I supposed I should catch up on my reading, so I scanned the bookshelves in the living room for something interesting. There was a lot there, but nothing appealed to me. Normally I loved history but it did not fit my mood. I finally settled on a novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, when the doorbell rang.
I was surprised to see Josh standing on my front steps. I invited him in and asked, “Did I forget an engagement or has something happened?” I was fairly certain it was not the latter because I had just spoken to Sophie on the phone and she hadn’t mentioned anything.
“Aw, it ain’t nothing like that. Didn’t mean to scare you. I was just wondering if you had plans for tonight.”
I lifted the book in my hand. “Just a date with J.K. Rowling and a bottle of Merlot.”
“Well, if you’re willing to break that date, I’d like to take you to the movies. We’d talked about going to see Star Trek before all the Stray craziness happened and we never got there,” Josh said.
That sounded like how I wanted to spend my evening. “Is Star Trek still showing?” I asked. I knew enough about movies shown in theatres now to know that, much like plays, they had only limited runs.
“Not to the general public, but I kinda know the owner and had a copy of Star Trek held back for a private showing.”
“I would love to go! Is this suitable attire?” I asked, indicating the sleeveless sundress and sandals that I wore.
Josh laughed. “You’re fine. Might want to take a sweater in case you get cold. The theatres tend to be a bit chilly.” Cold did not affect vampires the way it did humans, but that didn’t mean we did not like our creature comforts. In fact, we tended to insist more on them, selfish beings we were.
I excused myself to find a suitable sweater and returned quickly carrying one.
As Josh held my door open while I slid into his car, I realized that I had missed his company in the past two days. I gave a slight start at that revelation. It worried me a bit. In my experience, cross-coven relationships were frowned upon, the Grandmaster and his family notwithstanding. Vampire politics did not lend itself to lasting unions. I gave myself a mental shake. I was getting way ahead of the situation. This was probably nothing more than Josh fulfilling the promise he had made earlier. Chris would probably be waiting for us at the theatre.
He was not. There was a number of people milling around outside, but I did not see the Grandmaster’s nephew. Josh shepherded me past the crowd to the front door. He gave a nod to the girl at the ticket box as he led me inside. More people were in the lobby, but again, Josh paid them no attention as we walked across the crowded room. At the entrance to a darkened hallway, a smart-looking usher was taking tickets. When he saw Josh, he said, “Mr. Bouchard, everything you have requested has been set up in Screening Room 5. Max is at the door.”
“Thanks,” Josh said as we stepped around the line and walked down the hall. When we arrived at the correct Screening Room, another smartly dressed usher let us in. He followed and locked the door behind us.
At my sharp look, Josh said, “It ain’t to keep us in. It’s to keep movie hoppers out. We push from this side and the door opens but no one can get in without a key.”
“What are movie hoppers?” I asked.
“People who buy tickets for one movie but then go to another. They hop from theatre to theatre until they find something they like. It’s usually kids, and normally it ain’t a problem, but when rooms are rented out like this for private showings, the doors get locked so the patrons don’t get disturbed.”
We walked into a large, tiered room with a screen on one wall, and eclectic groupings of tables and chairs sat more or less in rows on the various levels. Several sets of comfortable club chairs and end tables were interspersed with bistro tables and chairs. This was not like any theatre I had ever been in and I said so.
“This is a pretty unique setup. People can order dinner and sit at tables, or drinks and sit in the lounge chairs. Each screening room has its own fully stocked bar. The idea is the comforts of home with a big-screen, first-run movie. Place is packed almost every night of the week,” Josh said.
“But we are the only ones here,” I said, looking at the empty seats.
“Smaller screening rooms are available for rental if you want to throw a party or something. Real big for kid’s birthdays. Minus the bar of course.”
“You rented the entire theatre just for the two of us?” I asked.
“Like I said, I got an in with the owner. Didn’t cost me a dime. Plus I figure we might need to pause the movie a coupla times if you get confused so I can explain stuff. Couldn’t really do that with other people here. Do you like champagne?”
I was startled by his abrupt change of subject, but nodded.
“Hey Max, bring out that bottle I got chilling in the cooler and the ice bucket,” Josh called out to the attendant, then asked me, “Where do you wanna sit?”
I looked at the rows and then back at the big screen. “Where are the best seats? Halfway up?”
“That’s where I normally sit. You want a table?”
“No, the club chairs. They look more comfortable,” I said. We found seats in the middle, and once we were seated, the usher brought out a tall ice bucket stand, the champagne, and two flutes. Situating the bucket between us, he asked, “Would you like me to pour, Mr. Bouchard?”
“Naw, I got this. Thanks,” Josh said, taking the two crystal glasses.
“Very well, sir. If you require anything else, just let me know. I’ll be at the back of the theatre.”
“Thanks,” Josh said again, then placed the glasses on the end table and deftly popped the champagne.
“I have not had much champagne since my return,” I said as I took the flute he offered me.
“Now that’s a pity, Juliette. We’re gonna have to remedy that. Often.”
I laughed. “There has not exactly been much time for frivolity lately. Even the Gala became all business.”
“Yeah. Too bad about that. I was looking forward to having a dance or two with you.”
“Perhaps next year,” I said.
“Aw, you ain’t gonna make me wait that long are you?”
“No, I promise to dance with you before then,” I laughed.
“I’m gonna hold you to that. Speaking of the Gala, you and Honore get things straightened out?” While Josh knew I was no longer Regent, we had not spoken about it.
“Well, we are both still in existence and do not seem to be actively plotting one another’s demise, so I think this is as ‘straight’ as I can hope for.”
“She ain’t exactly making herself popular with the other coven leaders,” Josh said.
“Nor with the Grandmaster, but London confirmed her, so she is rightful leader.”
“Enough coven politics! We’re here to have some fun and get you some cultural currency,” Josh said as he picked up a small device I had not noticed earlier. Max must have given it to him.
We settled in and Josh started the movie. He was very patient with me and stopped the movie several times to answer questions I had. Never once did he show exasperation or make me feel stupid. Josh took it as a matter of course that there were things I did not understand and explained them to me.
After the movie was over, Josh said to me, “Night’s still young. How about we go have some fun?”
I was in no particular hurry to go home, so I asked, “What do you have in mind?”
“William Livausais owes us a drink over at the W. They have a great rooftop bar and it isn’t so muggy we can’t enjoy the evening.”
“I think that is a wonderful idea.”
I had known from warding the city with him that Josh seemed to know everyone, but with expediency as a pressing need, his conversations with others were short. With no such considerations this e
vening, our progress to find a table of our own in the bar was slow. In fact we’d had several drinks with other people before we found an empty place to sit. Josh was an incredibly jovial person that everyone genuinely seemed to like, whether they were humans or vampires. I had been introduced to a number of New Orleans’s prominent citizens, including the mayor, while working on the Museum Gala, but Josh seemed to be on a first-name basis with all of them.
I was thoroughly enjoying my evening. Any number of people stopped by our table. Humans were cordial to me while many vampires were deferential. Even other Elders accorded me a respect I rarely saw them give others. Finally I asked Josh about it. “The younger, less powerful vampires, I understand. I am one of the three Aether Elders. It is the others I wonder about. They all know I am no longer Regent and they are under no obligation to extend me anything but basic politeness,” I said.
“It’s a sign of respect, darlin’.”
“Respect for what?” I was incredulous.
“For putting the city’s needs above your own ambition. You could have stayed in power and let the coven fall to infighting as Honore tried to wrest control from you. Nobody’s real sure how powerful you really are. There are lots of rumors on that point, but everybody’s pretty convinced it’d be a long, drawn-out fight. You didn’t do that. You gave up being leader and helped make the city safe again,” Josh said.
“I think that is giving me far more credit than I deserve.”
“Naw. I expect when the time is right, you’ll make your move and the other covens will applaud.”
“Honore is not well liked?” I asked.
“Pretty much nobody can stand her. Heck, none of the Aether are popular, except you. Frederique was tolerated, but most people can’t stand ‘em. Honore is Queen Bitch.”
“She always has been.”
“The little shit-fit she threw after the Gala cinched it.”
I had not heard about this. “What fit?” I asked, wondering why no one had mentioned it to me.
“Well, as you know, after all the humans had left the Gala, the Aether legate was supposed to confirm you as Coven Mistress, or at least officially recognize and extend your Regency. Whatever you’d decided. Seems Honore knew all about that and expected the legate to confirm her in your place.”
“But I had not yet renounced power, so Diana did not confirm her,” I continued for him.
“Yep. Honore wanted a big coronation in front of everybody. Instead it got done privately. No spectacle, and she didn’t get to be belle of the ball,” Josh said.
“Speak of the devil,” I said as I felt Honore’s energy aura enter the room.
Josh looked at me quizzically until he too felt it. “Damn, you really can conjure, woman.”
I laughed. “Not that I would ever willingly conjure her.”
“Wonder what she’s doing here. Not her normal stompin’ ground,” Josh remarked.
“I have a feeling we are about to find out,” I said as I saw Honore and her new lieutenant, Louis Pontbriand, wend their way through the crowd to us. I pasted what I hoped was a welcoming smile on my face and waited for Honore’s approach. Josh and I both stood as the pair stopped at our table.
Honore kissed both my cheeks in effusive greeting, and I fought the urge to wipe the oily feeling away. “Juliette, how nice to see you out and about. Here I thought you’d be in mourning for poor, departed Andre, but you seem to have found his replacement quickly enough.” Honore’s words were calculated to inflict maximum damage, but I would not let them.
“I rather doubt that Andre spent the time I was gone alone, either.” Frost crystalized on each word as I said it.
Honore regarded me darkly. “Perhaps not, but you should show his memory some respect.”
I bit my tongue and said nothing. While I would not be made to feel ashamed for having fun, neither would I air dirty laundry in public. I should not have done it at the Gala and would not be provoked into doing it tonight. Honore quite pointedly ignored Josh, not acknowledging his greeting nor even looking at him once she had reached the table.
“I am holding a meeting of the Elder Council tomorrow night. Since you now seem to be one of them, you need to be there. Eleven p.m. at my home.”
“Of course, Honore. I would not miss it,” I said.
“Come, Louis. We have better places to be,” Honore said and slithered back into the crowd with her lieutenant obediently following her.
I said to Josh as we resumed our seats, “I would apologize for Honore’s rudeness, but there is no excuse for it.”
Josh shrugged. “Ain’t like she’s ever been nice to me before, so I’d have been wary if she’d been now. Let’s not let her ruin our good time. We need another round.”
I WAS NOT LOOKING forward to the meeting of the Aether Elder Council. When I had awoken, there was already a message on my phone from Honore’s representative requesting my presence at Honore’s home promptly at eleven p.m. I wondered about this obsession with the time. It had never been terribly important before. Even for humans, whose hours were numbered, there had not been an insistence on punctuality.
I dressed carefully for the occasion. After much deliberation, I decided on black slacks, a black silk blouse, and black sandals. Simple, elegant, and monochromatic. Normally I favored bright colors, but I did not wish to draw attention to myself, although in a room of just five people I was unsure how inconspicuous I could be. Almost as an afterthought, as I waited for the cab to pick me up, I wondered if I needed my ceremonial robe. The message had said nothing about it being required attire, but I wouldn’t put it past her to ‘forget’ an important detail like that. I honestly could not remember if Andre had taken his robe with him for the last Elder meeting. They had always been required attire at the Sabbats, Conclaves, and formal Grand Council and Undead Synod meetings. The one Grand Council meeting I had attended as Aether Regent the robes had not been worn. That fact had not struck me at the time. It was an emergency meeting so perhaps that was the reason for forgoing ceremonial attire. There was the possibility that vampires as a whole had dropped the practice during inter-coven events, but I could not imagine the Aether, with their love of pomp and all things archaic, would give it up.
Just to be on the safe side, I decided to take my robe with me. I retrieved a largish tote bag from my closet and went to the study. I was fairly certain I had seen my robe in the bottom of the Aether cabinet when I had retrieved my white ritual robe for the werewolf banishing. I knew there was at least one ceremonial robe there. I fervently hoped that both my old robe and Andre’s were there. I could make do with his if I had to, but I would swim in it. He was six inches taller than I and a good deal heavier.
Two robes were neatly folded, one on top of the other, in the cabinet. I drew them both out to see if one was mine. While I could not imagine Andre having two robes, it would not do for me to grab the wrong one in my haste. Both were made of heavy royal purple velvet. The top robe had a hood and two lines of finely stitched silver runes along the hem and cuffs. This was clearly Andre’s since the hood was only on Masters’ and lieutenants’ gowns. The bottom robe, with its single row of runes, was mine. If robes were still being used, I would need to add the second row onto mine, acknowledging my status as an Elder. It would do for now. I shoved the robe into my bag and slammed the cabinet door shut as the cabbie impatiently honked his horn outside my door.
When I arrived at Honore’s, I was met at the door by an Aether I did not know nor remembered seeing when I gave up my position as Regent. The very good-looking young man immediately led me to the house’s dining room. The others were already there and robed.
“Oh, Juliette, I’m so glad you could finally join us,” Honore cooed insincerely.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. By it, I was ten minutes early, but from the bored and impatient expressions on the other Elder
’s faces, I knew I was late. Leave it to Honore to tell me the wrong time.
I smiled blandly and said, “I am sorry. I must have misunderstood the meeting time. I certainly did not mean to keep you waiting.”
“Well, at least you are here now; although, you are not properly attired,” Honore said, sticky sweetness dripping from every word.
“I have my ceremonial robe. I did not think it appropriate to travel in, and your,” I paused, searching for an appropriate term, “helper brought me straight here. If you could point me to a room in which I can change, I will do so and we can begin,” I said in the same tone.
The look of triumph faded from Honore’s face as she directed me to the downstairs powder room. I wasted no time in donning the robe and returning to the meeting chamber.
I was not sure exactly what I expected from the meeting, but whatever it was did not occur. In fact, the next three hours were a dead bore. We discussed the need for new members and whether to create new vampires from among native New Orleanians or invite mature Aether from other cities to immigrate. Both possibilities had merits and problems. I thought a mixture of both was a good compromise since it would give us both the power of the older vampires and the loyalty of the new. Babette agreed with me but we were clearly the minority. Honore, Louis, and Sebastian wanted the power that only came from age. Personally, I thought it dangerous to bring in so many potent outsiders, but it would be Honore they sought to overthrow, not me. I also saw the possibilities of creating alliances among them. This might work to my advantage.
We did agree to three petitions to create new Aether from coven members. I had reservations about two of the candidates. I had heard both names whispered as bokor in the voodoo stores I had visited. While most of the stores peddling voodoo in the Quarter were nothing more than charlatan operations designed to draw in foolish tourists, I had found one store that was authentic and another whose back room was set aside for true practitioners. The Mambo that ran the second store had immediately recognized me as a fellow practitioner. “Madame, what you seek is not out here. This is just for the tourists. Come with me and I will show you what you are looking for.”
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