The Witch And His Wolf // Kai Parker

Fourteen - The bloodsuckers of New Orleans

The bloodsuckers of New Orleans

Carrie's eyes flew open, her breath steady despite the storm of adrenaline coursing through her veins. The moment she had been planning for weeks—months—was finally here. The house was shrouded in silence, save for the occasional groan of settling wood. She lay motionless for a beat longer, listening intently for any signs that her parents might still be awake. Satisfied, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her movements deliberate and noiseless.

The cool night air filtered through the slightly cracked window, brushing against her skin like a conspiratorial whisper. Shadows stretched across her room, cloaking her actions as she crept toward her bed. With a practiced motion, Carrie reached underneath it, her fingers curling around the familiar canvas of a large black duffle bag. She slid it out and unzipped it, the metallic sound unnervingly loud in the stillness.

Inside was the culmination of her secret preparation: a carefully packed collection of essentials. Carrie pulled out a dark hoodie and slipped it over her head, its fabric soft but utilitarian. Next, she traded her sleepwear for well-worn jeans. 

From her nightstand, she retrieved her notebook, its cover scuffed from countless hours of research and planning. She flipped to the last blank page and tore it out, her hands steady despite the gravity of her actions. Leaning over her desk, she wrote a short note in her neat handwriting:

I'll be gone for a little while. Don't worry.

The words felt hollow, inadequate, but there was no time to agonize over them. Folding the note, she placed it on her pillow where her parents would find it in the morning. She doubted it would ease their panic, but at least they wouldn't think she had disappeared without a trace.

Carrie hoisted the duffle bag over her shoulder, its weight both a burden and a reassurance. She approached the window, sliding it open with practiced ease. A rush of cool air hit her face as she carefully climbed through, her feet landing soundlessly on the dewy grass below.

She straightened, turning to look back at the house she had called home for so long. The familiar outline of the roof against the star-strewn sky tugged at something deep within her, but she shook it off. Nostalgia had no place tonight. Without a sound, she turned away, stepping into the shadows that stretched like open arms to welcome her.

It wasn't long before Carrie arrived at the nearest bus stop. The air was cold and still, her breath visible in the faint light of the streetlamp above. She sank onto the bench, pulling out her notebook again. The worn cover and dog-eared pages bore the marks of weeks of meticulous research.

Flipping through her notes, Carrie stopped at the section she had memorized but couldn't resist reading again. The bold header at the top read Vampires: Weaknesses. Beneath it, a short but crucial list was scrawled in her careful handwriting:

SunlightVervainWooden stake through the heart

Her lips moved silently as she read the words, committing them to memory once more. She frowned. Were there other vulnerabilities she hadn't uncovered yet? The sources she had found were fragmented—old folk tales, obscure news clippings, and dusty books tucked away in the corner of a forgotten library. Still, it was enough to fuel her determination.

The hiss of air brakes broke the silence as the bus pulled up in front of her. Carrie snapped the notebook shut and slid it back into her bag. The door opened with a groan, and she climbed aboard, the faint scent of coffee and worn upholstery meeting her as she entered.

"What's a young girl like you doing out so late?" the bus driver asked, his voice weary but laced with genuine concern.

"Visiting my aunt. She lives out of town, and my parents thought it'd be better if I left tonight," she lied smoothly, offering a polite smile.