Chapter Text
New Orleans. A city of intrigue and unrest. A city of parties and sleepless nights. A place to get lost. A place to find yourself. A city ran by vampires – or at least that was what Jessica had heard. The first time she came here she'd not paid much attention to the undead, she'd been more interested in the people – whether they actually had a pulse or not she hadn't noticed, they were all so fascinating to her!
Everyone here seemed so at ease and free, so coming here had to have been one of her better ideas. The whole place was such a stark contrast to where she had came from, and when Jessica thought of her friends back at church she pitied them.
When she had turned eighteen she swore to herself that no matter how much her daddy beat or bullied her, she wouldn't be brainwashed by him anymore! Her first taste of actual freedom had indeed been on her eighteenth birthday. Somehow, she'd convinced her best friend Amy to come to New Orleans with her. The girls had lied to each of their families about their whereabouts, and although that first experience of utter independence had exhilarated Jessica, her father had nevertheless found out. Once she and Amy had returned, Jessica received yet another beating and berating. That was when she swore to herself once more – never again.
At first she had convinced herself that the words never again meant she would never go back to New Orleans. She'd never do something so carefree or foolish again. She'd be a good girl and listen to her daddy and obey the words of God! The problem was that Jessica was never good at lying, whether to others or herself. Her life, it wasn't right! By her nineteenth birthday she realised this and that was when she ran away.
Never again didn't mean New Orleans or freedom, it meant she'd never let her daddy hurt her any more. Jessica did everything he ever asked of her, and still he beat her. The one thing she wished she had was the courage for her mother and sister to do the same as her and run. Yet, even though she'd ran from one demon she was possibly running head long into another. There was no plan, and no idea of what to do – just three hundred dollars she'd stashed and her old truck.
The city was still the same this time as it was the first time she came here. New Orleans was still as exciting and full of possibilities. However Jessica was just a girl from Shreveport. Nineteen years old and so fucking naïve! She knew it. God did she...
The first thing Jessica realised when she parked up was that she'd need more money, and a roof over her head. Yet with night drawing in, and instead of actively assessing what was going on – or at least trying to make a plan – Jessica grabbed her purse and got out of the truck. Tonight was going to be the first night of many here. She wasn't going to act all coy and naïve and afraid. No. Not now. Not ever. Tonight was all about turning over a new leaf and becoming what she always wanted to be – free.
Jessica walked for a good twenty minutes into the centre of town. Her mind was everywhere and nowhere. The walk was a daze. She passed people. Couples. Strangers. Laughing. Joking. Loners... Yet, not one of them did she take a second glance at, and even if she did there was no way she could tell if they were human or vampire.
People said that the city was ruled by vampires and instead of the prospect scaring her it actually intrigued her. By no means did she know anything about them, and to her knowledge she had never even met one! Her daddy told her that they were abominations and evil, but considering why she was here...he was more than likely incorrect. Although she hadn't the slightest idea of what she was doing, there was a crazy feeling deep in her bones that she would meet a vampire tonight and that somehow it would change her.
Jessica didn't want to become one herself by any means! She just...she didn't know what she wanted, it just felt right. If tonight truly was about turning over a new leaf and becoming a new person, she had to do everything her father would've forbade her to! Drinking. Staying out late. Going to a vampire bar...
The red head's stroll came to an end at Bourbon Street. Although it wasn't particularly late, the place was crammed. She hadn't even been concentrating on where she was going, and yet here she was. Amidst all the drunken chaos that was the New Orleans nightlife she saw what she had been 'looking' for. There, in red neon lights across from her read: Fangtasia.
Her heart began to beat frantically of its own accord and a bubbling feeling started in the pit of her stomach. Jessica wasn't sure whether it was excitement, anticipation, or actual fear. Either way, her feet were carrying her toward the entrance. Her eyes were full of curiosity and she looked from the stoic doorman to the queue of several people to the right. She joined them willingly, forgetting about her appearance only up until now.
Everyone else looked so much older and scarier than her. Most people were rocking this strange gothic sort of look. Jessica had seen it a few times before in passing – there was another Fangtasia bar in her home town, Shreveport. Many times she'd passed out of curiosity, never venturing in, but looking all the same. So although she knew nothing about the vampire culture, she knew you needed to at least look old enough or scary enough to get into the bar.
As she neared the front of the queue she started to panic. She was wearing the same yellow sun dress she'd had on all day. Her hair was clipped back and kind of unruly and her make up was pretty much non-existent! There was just enough time for her to dig out some lip balm from her purse when she reached the front of the line.
The doorman was built like one of those scary looking weight lifting guys. Jessica was unable to tear her eyes away from how huge his arms were, never mind trying to suss if he was breathing or not! She must've looked like some terrified kid to him.
“Any I.D.?” he ground out.
Jessica cleared her throat, her mouth bobbed open for a moment but then she clamped it shut. It was better not to speak and give away her nervousness. Tonight was about a new leaf...not about being a kid anymore! She had to get in there – one way or another. She was about to shake her head when the club door opened.
For a split second she could hear the loud screaming music from inside and it sent a shiver down her spine. Her eyes moved from the door to the woman that had appeared from behind it. Without having to analyse, Jessica could tell that she was a vampire, just by the power she exuded. The scary doorman suddenly didn't seem so scary anymore. The man paled in comparison and seemed to visibly shrink in the woman's presence.
“Ms De Beaufort – h-how can I help?” he was nervous and he stuttered over his words like a fumbling child. He reminded Jessica of herself in that respect, and the thought made her smile. Even someone like him could become vulnerable, it was all a matter of perspective. Tonight hers would change.
Jessica stood there, patiently, not even realising she was staring at Ms De Beaufort. The vampire was possibility the most beautiful person she'd laid eyes on – ever! Even her name sounded beautiful! Jessica kept saying the words over and over in her mind – Ms De Beaufort, Ms De Beaufort...
“Ms De Beaufort.”
Suddenly the attention hers. The blue eyed predator had fixed her gaze upon her. Jessica had also not realised she'd just said the woman's name aloud!
“Can I help you?” the vampire's question knocked the wind out of Jessica's lungs and now she was the one shrinking away. As beautiful and as mysterious as this woman was, there certainly was a bite to her.
“Sorry,” Jess fumbled, trying her hardest not to revert back to kid mode. “A' was just waitin' in line.”
The blue eyes didn't move from her, not one inch! At first, Jessica didn't hold the courage just to stare right back, so her own eyes skirted away. Although she did take in that the woman's leather corset left little to the imagination, and even just a glance made her flutter – down there.
“Waitin' for what?” the woman enquired, stepping closer to the slim slip of a girl, like a lioness circling her prey. “The grass to grow? You poor sweet thing.”
The comment earned a sly laugh from the doorman. Jessica was tired of being pushed around, and considering she was in the midst of an inner crisis right now, it was the perfect time for someone to push her buttons – even if that was a scary vampire bitch.
“I ain't a-a thing!” Jessica's comeback was better planned than executed. Her eyes lifted and met the woman's head on, afraid but unaware of the exact danger she was putting herself in. Jessica pushed herself to be 'confident'. “A' just wanted to go inside, an' dance – please can you just lemme' in?”
It felt as if the vampire was staring directly into her soul. Reading her completely, like she was a free newspaper – so easy to discard of after getting the information needed. Her gaze was as devouring as Jessica imagined her lips to be. Up until now she hadn't thought of another woman's lips, but it was hard not to – given the circumstances. Jessica couldn't stop fantasising about smudged rouge lipstick across her neck, on her thigh...her hip.
“How old are you?”
Jessica's breath hitched in her throat,lying was out of the question, but as nervous as she was it couldn't exactly hurt. Her heart had been hammering ever since she joined the queue, and one thing she imagined vampires to be able to do was to hear her heartbeat. There was no doubt in her mind that Ms De Beaufort had picked up on it and Jessica, try as might, couldn't control it.
She cleared her throat, trying her best not to stutter,
“I not long ago turned twenty one.”
The vampire raised an eyebrow and those rouge lips Jessica fixated on pursed together. The woman was amused? Possibly...
“Twenty one – fuck me – I could've sworn you were younger,” the vampire's amused expression changed to a knowing smile. Jessica felt herself shivering again, especially when the woman used the word fuck. Now...now she wasn't just thinking about another woman's lips... “Still, it's hard to tell when you get to my age. Human ages all seem to blur into one – especially with sweet little things like you.”
Jessica was starting to shake now. This anticipation she felt was almost what she imagined sex to be like. This woman's eyes, undressing her, judging her, questioning if she was good enough. She hoped the club itself would be this intense. Nothing seemed as life changing as this moment right now – tables were turning.
“I guess I'll trust ya', this time. Next time I might make you work harder.”
Ms De Beaufort stepped to the side, flipping her long blonde curls over her shoulder. Jessica tentatively walked closer, trying to pass her, and as she was about to step inside the club, a cool touch gripped her wrist.
“Be careful in there. I'd hate to see a pretty face leave my vault so soon – I hear some of them bite.”
When Jessica's doe eyes looked up at the vampire, showing a flash of panic, the woman actually laughed. It wasn't a very loud sound, and although Jessica ought to have been somewhat disgruntled that the woman was making fun of her, she wasn't. The small spark of rebellion that had made her run to New Orleans in the first place ignited once more.
“Oh – thanks for the word of warning, I can take care of myself just fine.”
The vampire released her grip, nodding with approval.
“Alright sweet thing.”
As Jessica stepped inside, as the music began to envelope her, as her life began to change, she heard the vampire's amused tone speaking to the doorman.
“Fuckin' fire-crotches!”