The Cross's Curse

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Long Talk in the Old Home

　

I walked into the old house at 1140 Royal Street.

This could have been your home if she hadn't fled, a voice in my head said.

I laughed coldly. No one in New Orleans would want this house even if it were free. An icy breeze filled the room as I pulled my jacket closer to me. I walked up the grand staircase and found a silver, diamond encrusted cross on a table.

Take it, I want you to have it.

There was a painting of her, right above the table. I should've threw it over the banister, but I put it on and continued through the house.

"Ms. Lucy, are you here?"

"Yes."

Roger, my driver from earlier, suddenly appeared beside me. I smiled.

"My master is waiting on you. Please, come."

We walked up another flight of stairs to the master bedroom. I felt the urge to burst through the door, as if something was waiting for me on the other side. He must have noticed my impatience for he quickened his pace.

"Would you like anything before I leave?"

"Some lemonade would be fine."

"I'll bring it to you soon. Go in, he won't bite."

"Madame LaLaurie, please take a seat."

I sat and looked at the man before me. He had pale skin and raven black hair.

"No one calls me that. You can call me Lucy."

"You are a LaLaurie," he stated the shaming fact.

"I am, but I prefer for that to stay in the dark. You can't say something like that here."

"This town is supposed to accept everything with open arms. Nothing can stay in the dark here."

"Not if your name is connected with one of the legends of this place, especially hers."

Roger handed me my lemonade. I thanked him and he left, quietly closing the door.

"Tell me Salem, who are you?"

I moved closer to him. He shared a small smile as he thought of a response.

"You'll hear different things from different people. I say I'm a person with a bad reputation."

I looked at the books he had beside him.

The Master Study Bible and Beautiful Chaos.

"Why are you reading a study Bible?"

"I enjoy reading it, though it won't do anything for my reputation."

I looked at him. "What is your supposed horrid reputation?"

"That I'm a demon straight from Hell."

"You can't be a demon."

"Why not?"

He looked into my eyes. I was lost in his onyx eyes that saw my soul. I had moved closer to him and was studying the flecks of blue and grey in his eyes until my phone rang.

"Salem, I have to get home, but we can continue our conversation there. It's not that long of a walk."

He laughed. "Lucy, I sent Roger to you this morning. You won't be walking for a while."

"Thank you. Now let's go before my mom decides to report me missing."