Rebirth

Chapter 6

He broke the embrace, got up, and went to his bedroom to retire for the night, leaving Gabriel there, blushing, feeling confused, but his heart felt warm. Gabriel, in a stupor, sat still, his mind foggy and his body stationary. He didn't understand what was going on with Lucien- first he opens up about his dead wife, telling him things so personal that no one else knows them, then he hugs him and disappears? Sometimes Gabriel felt as if he barely knew Lucien, and now was precisely one of those times. He tried to shrug it off, looking out the window to see that the sun would be rising any moment now. He got up and made his way to his room, retiring for the day as the sun rose above the horizon.

Across the horizon, Alice Cortez was waking up, her window showing a dark sky where the sun would soon rise. She swung her legs over the bed, stretching her arms above her head and exhaling. The ache that her body felt had become commonplace, and she paid it no mind as she got up and exited her room.

The sunrise over the swamps of Louisiana were always beautiful, and she decided to take some time to appreciate this one. A warm mug of tea in her hand, she exited the small hut she called home onto a large deck on the murky water. She sat down, relishing the sight of the sunlight pouring through the cypress trees and reflecting on the water. It was quiet, peaceful- a stillness that she didn't often get to witness.

Her peaceful meditation was broken by a harsh sound of a door opening behind her, as if the person who opened it was frustrated. Before the person said a single word she knew who it was. The shrill voice of David, her counterpart, pierced the silence, saying, "Alice! What the hell are you doing out here?" Exasperated, she answered, "I'm just watching the sunrise." David ignored her, saying, "Get in here before Morrigan gets here and kills both of us." It was a cruel truth- even simple pleasures like watching the sunrise were luxuries they couldn't afford.

Alice returned to the hut and saw David already at work, muttering with his eyes closed in prayer and holding a crucifix. He sat at the main rectangular table in the 2 room hut, with ancient book and scrolls sprawled out across the table. On the other side of the hut was an altar, where a crystal ball, pack of cards, and box of lea leaves stood. Alice went to the altar and grabbed her own crucifix, cupping it in her hands, and said her morning prayer. She mumbled the words without thought, meaningless sounds exiting her mouth. When she finished, she set down the crucifix, and picked up the crystal ball. She sat down at the table next to David and set the ball down in front of her. She closed her eyes and began chanting while rubbing her hands around the ball. She let her mind go blank, a canvas for whatever picture the ball was going to paint. Suddenly, the blackness of her mind turned into a dark room, where the vampires sat. They spoke to each other, oblivious that she was hearing everything they were saying. Their conversation was muffled, and she tried to concentrate harder to clear the picture. She heard vague words- Lucien, France, bones... She recognized two of the three words she heard- Lucien and France, but why were they talking about bones?

She again tried to focus all her energy on the ball, before her meditation was broken by the opening of a door. She jerked her head up, and say none other than Madame Morrigan standing in the entrance, an intimidating glare on her face. Instinctively, Alice got up from her chair and bowed to her master, who gave her the signal to rise. The face of her master was one that commanded respect- she had an aura of power. She appeared to be in her mid forties, with short blonde hair and pale skin. She was wearing a heavy fur coat, cigarette in hand, her expression changed from stoic to a disapproving scowl.

Alice, for the first time in a while, felt afraid. She had failed during her fight with Lucien, she knew, and one thing that Madame Morrigan never tolerated was failure. Madame Morrigan looked down, walking around the hut nonchalantly, almost looking at ease. She turned to Alice, and said, "Do you remember what happened the night I saved you?" Alice knew the question was rhetorical, but answered it anyway, saying, "Of course, Madame." Her master continued, "I saved you from burning in hell for all eternity, did I not? I only asked that you work to repay your debt and avenge your sisters. Simple, yes?" Her calm voice sent shivers down Alice's spine, and she was quiet. Madame Morrigan went on, "I give you food and shelter, I keep you alive, and all I ask is for your hard work." Alice pleaded, "Please, Madame, we're trying as hard as we can, we-" Madame Morrigan cut her off, raising her voice and saying, "You're useless! You have one job- kill those vampires! Why is it not done? Why, Alice?" Alice was shaking, but answered, "We-we killed the oldest, and it- it took too much." She was stuttering, barely able to speak, and Madame Morrigan replied, "Pathetic. I never should have saved you. I should have left you there to die with your sisters." Madame Morrigan turned to leave, and Alice composed herself. She took a deep breath, and said, "Madame, I found some information." Her master turned, allowing her to speak, and she said, "I believe that some of the vampires are going to France soon. We can follow them and catch them off guard." Madame Morrigan gave her a slight smile, and jokingly said, "Then you might be able to redeem yourself. I'm traveling to the old world soon. When I return, I expect them all to be dead. Is that understood?" Alice nodded, and Madame Morrigan left the hut, disappearing into the swamp outside.