Phoenix - 1919...

Phoenix walks down the French Quarter, taking in the sights of New Orleans. He'd been loathed to come here, if only for the sole reason that he loathed the French bureaucrats and their bourgeoisie sensibilities. Of course, he had no choice but to flee here.

The puritanical rules of those in Salem had yet to diminish, despite the many supernatural creatures that inhabited it the fair township. Luckily his Mother was quick to find a better place to inhabit. The best thing about Tituba is that she sought to shatter the puritanical notions in very smart ways.

Tituba.

His 'Mother' had always been there for him, teaching him and guiding him. The finest schools, the best tutors and the best of everything. But there was no amount of money that could replace knowledge. The knowledge that Tituba taught him got him to this spot and is the biggest and most unexpected secret he could have ever hoped to learn.

When he was a baby, Tituba stole him from his mother and disappeared, as she was prone to doing. When confronted, Tituba lied and evaded his questions. In anger, he ended up attacking her. She, being more learned in magic, bested him easily. With his tail between his legs, he'd retreated to the one place his 'Mother' wouldn't come.

She isn't welcomed here.

Even in her diminished form, she was able to shut him down in seconds.

"You're quiet."

Countess Lana DeDonscata was a woman in her mid-twenties with a penchant for altruistic ideals. Phoenix had known her throughout her youth. He couldn't help but to see the beauty she held. Because he knew her as a child, he fought the strong feelings of attraction he felt towards her. As the biracial daughter of a dignitary, she was virtually an outcast, despite her stature and beauty. In the time he'd known Lana, she'd been uprooted from her home and learned of her burgeoning witch-hood. She took a definite liking to Phoenix immediately and as much as he hated to say it, the feeling was mutual.

"It becomes you." Lana jests. The two passed a garden and Lana gently plucked a rose, "It unsettles me, if I'm honest."

"My mind is a million miles away, and for that I apologize." Phoenix glanced at her, "I have to admit, you catch me at an inopportune time."

"An inopportune time, sure. The meeting of the seven covens for the Sabbat is in a day. I need to know that you're ready for this." Lana said with a coy inflection, "Our very lives depend on your full attention being on the ritual."

"The power of the full coven-"

"Is nothing compared to you and Tituba." Lana noticed Phoenix's hesitancy, "The powers of the witches are rising and one day, we're going to show all the pompous mortals exactly what we can do. But for now, we need you."

"Tituba cannot know that I'm here, nor what we are doing." Phoenix insisted, "I regret to say that we are not on good terms and if she knew, she would break the laws and come here."

                                                                      ***************************

Perry...

My immediate reaction to breaking up with Lucas was disbelief.

Lucas is probably the most beautiful man I'd ever met before, save for David. Deep beneath the somewhat homicidal tendencies he seemed to have, he is a good...person? Vampire. Lucas is a vampire. I have to remember that. He's shown up to Phoenix's mansion to kill him and brought David to slaughter as well.

I wasn't blind. I knew that whatever happened after they arrived wasn't just on them. Phoenix wasn't fond of Lucas and if I was to believe the words Phoenix said, he wouldn't be too happy with me seeing David either.

Phoenix hadn't denied goading them. In fact, he rationed that he never felt in danger of either men. He also rationed that Lucas is a psychopath. I was inclined to agree with him. Phoenix seemed rational, even if I wasn't. After my blow-up with my parents, I decided that I would leave home. Phoenix offered to let me stay with him, on one condition: I try to find common ground with my parents, specifically my mother.

I moved in with every intention of pulling my own weight. Phoenix dissuaded my attempts, stating that I needed to worry about school and learning my craft. Upon arriving at the mansion, I was ushered into one of the rooms on the second floor, east wing.

The room was decadent, to say the least. It was filled with trinkets, mystical and otherwise. These trinkets included a couple of orbs, what equated to an Oakwood wizard's wand and a collection of first edition books. The centerpiece of the room was the four-poster bed, with matching red oak end tables and armoire. A large, matching entertainment system stood, complete with a forty inch flat screen television and Blu Ray player. The floor was a lighter wood and softer than the usual.

My friends were...reluctant to come to the Mansion. They were generally distrustful of Phoenix, despite my best attempts. He said it was to be expected. He'd seen it coming.

This fact made me very suspicious when we got a knock on the door. The servants were usually around enough to greet people who came in but somehow none of them were around. I reluctantly answered the door and came face-to-face with David. I was about to slam the door but he put his hand in the door.

"Wait! Please!" David said quickly. I rolled my eyes and opened the door back open, "Look, I know you're pissed off at me...but I need your help."

"You need my help?" I laugh, "That's actually kind of sad. There anything else you want? Should I tie Phoenix up and leave him on you doorstep?"

"Screw Phoenix." David barks, "I need to know who bit me."

I stare at him with confusion, "Alright, let me get out me 'whodunit' book and pull that out for you."

"Phoenix." I sigh at his mention of Phoenix but he goes on, "He said he knows who bit me."

"And you can't ask him because you tried to kill him." I shrug, "Maybe don't try to kill people in the future."

"Look, I know I don't the best track record with you...it's the worse mistake I've ever made and I'll have to live with that. But if I'm going to move on, if I go forward in life...it has to start here." David seems sincere, "And you have absolutely no reason to help me, no reason to care. But you do."

He's right.

I have absolutely no reason to care about what he goes through...but I do. I told him that I would always care and that I would always help. I didn't think I'd actually mean it. Correction, I knew I'd mean it, I just hoped that it would clear up.

Like herpes.

"Look, I'm not always a good person, but I need to know why this happened to me." David says softly.

"Fine. I'll help you. Where do we start?"

"The beginning." David says pulling up his keys.

                                                                        *************************** 

Eva & Finn...  

Finn and Eva sit on the couch, watching an old black and white movie that seems more of a distraction than an actual hobby. The two are sharing a bowl of popcorn as they always do. They always seemed to be sharing a bowl of popcorn these days. Their relationship has become predictable, despite the obvious vampiric issues.

Finn's vampirism seems to go over Eva's head. With the mystic rings they'd been gifted, they are able to do everything a true couple could do but Eva has been thinking about it. Charlotte has said it many times before and with the passing of Perry and Lucas' relationship came the realization that their romance are ill-fated.

Eva's fears are not just her own. Finn always knew that their relationship was on a timer. Even worse is the realization that it is already starting to wind down. Their relationship is becoming something that neither of them had expected: Normal. Without saying it, each of them realizes that their relationship is elevated by the danger and excitement, not to say that there isn't a strong foundation and genuine attraction. 

It was just never meant to last.

"Have you ever seen this movie?" Finn asks. Eva shakes her head without looking at him, "It's not a particularly good one, though it's my favorite."

"Why?" 

"It's not what one would expect." Finn shrugs, "The people who are supposed to get together...don't. They preferred their own destinies. They chose to be with the less conventional people."

"Romantic." Eva sighs, "But aren't they all like that?"

Finn snickers, "Not all of them." He says pulling her close, "I love you, Eva."

"I love you too." Eva smiles back.

"Gouge my ear drums out." Lucas groans as he walks into without a shirt and holding a glass of liquor, "I do applaud you for not getting bored. Humans are so boring."

Eva and Finn sit up, Finn obviously embarrassed by his errant Brother. Lucas skulks over and sits at the piano, staring over it at the two of them. The vampire smirks at them and takes a drink of his Jack Daniels.

"I think I should go." Eva utters nervously. She stands and grabs her purse before turning to him, "I'm sorry about you and Perry."

"No, you're not." Lucas grumbles with amusement.

"I honestly am. You helped him move on and he helped you not be such an asshole. Welcome back, Lucas." Eva says as she stormed out.

Finn sighs and Lucas laughs at her comment. "You know, there's hope for her." His voice seems to grate on Finn, "What is it brother? We still trying to pretend we're like them in the slightest?"

"Is this your life now? You plan on being this guy."

"Vampire."

"Not better." Finn stands as he makes his way to Lucas. He stares at his Brother with exasperation, "Did you ever stop to think that maybe you should fight for him?"

"No." Lucas scoffs, "He gave up all this. He's obviously an idiot. Next time I see him, it'll probably be to pike his head."

"Thank you!" Nora claps as she saunters into the room, "The little witch, as valuable as he might be, is a liability. He's powerful, emotional and unstable."

"So's Lucas." Finn quips.

"Whose side are you on?" Lucas says with a growl.

"All I'm saying is that before you write him off, can we please remember that your Sister was trying to kill both of us and Perry saved us from his psycho ancestor, whom our Sister was working for." Finn says logically. Finn grimaces at his Sister, "For all we know, dear old Sis is playing us yet again."

"Tituba's pissed because I killed Porter, which I had to do because he was teaching the other one how to-"

"Speaking of, when are you leaving?" Finn asks.

Nora's eyes bounce between them, "What?"

"You think sooner or later Perry won't find out you're here? You honestly think Phoenix doesn't already know you're here?" Finn asks, "That puts us directly at odds with the witches."

"Good." Lucas blurts surprising both of them, "Maybe if we take out the big witch, the next one will follow."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Nora says with a very large grin, not able to hide her glee, "Are we going to make an attempt on Phoenix's life?"

Lucas disappears and appears so that he was directly in front of his Sister, "Betray us and he'll be the least of your worries." He beams at her, "Now Sister, let the killing begin." 

                                                                          ***************************   

Perry...

When David parks at Yaga Point, I am more than suspicious. David and I have already done this dance and it was awkward the first time. It's even worse this time.

Wanting no part of more awkwardness, I quickly exit the car and walk around the car. I am about to complain about his shenanigans when I realized where we are. David's serious expression alerts me to his fear. Being here is clearly affecting him more than even I could see.

"You okay?"

David ignores me and moves towards the thicket. I grab his arm and he pauses. I can literally feel the tension in him. His whole body is tense. I've seen him like this before, though not to this level. The night we...he was very afraid before and after. Not to this level, but he was afraid.

"You want my help, Davey? You have to let me in." I explain calmly.

"Because that worked so well before?" David says with a chortle, "We both know you're going to force your way in. You always do. The question is, are you going to help me or..."

"You know me."

"Not lately. None of us know you. When you didn't know you were a witch, you were different." David's voice takes on a very different tone, a sadder one. He seems utterly confused, "I don't know you anymore."

"You knew me enough to know that I would help you." I shake my head, "When I wasn't a witch, people used me. They walked on me. You walked all over me."

"I never meant-"

"No! You didn't! None of you mean to. You all ask and ask and ask and when I have nothing left, I am alone." I snap, "You want to know the truth? You slept with me and neglected to call me back. I called you over and over, made myself look like some pathetic moron and you couldn't even be bothered to text a response. You neglected to admit that we were anything...at all. And that's why I didn't choose you. It's why I don't know if I'm capable of choosing you."

"This isn't-"

"It is. If you weren't dodging me, if you weren't denying a fundamental part of who you are, you wouldn't have been there to be attacked. You might not be a werewolf."

"Please, go on, tell me who I am." David is beyond angry, "You know so much! The world revolves around you. This is all my fault and you're the victim."

"Do you really want to play this card with me?"

"Card?"

"Dammit! I have been holding this back but have you ever thought that this is the cosmos way of saying you suck as a person so they're transforming you into someone who doesn't completely suck?"

"Into a monster?!"

"Beauty and the Beast." I say simply.

His eyes flash a neon orange color.

"That's the first movie we watched and you said, and I quote, it was 'pure bullshit'. You thought you were a monster and maybe you were but do you think you'd still be this person? Do you think I'd ever give that person something so special to me? Do you think if you hadn't been bitten, you would still be the same, you're wrong." I shake my head and turn to the car, "None of us are beauty anymore. That's the reason none of us are the same. If I was the same as I was before, I'd be dead now."

"You're going to equate me being a werewolf to Beauty and the Beast?" He ask, "That makes me feel better."

"No, I don't imagine it does because as much as you've grown you're still very much stuck in your literal and very limited views." I snort at his inability to cope with himself on a basic level, "Maybe you shouldn't be looking for the wolf that bit you. Maybe you need to be trying to understand how such a good person could cope with being a monster."

"Do you think I enjoy being a bad person?" David asks.

"No, I don't. But I do think you can't help yourself." I shrug, "Are we done here?"

"Got somewhere to be?" David asks. I shift uncomfortably, knowing that I don't. We both do. He stares at me as if something is occurring in his mind before he asks, "Prom? You want to go to Prom? Has Hell frozen over?"

"Do I want to go to prom?"

The very idea is confusing.

I stare at him, unsure of what to say.

"As friends." After a few minutes, I smile without trying, "Maybe you never quite transformed as much as you think."

"This is what passes as a conversation with us, isn't it?"

"I think so. Good talk?" I ask.

"Yeah, actually, it was. I'll drive you home." David says heading to the driver's seat of the car.

"Of course you will." I nod as I head towards the passenger's seat of the car.

                                                                          *************************** 

"Sometimes I'm not quite sure where I've been and where I go from here. When I went from being a semi-regular person to this...whatever this is."

After David dropped me off, I picked up my two best friends to shop for prom dresses. While I'm usually bored stiff watching them try on outfit after outfit, this time seems so different. It feels like we're just being teenagers.

It's refreshing.

Charlotte and Eva model their dresses for me and I clap when I finally find the ones I like. I smile on as they spin around as if they're on the catwalk. They are happy and excited about something now. It quickly hits me that they are going to prom and somehow their happiness doesn't equate to my own. It seems like their happiness only further exacerbates the sadness I feel. The loneliness that no one seems to be able to cure.

It's like it's drowning me.

"The journey to find one's self is lonely and desolate. These are the things no one tells you. They fill your head with the most curious lies. Lies about how finding yourself will directly result in happiness. That is a lie."

David and Parker sit on the hood of Parker's car at Yaga Point, tossing back a few beers. The two have talked about everything from sports, to women to Prom. After a while, the two went silent and neither guy is look at the other, the lies burning holes in their friendship. David, out of nowhere, begin to laugh at his inability to cope with his own feelings for Perry and how much turmoil it caused him and still is. Parker joins in without either of them speaking a word. Once a few minutes of laughter have passed, a solemnness clouds the air again.

"I think I'm bi." David says quietly, "And in love with Perry.

"Duh." Parker said with a bored tone, "Did your Mom cook?"

"But as humans, we're driven to search for something more. Something that will tether us to this world but some answers only serve to isolate us further. It's the game that we play. How much knowledge will lead to happiness and how much leads to ruin."

Phoenix stares into the fire, unable to pull his attention from the flames. The irony is not lost on him, though he wishes for a less ironic life. The desiccation of life is not purely superficial.

It is overwhelmingly deep-rooted.

"I so wished for more." Phoenix says into the flames, "I hoped for the strength to fight you, for the wisdom to discern my very thoughts from yours and the honesty to not lie to those who trust me."

"And then you lived." Lana coos as she reveals herself from the shadows, "I think you mean well. I think you're a better man than you judge yourself. What I don't think...is that you understand what it means to live in this world."

"Tell me, Mother, what does it mean to live in this world?" Phoenix inquires.

"Sacrifice, my Child. It's all about the blood." Lana says putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Or utter, complete chaos."

After dropping Eva and Charlotte off at the dance, I make my way to Byars. After splurging on a banana split, I toss a couple of dollars on the table. As I stand to leave, a tanned woman with curly brown hair stops me. The woman is so familiar.

I feel like I've met her but not met her at the same time.

"Perry Bennett?" She asks.

"Can I help you?"

"My name is Astrid Ritter. You might not remember me, but I'm-"

"Porter's Ex-Girlfriend." I nod as I realized who she is, "It's good to see you. Why am I seeing you? I thought you moved to—"

"Boston, yeah. I need to talk to you about Porter."

"You heard about him? Yeah he—"

"I spoke with him. He wants me to warn you." Astrid says looking over my shoulder, "You're in danger."