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.
