Sweet Tooth and Claw

by K A Miltimore

  "I wanted to surprise you, Hedy. You know me, when I get an itch, I just have to scratch it. I wanted to come see my friend and take a little holiday from the city. Things are gearing up for Mardi Gras. Mon Dieu, you know how crazy that is." Louis finally broke the embrace and Hedy gave him a good look. Still the same broad smile and mischievous eyes, but there were new worry lines there.

  "Well, get yourself in here and tell me all about things. How are Delphine and Tante? What's the latest news?" Hedy hustled Louis over to the table closest to the counter. She knew he would want a large cup of black coffee - no cream, no sugar.

  "Oh you know, busy in the Quarter, busy telling tourists all about their futures. Same as always. In times like this, the tea reading business is brisk. Everyone is uneasy." Louis said, the soft sound of his Creole accent welcome in Hedy's ears. She didn't realize how much she had missed New Orleans.

  "Well, no doubt folks are getting their money's worth - your aunt and cousin always give the straight, unvarnished truth. But Louis, what really brings you here? Why on earth would you want to visit in a wintry month like February? Don't tell me it is to escape Mardi Gras. You could have visited your family up in Baton Rouge to do that." Hedy brought the coffee and a plate of cookies over to the table and sat. If she remembered correctly, Louis had a strong sweet tooth. Sure enough, he grabbed the cookie first.

  "Mmmm, just as good as I remember. You did a fair amount of baking at Julius' house, when you weren't busy chasing after visiting vampires drunk from the Hurricane cocktails in tourist blood. You certainly earned your stripes as an apprentice in NOLA. Julius was lucky to have your help, especially that year. Mon Dieu, do you remember that witch, the Soucouyant that was staying at the house and fooling everyone that she really wasn't attacking our neighbor, Mr. Cazelar, when she transformed at night? If you hadn't found where she had hidden her skin and threatened to rub it with salt, she never would have let the poor man go. You were fearless, Chère." Louis finished his cookie and took a deep drink of coffee, his eyes crinkling over the edge of the mug.

  "Yes, I remember her very well. I also see you are avoiding my question, so I will drop it for now, Louis, but sooner or later, you need to come clean about why you are really here. Even so, I am really glad to see you. It has been too long. Fortunately for you, I have a friend staying but no other guests, so there is a room with your name on it. That is if you don't mind rooming with a ghost and a few talking animals." Hedy watched Louis' eyes widen; he hadn't met the menagerie as they came into Hedy's life long after she had left New Orleans.

  "Good to see you still have some excitement in your life, Hedy. A ghost and talking animals? My, my. I can't wait to tell Tante about all this. Do tell how you happened upon all this. Knowing you, it will be an interesting story." Louis took another cookie from the plate.

  "Oh, it is,” Hedy said, filling Louis in on Adelaide, the menagerie and Circe’s staff.

  “I'll introduce you when Zelda and Maurice wake up from their naps. Alice is out and about somewhere, but she'll be back for dinner. Bren, my friend who is staying for a spell, he is upstairs but we'll meet him shortly." Hedy said as Louis finished the last of the cookie, his sweet tooth slacked for the moment. No matter why he was really here, and Hedy had no doubts that it was serious if it brought him unannounced to her door, she was glad to see him. Even if his presence did remind her of darker times and their dead friend, Julius.

  Chapter Three

  It was Saturday and that would normally mean a visit from Ana, but Mel wasn't sure whether her girlfriend, the Undine, would be making the trip from Seattle to Enumclaw. The last time they had spoken had been tense. The trouble started in January and had been escalating ever since - leading to their first argument. Now things were up in the air for their standing date and Mel didn't know whether she should make alternate plans or not. It was nearing the full moon and as a new initiate of the Sisters of the Crescent Moon, Helen would expect her to be at the group tonight.

  "Hon, are you and Ana going to be around for dinner? Uncle Jim and Dylan are coming over. I need a headcount for the number of steaks to pick up at Olson's Meats." Mel's mother, Candace, hollered from the kitchen. It was a wonder Mel could hear her over the noise of Mark's video game.

  "I don't think so, Mom. And anyway, Ana doesn't eat meat - you know that. Only fish." Mel's voice sounded annoyed and she didn't mean to. Her mom had been great with Ana, welcoming her into the family right from the beginning.

  "Just another person I have been rude to this week," she muttered under her breath. She still felt badly about the offense she had caused at the bakery yesterday.

  "Don't get snippy, Miss. I was just asking. Are you working at Hedy's today?" Candace came around the corner with flour smeared across her sweatshirt - apparently the family was in for some of her own baking. That rarely ended well.

  "Yeah, for a few hours, to help prep for Valentine's Day. Then Ana is supposed to come to town but she hasn't responded to my texts so...I don't know if we are still on. If we aren't, I'll go meet up with the Sisters." Mel stood and gave her mom a quick hug in apology. Now they both had flour on their shirts, but Mel didn't mind. She often came home with flour on her clothing.

  "Maybe if you spent a little more time with Ana and a little less time with the psychic group or whatever they are, you guys wouldn't be going through a rough patch. Unsolicited advice, Mel, but don't lose sight of what is important to you over some new fascination." Candace patted her daughter on the shoulder before turning back toward whatever doughy creation she had going in the kitchen. Mel knew she didn't approve of the coven - and Mel had taken care to downplay the witch aspect of the group - but to her mother's credit, she never tried to stop Mel from going.

  "Hanging with the bitchy witchies, tonight?" Mark apparently could also hear over the sound of the video game.

  "Maybe. What do you care? You never stop playing your game to do anything else." Mel said, falling into the old trap of being baited by her older brother. It had become almost a routine, and neither one of them seemed to put much stock in the argument.

  "Oh, just wondering. If I were your girlfriend, I'd be a little concerned with you hanging with that new blonde cutie that moved to town. What's her name, Tammy?" Mark's eyes never left the target he was hunting on the screen.

  "You talking about Thana? You're crazy, bro. There is nothing going on there. Get your mind out of the gutter, for once." Mel turned her back on the hunched form sprawled across the sofa, but she heard him chuckle just the same.

  "Whatever you say, Sis. If Thana ends up performing magic naked, be sure to let me know so I can come by."

  "Ewww, you are disgusting. Shut up, Mark." Mel chucked her empty soda can at him, but he easily ducked it. She loved him but he could be so gross.

  Mel picked up her phone and decided to text Ana one more time. If she didn't hear from her soon, she'd message Helen and let her know she would be at the meeting tonight.

  ✽✽✽

  Mel entered the front door of The Gingerbread Hag and the scent of cinnamon was almost overwhelming. The entry was now dressed in reds, pinks and purples - an echo of the Christmas baubles that had covered almost every surface of the already cluttered tables and shelves just a few months ago. Hedy believed in decorating for every holiday. Valentine's Day was no exception but Hedy's idea of romantic might not match up with a greeting card company. Mel found the creepy cupids and mementos of lost love to be a bit morbid. She had never been a big fan of Valentine's Day; it seemed far too commercial and forced anyway. This year of course was different, and for the first time she was a little excited by the paper hearts and cupids. Hanging her coat on the rack near the door, she noticed a new gilt shadowbox on the wall.

  "Hedy, what's in the new box?" Mel called toward the back of Hedy, who must have been rolling out cookie dough from the motion of her arms.

  "Oh, that just arrived from my auction in London. It is a Memento Mori for Prince Albert. A lock of his hair, bra
ided into a brooch. Amazing, right?" Hedy hadn't turned to face Mel but she could well imagine the look of rapture on Hedy's face. She always looked that way when she spoke about her collection.

  Mel leaned in to see the brownish strands of hair in a miniature braid, woven into a heart-shaped brooch. It was pinned to white satin. Mel gave a little shudder.

  "Why would anyone want someone's hair made into jewelry? Gross." Mel shook her head and came into the shop, causing Hedy to finally turn from her work.

  "Really, Mel? Memento Mori hair jewelry was all the rage in Victorian times and there was no greater mourner than the Queen herself. You have no idea what I had to do to acquire that brooch. Honestly, you are better off not knowing. I may have burned a few bridges to get that piece." Hedy chuckled but Mel could well imagine that Hedy had parted with a pretty penny to acquire the creepy hair pin. To each their own.

  "Well, what's on the agenda for the day? I'm only here until around mid-afternoon, remember?" Mel washed her hands in the copper sink and pulled on her apron. Like Hedy, she was beginning to feel like something was missing if she didn't have it on in the bakery.

  "We have that big order of cookies for the Ancient Order of the Rhinos' bake sale. I was hoping you could deliver it on your way home tonight. We also have my friend, Louis, staying with us, and he has a ravenous sweet tooth - so we'll need to make up some extras just for him. Are you and Ana hanging out tonight?" Hedy had a cookie cutter in one hand that looked like the profile of a rhino head and in the other a cutter shaped like fez hat. The A.O.R. would love them both.

  "Louis? Who is that? When did he come? Anyway, no I don't think I'll be seeing Ana. She didn't get back to me when I texted her. I'm going to attend tonight's circle with the coven. I'm waiting to hear from Helen if she is hosting it at her house." Mel took the fez shaped cutter from Hedy's hand and began pressing it gently into the cinnamon-scented dough. It would be far easier to lift the squarish shape of the fez out of the dough than the complicated rhino horn shape.

  "I’ll fill you in on Louis but what's going on with you and Ana? Is that why you seem so out of sorts?" Hedy took her spot next to Mel, keeping her eye on the dough to avoid making Mel feel on the spot.

  "She's unhappy with me. She doesn't like that I joined the coven. She thinks it isn't where I should be focusing my attention right now. I think she is worried it will mean some kind of danger for me. What she doesn't understand is that I joined because I don't want to be unprotected again - like at Christmas." Mel continued to press out fez hats, pushing a little harder than was necessary into the dough. Hedy would normally have chided her but she let her continue.

  "Mel, I am not going to meddle in your situation with Ana - that isn't my place. But I will say that joining a coven to try to get some kind of power, even if it is well meant, is a bad idea. Power has a way of corrupting people. I've seen it first hand - so has Louis, if you don't believe me. We both have stories we could tell about friends who found out the hard way that power is dangerous. Please be careful, okay? That's all I will say on the subject. And don't take it out on the dough, please." Hedy couldn't help herself - the fez hats were getting mangled by Mel's heavy hand.

  "Sorry. Don't worry about me, or about Ana. We'll work it out. In the meantime, tell me about Louis. Who is he?" Mel put down the cutter and pulled out a slim spatula to lift the fez hats onto the baking parchment. She was careful not to smash the tassel hanging off to the side of each hat.

  "He's a friend from New Orleans. He showed up yesterday unexpectedly. You'll like him - he is quite a character. He's got stories for days. Hopefully he will be coming down soon for something to eat. Louis is never far removed from a kitchen. He has a voracious appetite." Hedy was carefully extracting the rhinos from the dough to place them next to the fez hats. She'd need to make an extra dozen just for Louis.

  "What is he, some kind of cookie ravager? A supernatural sweets monster" Mel chuckled at the thought.

  "No, he’s a Rougarou, actually. And a supernatural sweets monster."

  Chapter Four

  A Rougewhat?" Mel had no idea what Hedy was talking about.

  "Y'all talking about me, like I'm not even here?" Mel and Hedy both jumped at the sound of the southern voice at the entry. The face that greeted them was smiling.

  "I forgot how quiet you can be, Louis. I was just letting Mel know we have a Rougarou staying with us but since you are here, you can explain for yourself." Hedy said, dusting the flour off on her apron and fetching a plate to load up with some scones for Louis' brunch.

  "I see Miss Hedy is filling up my plate, as is proper, because she knows my appetite. Throw me a little lagniappe, good sister. Merci beaucoup. Now, before I tell my tale, who might I be speaking with?" Louis walked toward the counter, hand outstretched for a handshake. Mel hastily wiped her hand and took his in a firm grasp.

  "Mel, Mel Steverson. I help Hedy out here in the shop." Mel said, giving her head a slight toss to get her bangs out of her eyes. Louis continued to shake her hand long after it seemed polite to let go.

  "Hmmm, well, if Hedy thinks you are good people, then I suppose you must be. I, however, reserve judgment." He winked and finally let her hand go, taking the plate that Hedy handed him instead.

  "Quit teasing, Louis. You like everyone. Now sit down and eat your scones and tell Mel all about yourself. And try not to lie." Hedy tossed a smile at Mel as she resumed cutting out the rhino cookies.

  "You wound me to the core, Hedy. As if I ever let a lie pass my lips. Tante would never forgive such a comment." Louis said, in mock disgust, before biting into the cranberry scone. Crumbs trickled from his mouth onto his checkered vest.

  "Your aunt is the one who warned me about your lies, Louis. Mel, just remember that if Louis' mouth is moving, you have a fifty fifty chance that he is pulling your leg." Hedy said, though Louis' howl of outrage almost drown out the last words.

  Before Louis could comment further on his complaint, Bren entered the shop with his book in hand again. Mel felt a slight flush of embarrassment; she hadn't seen him since yesterday's incident with Michael. She would have to find a chance to apologize to him.

  "Hi, Bren. You didn't get a chance to meet Louis, my friend from New Orleans. He came by yesterday for an unexpected visit. Louis Magnon, please meet our friend, Bren Aldebrand. Louis was just about to tell Mel about being a Rougarou." Hedy said, giving Bren a smile and grabbing a second plate for him. Having both Louis and Bren under her roof made her happy - old and new friends mixing together and getting to know each other. She knew everyone would enjoy meeting Louis; he was gregarious and fun to be around. A human version of a Hurricane cocktail.

  "Very pleased to meet you, Louis." Bren extended his hand and received the same long, lingering handshake. After several moments, Louis let go and gave a nod.

  "Well, since Hedy is demanding I reveal myself, I suppose I should let it all hang out. I'm a graduate of Tulane University where I majored in social work. I work part time at some agencies around the city and I help out in my cousin's French Quarter shop. I'm single, devilishly handsome, gay, vegetarian, oh, and also a Rougarou, which I suspect will need some explaining." Louis paused and picked up the cup of coffee that Hedy had left for him on the counter top. French roast - hold the cream.

  "My family is Creole, we've lived in New Orleans since the founding four hundred years ago. Somewhere along the line, some great great grandpappy must have been a bit on the wild side because my family inherited a shape-shifting ability. Think of it like a werewolf but with much more style. Rougarous transform at the full moon but our whole bodies don't change - just our heads and our propensity to devour meat, at least in my case. The ability to shift doesn't occur in every Magnon - I am one of the lucky ones this generation." Louis gave a chuckle and Mel wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or serious.

  "I met Louis when I was training at a waystation in New Orleans and he was staying there. He was coming into his transformation time as a teenager, and the w
aystation host, Julius, was helping him with it all." Hedy interjected, taking the last of the rhino cookies from the dough and placing it on the baking sheet.

  "What brings you to Enumclaw, Louis?" Bren took a slight nibble on his scone, where Louis had already consumed two.

  "Just visiting my Chère, Hedy. Catching up on old times. New Orleans is getting ready for Mardi Gras and I don't need to see any more women asking for beads or men walking the streets with red solo cups filled with liquor, thank you very much." Louis daintily wiped the last of the crumbs from his lips and folded the napkin neatly next to the empty plate.

  "Oh, there is no doubt more to this story, but that is all he is telling us, at least for now. Sooner or later, I'll get the truth out of him. Or I will call his cousin and see what she tells me." Hedy said with a chuckle. She noticed the quick flash of worry that flitted across Louis' face. She wondered if maybe he didn't want her talking with Delphine after all. Considering they hadn't spoken in seven years, Hedy hadn't really planned on making the call but now she wondered what was going on back home for Louis.

  "Well, enough about little old me. What's fun to do in this town? What keeps you here, Bren - aside from Hedy's good cooking and charming disposition." Louis' abrupt change of conversation was apparent to everyone.

  "I'm staying for a little while, imposing on Hedy's hospitality, while I figure out what is next for me. She has been very kind to let me stay for a few months. I fear I am wearing out my welcome." Bren sounded worried to Mel, like he really thought maybe Hedy was tired of having him underfoot. Mel opened her mouth to pipe up but Hedy beat her to it.

  "Don't be silly, Bren. Stay as long as you like. I have enjoyed having you here in the house immensely. You are one of the few people that Maurice likes, which is no small compliment. We all like you very much." Hedy said, smiling, before turning her back to the room to put the cookies in the oven. She missed the look of hope that washed over Bren's face, but Mel saw it. It was so plain how he felt about her. Why couldn't Hedy see it?