I saw the signs. Just ignored ‘em.”
Just proving Mae’s thoughts about her. How special and smart she is. Huddles in a little closer under Di’s arm, smiling at her with a admiration so bright it puts them feu-follet to shame, “It just come so easy to ya. I think you might be magick whether you was a vampire or not.”
“Now that’s a first. Someone sayin’ ‘at to me and meanin’ it. You butterin’ me up, miss thing?” It’s just teasing, ‘cause usually if her time with voodoo and witchcraft is brought up, it’s to imply she’s up to mischief. Just jokes, but nobody really talks about her with as much wonder as Mae does. Being the youngest, or almost youngest not counting Caleb, there’s things still new to her the others’ve been on about for decades.
But she’s not lying, she really loves Diamondback a lot. Promises, “You know I wouldn’t if I didn’t mean it.”
For that pinch of raw honesty, stemming from all of Mae’s frayed emotions, Diamondback squeezes her a little tighter. Gives her a kiss to her cheek, and another immediately higher up, near her temple. “Not some talent though, honey. I promise I ain’t special. Just trained. Get that boy familiar with the folklore ‘n he won’t go chasin’ his death in the swamps.”
“Thank you, mama.” A second kiss, Mae turning her head and puckering her lips. Di indulges, but it stays sweet, just innocent comfort. Really showing just how frazzled Mae was, that she resorts to that right in front of Caleb. No reflection of her own, it’s nothin’ but nice. But the boy is so damn sensitive about everything, she’d usually try to talk him through the way her affection works with the others first. Can’t be bothered now. He can deal.
“Think you can do that on your own? Swear you need a leash for that boy. Wild animal..” The look she fixes him with is cold and bitter. With Mae at her side instead of his. Reinforcing the bullshit that goes through his fragile little mind. All boiling down to prove he needs her, and oughta know better than to stress her out like this. Diamond reassures her girl some more, “Some men is just like that, baby girl. I shoulda done better gettin’ that in your head ‘fore one of ‘em clung to ya. My poor baby.”
She gets bashful, with all that doting. Tightness at the corners of her smile, ‘cause she don’t want it all to sound so bad. “I don’t mind it.”
“Mm. You’re a good girl. But you know what I’m talkin’. I see you, sweetie.” Her fear and stress and her heartbreak over not feeling good enough. This is her promise it’s not Mae gonna take the fall for Caleb’s mistakes. She always gonna be the one to come first. No matter if it’s her fault or not, she’s their baby.
Which means now it’s Caleb’s turn to be dealt with. Diamondback crooks her finger, demanding his attention and for him to come closer. “And you. C’mere.”
The calmness, the disinterest in her tone, that’s the most threatening part, as she scolds him, “You’re to listen to her. I thought that was understood by now.”
Defensive, but sounding shaky, Caleb tries his same old excuses, “It was an accident. We got separated."
“Yeah, ‘cause the fairies whispered their sweet nothings. Heard that before, baby. Need a better reason for you scarin’ my poor Daisy out her death.” Diamondback is blunt. Unimpressed. The point of this is to make sure it’s an accident that don’t happen again. He’s not really being punished, just having the weight of almost feeding himself to mythical creatures drilled in. Attach a little anxiety spiking in him over the scolding to make it stick.
Caleb knows it. He’s got a grasp on these types of tricks now. Tries to play the game with his own bitterness. “I told her ‘m sorry.”
That same tacky, sharp-edged smile, ‘cause she caught him in the trap of showin’ off. Puffing his chest, so she can force him to meet a higher standard, “Make it up to her then. Go take care of yourself, and don’t you cause any goddamn trouble. One quick feed on your own.”
Knows her trick, and still crumbles immediately. Voices his fears. Guess it’s havin’ that stare cuttin’ him to pieces. Makes him as vulnerable as if he was the one cuddled into Diamondback’s side like Mae is. “What if there’s.. I was fixin’ to bite a- Mae said it was a demon before. How’m I gonna know better?”
“Don’t trust your gut. So far, it’s always wrong.” Says it like genuine advice too, before an idea for another joke strikes her and she does that high in her throat, haughty laugh, “You know what it is, I bet you’re part bat. Like the vampires in the pictures. You’re about blind as one.”
Still, all this back and forth’n, Caleb just ain’t sure if she’s messin’ with him or not, “That’s not.. possible. Is it?”
“No, darlin’. I was fuckin’ with you.” Softens just enough he can tell that’s at least for real. The gesture extends to Di reaching out her hand and patting his cheek, condescending for sure, but more than hating him from a distance.
Well, ‘course she adds, directed at Mae, “Feed your dog, honey. He needs it. Fella inside was givin’ me chills, nasty bastard. Let him have him, do us all a favor.”
Makes Mae giggle some, just a light little thing, with her head tipped down towards the ground to hide that it makes her smile to have that title over him, “Yes ma’am.”
Death, then daylight, then nightfall again. Come tomorrow, they’ll make a plan for their time in Louisiana. Probably have someone come along with Caleb and Mae, in the case of supernatural events. Jesse’d be their best bet, the oldest, but also the most wary of the magick. Takes it all real serious, don’t like to talk on it much ‘cause he’s superstitious. That it’s invitin’ the bad too close. Same with anything written, won’t keep record of nothin’ in case of bad luck, but that’s prob’ly just the old way.
Anyhow, he knows his shit. If it comes to safety, he’ll tell stories. Can teach Caleb more than a frazzled Mae can handle. And act as a second watch in case that itch to run off strikes him again. Mae’s hoping his plan won’t involve more of throwing Caleb to the wolves, possibly literal ones, just to show him what’s what. Be nice if they could sit down with a local would tell them about it, but that’s as likely as havin’ to kill that same person for knowin’ there vampyrs.
Long as they’re safe, she don’t really mind. Once upon a time she remembers Severen joking about wanting to fight a rougarou, and using Homer as bait for it. Caleb would make better prey, but she don’t want it to be that way. She wants her boy to trust them and know better than assumin’ the worst all the damn time.
Guess it’ll take time. Time they’ve got, thankfully. A whole thousands of years ahead, so long as she can keep him safe. Thinks that should be easy enough, now that the others know she might not be able to do it on her own. Again, the privileges of bein’ the little girl. Got its draw backs and it’s perks, best be grateful this once for bein’ doted on by the Hookers. Whatever the plan is, it’s certainly gonna be safer than lettin’ Caleb go on his own to certain death.
She hopes. Mae wants to live a carefree afterlife. Given the chance to live forever and wasting it being afraid. She doesn’t want it to stay like that.
Could just speak her mind, ask what they’re planning to do, but she wants to ease off the freaking out and just trust in the others. Y’know, so long as it ain’t like Severen said, with the fighting monsters. Eventually, she decides to ask to nobody in particular, out of curiosity, “So what is the plan, y’all?”
“Gonna find ourselves a ghost.” Is the ominous answer she gets from Jesse. Well, it’s enough to go on. And it probably won’t end up with nobody hurt if it’s all spectral. Locked out of bein’ able to touch by universal forces.
Could be worse.