Episode-20
ST. ANN'S CHURCH
The citizens of the French Quarter all prepared themselves for Father Kieran's funeral service. A long line of community members and family, including Cami, Francesca, Genevieve, and Marcel, made their way to Father Kieran's open casket to pay their respects.
Nikole was late and by the time she reached the casket, everyone else at the service were already seated in the pews. She greeted Cami and gave her a kiss on the cheek and a smile before going to give her respects to Father Kieran.
However, when she opened the casket, Father Kieran was gone, and in his place was a baby. The baby cooed at her.
Nikole looked at the baby and smiled as she whispered a soft, "Hi." She reached down to pick the baby up, but before she could, a squishing noise was heard, and blood poured from Nikole's mouth.
She turned around in horror as she noticed that it was her father who had staked her from behind with the indestructible white oak stake.
Mikael stood there, grinning. He lunged and grabbed Nikole in a choke-hold as she continued to choke on her blood.
Mikal sneered at her daughter, "Greetings, girl."
Nikole woke with a start in her bedroom in the Abattoir compound. She exhaled heavily before she laid back down in relief.
ROUSSEAU'S-- FATHER KIERAN'S WAKE
At Rousseau's, the French Quarter was throwing an Irish-style wake in his honor, complete with Irish music, lots of alcohol, and tons of people who had gathered to share stories of Father Kieran and celebrate his life.
Nikole sat alone at a table with a glass of scotch when she was joined by Cami.
Cami waved her hand in Nikole's face, "Hey! Earth to you!"
Nikole looked up and noticed the wounds on her face, "Your face--
Cami waved her off, "Will heal. Listen, I wanted to thank you--"
Nikole held up her glass, "--Unless you've come equipped with the means to fill this, no additional platitudes are necessary."
Cami sighed, "Okay... I'm in a crap mood because my uncle just died, and people are partying like it's Mardi Gras. What's your excuse?" She noticed Nikole scowling, "Nikole, seriously, what's going on?"
Nikole sighed in frustration, "I've been having these dreams about my dead father. No diagnosis necessary, love. I've already got this one covered: my fears of parenthood, of scarring my child as my father scarred me, are manifesting as nightmares." She smiled fakely and took a long sip of her drink, "It's horrifically cliché."
Cami pursed her lips, "Truthfully? I'm just surprised to hear you acknowledge out loud that you're going to be a mother. The mama carrying your baby has been living out in the bayou for months, it's not exactly What To Expect When You're Expecting."
Marcel entered the bar, which Nikole notices as she listened to Cami speak.
Nikole looked to Cami with a smile, "I know more about the trials of parenthood than you might imagine, Camille."
Cami saw as Marcel walked up to the bar as she looked at Nikole sarcastically, "And it worked out for you so well the first time, why change a thing?"
Cami left the table abruptly. Once she was gone, Nikole caught Marcel's eye across the restaurant, which triggered a memory.
NEW ORLEANS, 1810
