Bloodlust: Cain's Eternal Curse

Episode 11: Feed on My Soul, Take My Body

The club was alive with a mix of music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and perfume, mingling with the spicy aroma of Creole cuisine. Flickering gas lamps cast a warm, golden glow over the room, illuminating the swirling colors of extravagant gowns and sharp suits. People danced to the rhythm of a lively jazz band, their bodies moving in perfect sync with the intoxicating beat.

Madam Laveau glided through the crowd, her presence commanding attention. She wore a deep red dress that contrasted sharply with her dark skin, and her eyes, filled with an otherworldly wisdom, scanned the room with purpose. Her movements were graceful yet deliberate, as if every step she took held a secret power.

As she exited the club, the lively sounds of the party faded, replaced by the eerie silence of the empty street. The night was still, the moon casting long shadows on the cobblestone road. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her, quickening in pace. She turned to see a tall, strong figure blocking her path, his gray eyes shimmering in the moonlight.

"Fancy seeing you here, Madam Laveau," Xavier drawled, his voice smooth and dangerous.

"You," she hissed, her eyes narrowing. "I should have known you'd slither out of the shadows tonight."

"And miss the chance to dance with the queen of spells? Never." He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers.

With a flick of her wrist, she chanted, "Ignis sacer."

But nothing happened. Xavier's smile widened, filled with dark amusement. "Your parlor tricks won't work on me, dear. Haven't you learned by now?"

Laveau's heart pounded as she backed away, only to find her path blocked by an unseen force. "What do you want, Xavier?"

"I want what I've always wanted," he replied, his voice dripping with malevolence. "Power. And you, my dear, are the key."

"You think you can control me?" she spat. "You overestimate yourself."

Xavier's eyes began to glow with an eerie light. "Vis tenebrarum, ad me veni. Destrue inimicum meum, nunc et in aeternum."

Madam Laveau screamed as a searing pain shot through her body, her nose starting to bleed. She fell to her knees, gasping for breath. "Who... who are you really?" she choked out.

He knelt beside her, his face inches from hers. "A nightmare you can't escape," he whispered. "But you can call me Xavier."

"Stay away from me!" she cried, her voice cracking with fear.

"Running won't help you," he said, his tone almost gentle. "This is destiny, Laveau. Ours is a tale written in blood and shadow."

With a final, contemptuous puff of breath in her face, Xavier vanished into the night, leaving Laveau to collapse on the cobblestones.

Madam Laveau jolted awake, shaking in her bed, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to her mind.

She reached for the glass of water on the table beside her, her hands trembling. The cool liquid slid down her throat, but it did little to quell the panic thrumming in her veins. The room was cloaked in darkness, save for the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains.

A voice broke the silence. "Bad dreams, Laveau?"

Madam Laveau turned to find Xavier standing in the dark room, his gray eyes glinting with amusement. Fear surged through her, and she scrambled out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor as she bolted for the door.