Every King Needs A Queen / Book Three / Daring Spell Series / The Originals

A Walk on the Wild Side

Not every supernatural creature had the ability to stay incredibly built and thin the way vampires did, not without putting a little work and care into their body.

Us witches still had to work out.

I was taking a run around the French Quarter, listening to music on my cell through headphones, passing various locals, including a police officer, making my way down the streets until I reached my apartment. I was walking in, on the phone with Cami. "Yeah, I know, Cami. I've been working up leads on the murders, too. Lucien might not be the killer, but that doesn't mean we should trust him. Yeah, I know all about the prophecy foretelling the death of the Originals." I saw an empty glass on the counter, my empty glass that I had used before I had left, walking toward it. "I might be able to help Freya decipher more of the fortune. But I'm more into real magic, not back-alley palm reading." I picked up the bottle of bourbon. "I'll let you know..." I stopped before I could pour bourbon in the glass, confused at what I saw in there. "When I know more." I pulled out a dangly earring. They looked incredibly expensive, and beautiful. "I'll call you back."

I hung up, tense and and suspicious, looking around. I saw a black masquerade mask. I saw a various gemstone statement necklace that led me to a set of diamond bracelets that was on another table. There were black high heels and a black clutch bag on the hallway table that led to my room. I picked up the masquerade mask and the jewelry, walking toward the stairs, slowly picking up the high heels and the clutch, slowly walking down the hallway into my room. I looked to left but saw something, turning around, seeing a beautiful, black ball gown. I was in shock.

My phone rang.

I put the jewelry, the clutch and the high heels on my table, taking out my phone to look at the Caller ID, seeing that it read UNKNOWN. I answered, assuming that all of this was done by Marcel. "You want to dress me up in nice clothes, all you gotta do is ask."

Another man's voice was on the the other line. "I'll keep that in mind in the future."

I was slightly embarrassed. "I thought you were someone else."

"Perhaps your boyfriend, Marcel Gerard. I know exactly who you are, Auria Rayvnne."

I sighed. "And who might you be?"

"I'm Tristan de Martel."

I knew exactly who I was talking to. "The guy that sent your vampire to attack my said boyfriend in his home?"

"In all fairness, the violence wasn't my idea. Had Marcel come willingly, none of that would have been necessary."

I looked at the table where I had put the stuff, seeing a black business card from the Strix, picking it up, turning it to the back where the message was: 7041 St. Charles Ave. Midnight. "So, this is your version of asking for something nicely? How did you even get into my apartment?"

"I didn't. I compelled a human to deliver it for me. It's an invitation. I believe Marcel told you a bit about the Strix. Who we are, what we're capable of. Every few years, we gather to celebrate our status as the most elite creatures in the world. And, in the rare instance we feel we're identified someone worth of our attention, we open our doors."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Not you, darling. Marcel. You've had to have been wondering about his whereabouts all day. Let's just say we've been welcoming him into our home and seeing what he is capable of. Testing him, if you will. I believe that he would be a worthy addition to our society. And I want to meet the Regent of New Orleans in person so that I can assure you that we are not a danger to you or your city, or the peace that you aim to uphold. Join us. Tonight. And don't be late."