Writer's Note: This story begins after the disappearance of Philippe Trufont in Vampires' Victim Disappears.
*
Lucius Carter sauntered down the sidewalk on Esplanade Avenue as the sun set over the French Quarter. He had no reason to hurry but did look forward to spending the night with his granddaughter. He reached the ancient brick building that had been converted into apartments and pressed the buzzer.
"Who's there?" came a feminine voice from the stat icky loudspeaker.
"It's Lucius, Astrid" he replied.
"Were you followed?"
"No."
The buzzer sounded and he opened the door into the stairwell and entered. He looked up the stairs to see Astrid open the apartment door. A view of him before he started up the stairs would always provide an extra few seconds should if Bloodmoon's guards had to defend her.
Astrid stayed at the door as Lucius climbed the stairs. When he approached the door she bowed from the head and waist to acknowledge him as her superior. Ever the gentleman, he bowed in response although their tradition did not require it.
"'Moon is asleep" the blond woman told him as she locked the door behind them. "The baby was active most of the day and our little mommy-to-be hasn't awakened from her nap yet. Shall I wake her?"
Lucius smiled and noticed the aroma of baking fish Astrid was preparing for the three of them. "No, let her rest a little longer. Why don't you have a glass of wine with me before dinner?"
"Trying to charm me, old man?" she grinned back. "I'm way too young for you." In fact, everyone in the coven was young compared to Lucius. Although he appeared to be a healthy man of fifty he was in fact well over eighty but years spent in the mirror universe didn't count against his lifespan. Astrid was in fact approaching forty herself and found Lucius extremely attractive and hoped that he was coming on to her.
"Not at all young lady" he said. "Just being courteous, mage to priestess, but now that you mention it I think I'll consider seducing you." They both chuckled as Lucius stepped to the bar and selected a white wine. Astrid noted that Lucius poured three glasses. "Pouring one for 'Moon, too?" she asked.
"No, for our other guest. You can show yourself now, Elizabeth" Lucius said without looking up.
Astrid spun to her right, scanning the room, then back to her left to see a white light taking form, becoming first translucent, then taking the form a beautiful young Catholic nun dressed in the white habit of a novice. Astrid was speechless, caught completely off guard that she had not felt the presence of a supernatural being. Some priestess I am she thought, chastising herself.
"I believe you two know each other" said Lucius. "What brings you here, Liz?"
"News on your hell spawn brothers" the nun monotoned. "They've started killing cattle in North Dakota."
Lucius frowned. "That is how they always start. Very well... Astrid will inform the sisters in that area."
The ghost matched his frown. "You won't go yourself?"
"Not until I see my great granddaughter safely into the world." He picked up two of the glasses of white wine and handed one to Astrid. Then he extended the other to the ghost. "Join us." The ghost took the glass and held it in front of her face, glaring like a jilted lover. Lucius picked up the third glass and toasted her. "To the old days!" and drained the glass.
Astrid sipped her wine and watched the ghost do the same.
"You're not funny, Lu," said the nun. "You're a murderer. Trufont was just the weapon you used." Lucius' face lost all expression and he looked directly into her eyes. "They were hopeless drug addicts, Liz. Having Philippe kill them was an act of mercy."
"Two of them were Catholics, Lu. They could have been..."
"Then I saved them an extra thousand years in purgatory!" Lucius raised his voice to stop her in mid sentence then lowered if to a whisper. "If it will please you I'll sponsor a mass in their names... the bishop owes me a Latin mass anyway."
"You should have him say one for you while you're at it" said Elizabeth as she put the empty glass down.
"God can choose between me and his beloved King David on Judgment Day" said Lucius. "After all, He used both of us the same way... to kill His enemies."
"Thank you for the wine, Lu. I wish I could say it was nice seeing you again but it would be a lie." "Not for me, Liz. I still love you" said Lucius. "Have a nice afterlife until we meet again."
Elizabeth seemed to fade before Astrid's eyes. When the apparition was gone she turned to Lucius and asked "What is it between you two?"
The mage spun on his heels and hurled his wine glass at the fireplace. It missed by a yard, shattering on the mantle. Astrid was sure he was crying, but when he turned back to her he was completely composed. __ _____ ____ _____
It was a warm day in the spring of 1928. Lucius Carter lay on the bed of the rented room staring at the ceiling fan that turned above him. There was no knock before Elizabeth entered the room; she barged in like a common whore but she was dressed as properly as a New Orleans lady could possibly dress and still be stylish in the Roaring Twenties.
"I was afraid you wou'na' be here" she said. Lucius knew she'd come to New Orleans as a child and spoke English and French flawlessly, but she was making no effort to hide her Irish brogue. "I'd have walked to Texas if you had asked" he replied. "Why did you send for me? Have you changed your mind?"
"No."
"You're still going through with it?'
"I take m' vows on Sund'y" she said. "Please, d'na' ask again. Ah'v made up m'mind and made a promise t' the Blessed Mother."
"So why did you send for me?"
She could no longer look him in the face so she turned to the mirror to remove her hat. "I've been talking to Bridgette. She tol' meh wha' she and Dan use t' do 'fore they were married... so she'd still be a virgin on the' weddin' night."
Lucius said nothing, but in the mirror she could see that his eyes were boring a hole in her back.
"Bri says as long as ya d'na' put yer... yer thing in m' baby hole I'm still a virgin. So I came t' make an offer."
