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  “It’s winter, Aerin.”

  “And?”

  “People will wonder why you aren’t wearing a coat.” She smiled, her fangs peeking just enough as she replied,

  “I figured if anyone asked I would tell them I’m from a colder climate and that this is like spring to me.” I laughed as I heard someone curse in the distance. She covered her mouth to hold back her laughter.

  “I think I am more than right in my need to leave this city.”

  “Oh you are not alone,” she replied, “I was stopped in the street by a couple of tourists looking for a vampire club.”

  “Did you bare your fangs and threaten to drain them?” She shook her head as she said,

  “No but I did offer to introduce them to Octavius.”

  “And did they agree?” She shook her head,

  “They refused when they saw him wearing a bathrobe reading the paper with his glasses.” I shook my head as I put my arm around her,

  “Well, I can’t say that I disagree with them. Let’s get out of here.” She nodded as I heard a voice nearby say,

  “I thought you’d never leave!” I turned back to see Matthieu wave to us from a tomb nearby. He was wearing a dark velvet suit,

  “I thought I’d class it up a bit tonight.” I laughed as I looked to Aerin,

  “Well we’re taking off now…it’s all yours.” He nodded as he shushed us,

  “It looks like we have a late night tour group coming through. Catch you guys later.” He vanished into the night before us. We headed for the exit of the cemetery.

  Octavius sat in his chair as I sat across from him. We were in his parlor and it was near dawn.

  “It won’t be easy setting up house in a whole new city.”

  “I’m aware of that.” He sat silently as I read his thoughts, he worried that we would not be safe. I could tell he was torn in continuing his reign and passing it on to another.

  “You were meant to lead them.”

  “I’m no more qualified than the guy sleeping in the tombs. You’re my family – Aerin is my family now. I’m willing to go wherever you go.”

  “Octavius…”

  “I’m dead serious. When you took the stake for me that night, I was sure that you would implode right there.”

  “It was just a scratch,” I said with a grin. He shook his head,

  “It was a wake up call. If the Carter’s of the world come knocking on your door – what makes you think you can fend them off? Surely your secret will one day get out and then what?”

  “I’m willing to take my chances. Everyone has to die sometime.” He inhaled out of habit,

  “If I knew you would treat your life so casually I would have let you bleed to death the night Samara slashed your throat!” I pounded my fist on the arm of the chair and got to my feet,

  “Dammit, you have to let me go! We will be fine. I just have to get out of this goddamn tomb of a city before I go insane!” I felt like a fool for exploding on him as I sat back down. He was still sitting in his seat staring at me,

  “Then go, Rent. If that is what is in your heart, go.”

  “I just can’t stay here any longer. I turn corners and I’m faced with ghosts. I need to see new people, travel to places I’ve only read about; try new food.” This caused him to groan as he waved me off,

  “I won’t stop you. But please enough with this insane fascination with their food.” I nodded slowly as we sat in silence for a long moment. I looked out the window to see Marc talking to Aerin, they were holding hands and laughing like old friends.

  “So where are we headed, brother?” I cracked a smile as I said,

  “You know I spent a night reading a travel magazine cover to cover and learned more than what I wanted to know about Los Angeles.”

  “Oh that’s clever. But I have to agree that we were always meant for a west coast life.” I laughed as I got to my feet and headed for the door.

  “You think Marc will protest?”

  “Are you kidding? He’s begged me to let him visit the West Hollywood haunts for ages – he will be more than thrilled.” I smiled as I headed outdoors to break the news. I knew in my heart that New Orleans would always be my home. Nothing could take that place but it was time to move on with our lives.

  “How do you feel about Los Angeles?” She stared into my eyes as she grinned,

  “I’d say you were crazy but I’d go anywhere with you.” I laughed as I leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. We were standing by the moonwalk now, I looked back to the closed French Market as the crowds had started to thin. It was late in the night as we stood by the water.

  “You know it means starting from nothing. Octavius has his followers but there are others out there that could be dangerous to us. Especially those that followed Klaus.”

  “Rent, you’re not alone this time,” she said as she squeezed my hand. She pulled me to her as she placed a kiss on my lips. For a moment I wished we had met a lifetime before.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” she said having lifted on my thoughts.

  10.

  I stood against the doors of the Red Line. I glanced to my watch and looked to the lone girl sitting reading a romance novel. She was older than I liked, her dark hair was shielding her face from my view. I could make out the glasses she wore as they caught the light from above. I could tell she was not reading the words but instead lost in thought. The train car was empty save for the two of us. She looked up as she realised she was being watched. And there I saw the crease in her forehead, her eyes had somewhat widened. I knew she feared me now. I nodded to her as I said,

  “It’s a lovely night.” She managed a grin as she nodded,

  “I guess.” Her reply was curt as she eyed the exits and knew there wasn’t another stop for another six minutes. I also knew that because we were several staircases below ground and it was the dead of night – she wondered which was safer. I watched her pull her phone and attempt to send a text from beneath her book.

  “You don’t need to do that,” I said as I stood beside her. She let out a shriek as she dropped her book and flew out of her seat. Her purse and phone fell as well as she scrambled over the seat. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into place now. Now that I stood before her I could see she was very young. She wore a sort of uniform I had seen in restaurants before; dark pants and white top. Her hair falling back from her face. I pulled off her glasses and tossed them aside.

  “You won’t need them anymore.” I could feel her breathing hard against me as she managed to whisper,

  “Don’t kill me.”

  “Ha…if only death was so final.” My mouth was on her throat in seconds. I bit down hard as she let out a scream. I felt her fists against my chest as I drank from her. I counted her heartbeat until it slowed and let her go. Her blood was warm as it slid down my throat. I backed away from her as I wiped the last drop from my mouth. I stared down at the bite marks healing fast on her skin. I looked around as I took in the next stop: Vine Street.

  I got off the train as I headed for the stairs. I didn’t look back to see if she awoke, I hadn’t drank enough to stop her heart of that I was sure. I pulled my phone from my jacket pocket as I took in the other stray passengers from the train climbing the stairs. I could hear their conversations low as they reverberated off the walls. The train was now an echo down the tunnels below and soon I was on the street above.

  I followed the stars toward Hollywood and Vine. I took in the sights before my eyes. The looming Capitol Records building lit up with a Christmas tree high atop its needle. I almost forgot it was yet another holiday as I crossed the boulevard to the large loft building before me. I nodded to the valet as I crossed the boulevard,

  “Good evening, Mr. Tres.”

  “Almost morning, Carlos,” I said as I punched in my code and pulled opened the heavy glass doors. I crossed the marble floors of the lobby as I headed for the elevators. I got in and punched the button for the penthouse as it climbed q
uickly. I leaned against the wall of the elevator and thought it was slightly careless to feed so close to home. I got off the elevator at my floor as I headed toward my loft. I stood a moment with the keys in my hand as I placed my hands on my waist. I leaned my head as I took a breath then moved forward to unlock the door.

  I stepped into the darkened loft as I could see far off the sun climbing into the sky. I was almost thankful for the installation of darkened panels to the loft. There were nights when I indeed lived like those that I faked heritage to. I smiled inwardly as I headed for the bedroom. She was lying on her stomach facing the window as I kicked off my shoes and tossed my jacket on a ghost chair sitting beside the bedroom door. I leaned on the edge of the bed as I sank down beside her. I ran my hands over her blonde hair then my hands over her back. She stirred as she opened her eyes,

  “Fast food again?”

  “Yeah,” I said as I placed a kiss on her lips. She wrinkled her nose,

  “You smell like a bar.” I laughed as I pulled her close,

  “I thought she was a waitress.” She shook her head as she settled against me. I held onto her as the sun rose high above into the sky now,

  “Looks like another beautiful morning,” I said into her ear as she nodded and closed her eyes. I inhaled the scent of jasmine on her skin as I shut my eyes. I wondered about the girl on the train and if she would awaken at the correct stop. For a moment I felt almost guilty for having interrupted her commute but hoped it would lead her back to school where she belonged. A warm feeling came across me as I thought that I had done a good for someone beside myself.

  I dreamt that I was on the train once again with the young girl. She wore a white sundress as she held onto her purse. I stared at her as she nodded to me,

  “What are we doing back here?” She shrugged as she replied,

  “I don’t know…I missed my stop because of you.” I looked around the train and noticed it was slightly different from the one I had rode with her. I looked down at my bloodstained clothes then to the girl once more.

  “I stopped in time.” She shrugged once more as she looked out the window.

  “Obviously you took more than I could handle because I didn’t wake up.” Her voice was filled with anger as the train pulled to a stop, I watched as she got to her feet. She shuffled past me as the doors opened and a bright light burst forth. I shielded my eyes from the rays of the sun as I turned slowly to take in the view. The girl had disappeared and I was encompassed with light now. I looked around as I heard low whispers all around me,

  “You know you aren’t allowed back in,” I heard the distinct voice against the back of my neck now. I turned around to see that I was not alone.

  “Then why am I here?” She was wearing the same clothes from the night of her death. The black corduroy jacket and blue jeans had been her favorite outfit when we went out on cold nights. Her curled blonde hair was pulled back away from her face. The shocking blue eyes were staring back at me as she smiled with her perfect pink lips.

  “I don’t know, Rent. I sometimes wonder how I ended up here. I find it hard after all this time to accept that I’m going to be here for eternity. I’ve been told that I don’t have to worry about my loved ones and I’ll see them one day. But I’ve been told we will never be together. Can you tell me why?” There was silence as I stepped closer and reached out to touch her. Her eyes grew wide,

  “You have to go back.”

  “I can’t…” She shook her head quickly as she stepped away then as if hearing some voice within her, she turned and ran off into the cloud filled sky.

  “Yasmine! Come back! I can’t leave, I’m stuck!”

  I was talking to myself, I was sure of it now. I watched her as she reappeared as she grinned,

  “Sure you can!” I felt a hard shove and fell forward and through the clouds below my feet. I let out a scream as I felt a hot blast of air against my face. I was falling fast now through the atmosphere as I shut my eyes. My arms and legs flailing all about. My heart pounded as could feel the earth getting closer, I opened my eyes just as I slammed against the pavement of the boulevard.

  I didn’t die.

  I lay on my stomach for a moment as I pushed myself up. I was lying atop Johnny Cash’s star, I could thank god for small blessings but chose not to. I looked up to the small crowd that had gathered, I took in a deep breath as I waved them off.

  “I just took too many drugs,” I said as I turned toward an awaiting sedan. I watched the window open slowly; a hand emerged with an envelope. I walked over slowly as I reached for the envelope,

  “He says if you try that again you won’t be getting up from the ground next time. Got it?” I looked up toward the sky as I said,

  “Tell him I’ll stay out of his playground as long as he stays out of my head.” I cursed as I yanked the envelope and tore it open. I was staring at an obituary for the girl on the train. I cursed once more as I tossed it down.

  “He says if you take another life that you’ll grow wings again.” A thousand years and the pain is still fresh in my head. I nodded as I leaned on the car,

  “Tell him I said fine…can I go now?” There was a sigh as the voice continued,

  “He said stop being such a fuck up and do something good for once.” I nodded and the window rolled up. I backed away from the car. I took in a deep breath as I heard the window again,

  “And before I forget – and this is on a personal note – don’t talk to Yasmine the next time you see her.” I stepped close to the car as the window lowered and I could see who I was talking to clearly. It was like staring into a mirror even after all this time. He flashed me a smile as he said,

  “Leave her alone, Dad.”

  “Phillip?” The window rolled up as the sedan sped off. I cursed at the thought of my son being allowed in before myself,

  “Goddamn you, old man.” I said into the cloud filled sky.

  “Just because you moved doesn’t mean you ran away from your problems,” said Octavius in a low voice as I sat before him. I narrowed my eyes as I replied,

  “You are aware we were cut from the same cloth?” He stared at himself in the mirror and admired his suit for a long moment before he replied,

  “Maybe in a biblical sense but I’m not of the angelic breed, Rent.” I let out a deep laugh as I said,

  “I guess you did lose a few brain cells when you hit the ground. You do know that we were kicked out for the same reason.” He stared off a moment before he looked back at me as he smiled,

  “She really was a lovely girl…”

  “…if only you had left her alone.” I heard the door open to the loft as I turned to see Aerin enter the room. We were jerked away from our moment as she asked,

  “Is everything ok?”

  “It couldn’t be better, dear Aerin,” said Octavius as he leaned forward and inspected his hair. I got to my feet as I stood beside him and leaned in to whisper,

  “Your secret is safe with me, brother.” He nodded knowing he had a lot more to lose than myself. I turned to face Aerin as she took my hands into her own and soon we were sharing a kiss. I followed her from the room as Octavius continued to admire his image.

  11.

  The air was cold as I awoke to lying on a damp dirt floor, I could feel water beneath my skin as I shuddered. I managed to sit up as I let out a cry, I turned to feel the pain in my back. I stared at the bloody stumps on my skin as I let out a scream. I pulled my hands away quickly now as I slipped on the dirt floor, I could see I was lying in my own blood now. I slipped as I attempted to stand and fell on my stomach. My legs in pain I looked around and above to the sky. I could see the dark clouds from above. I didn’t understand what I had done to end up here. I looked around to see I had fallen into a sort of stable, immediately my nose was assaulted with the smell of animals and waste. I felt my stomach begin to turn as I expelled the contents of my stomach onto the ground. I let out a cry as I could not recall any of this happening before. I heard laught
er from a stall.

  “Who laughs at me? Is that you demon that caused my wings to be ripped from my body?” The laughter grew louder as I managed to stumble toward the sound. I stopped in horror as I stared down to my friend in the same state as myself. I sank to my feet as I reached out to touch his wounds,

  “What monster has done this to us?” His eyes dark as they stared into my own,

  “Atticus, our father made these wounds. We are being punished for sampling the fruits that were of our sister.” I sat back and shook my head,

  “He would never harm us, Octavius. He loves us and what we did was not wrong.” I could hear the rain now pounding the roof of the stable and dripping in some places around us.

  “What we did was wrong.”

  “It was natural, she had no ill feelings toward us. I love her. Do you think he punished her as well?” He shrugged as he got to his feet,

  “Help me, we should find something sharp to cut away the traces of where we are from. I fear some would not understand and we shall be harmed.”

  “Should we look for her?”

  “Oh forget that whore and find me a sharp object!” I did as he commanded, it was then that I noticed it was night now and I was without clothes. I stole into the small hearth and stole the basket of clothing that smelled of earth and sweat. I stopped as I took in the sharp axe and knew it was the only thing to save us from being found out. I carried the axe back to the stable as I stopped. I could hear dogs barking and stopped as I heard angry voices from the stable.

  “Are you trying to steal my animals?” I took this to be the owner of the hearth.

  “No, the rain…I needed shelter.” Octavius was cowering now beneath the large man as he held a blade. I stepped from the shadows as I said,

  “If you cut him, I will kill you.” His eyes grew wide as he stared at my pale face,

  “Monsters!” I watched as he clutched his chest and fell face forward into my blood on the ground. I looked to Octavius as I tossed him the clothes and pulled on a coat and pants,