667: Issue #8 "The 13th Hour"

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

…

The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.

Revelation 20:13

It had been close to three months since I moved from the mansion in the swamp and just as long since I had left my new family.

They had been able to fix the front porch at Cassandra’s, but she decided that it wasn’t safe for everyone to continue staying in the mansion. She had been able to quickly procure a new homestead, however, and packed up the items pertaining to the Council; (whose formal name I came to find out was the Council of Danh-Gbwe) took everyone else, and moved.

I tried to talk to Adam and the rest of my friends at least once a day, but after a few weeks at Jackie’s, that became harder…

Let me rewind a little bit and go back a few months.

That’s when things started to get weirder if that was even possible.

The end of July was bloody awful.

The happenings of my first evening at Jackie’s had carried on almost every night after, but I didn’t bother mentioning it to my landlord. It was pretty much the same haunting each time and if the spirit hadn’t called out my name with every encounter, I would have thought that it was just residual, but it seemed to know me.

It was starting to take a toll on my sanity, as I wasn’t getting much sleep, and I was constantly cooped up in the house to make matters even w

August 1st, 2016

The Lalaurie Mansion

Royal Street, LA

“You look absolutely dreadful,” Jackie commented on my appearance as I crawled into the kitchen.

“You’re too sweet, Jack.” I plopped down in a chair and laid my face on the cool tabletop.

“You’re not sleeping, Vi. That’s very bad for your health.” Jackie already had a kettle whistling on the stove and I watched him go through the cupboards as he pulled out different jars of herbs.

“No, I’m not and I know it’s not good for my health.” I deflated.

I didn’t want to tell Jackie why, but I knew that he would know what to do.

He narrowed his eyes at me, “You’re being haunted, aren’t you?” Jackie placed a muslin bag full of herbs in an antique teacup and poured boiling hot water over it.

“It’s the same thing every night. I get woken up in the wee hours of the morning, the tele is off, and then it turns on by itself to just static before turning off again. There’s always a shadow in the corner of the room and it keeps calling my name.” I yawned and took the hot tea from Jackie.

“It is possible that the spirits have heard your name before. The ghosts of the long dead, formerly enslaved still linger here, Violet. I tried to put them to rest, but a lot didn’t want to go. There is a possibility that they recognize your ability and are trying to communicate with you. Why don’t you ask what they want?” Jackie’s response was calm and not at all fearful.

I hadn’t thought about that. There were a few ghostly encounters back in Ireland and that one time I went to visit the vaults in Edinburgh, but nothing had been this—personal.

“What do I say exactly? Hello, my name’s Violet, as you know; would you care to chat about the horrible atrocities that claimed your life?” I scoffed, drinking down the scalding liquid.

“Or you could just tell whoever it is that you’re listening if they need to talk. Either that or tell them that you are frightened and to please leave you alone.” Jackie gave me two rather simple solutions.

“You make it sound so easy.” I was now rummaging through the cupboard for the bread and peanut butter; I needed something that was going to stick to my ribs and satisfy me.

“Because it is just that easy.” Jackie tapped on the counter next to me with a knife in one hand and the peanut butter in the other.

I shrugged and began making myself a sandwich, “I guess I will have to try it then.”

“I’m going to go out here in a bit and do some light shopping; is there anything that you need? Shampoo? Soap? Anything?” Jackie was now making a list on the sticky notes that clung to the refrigerator.

“I’m good.” I smiled.

I wasn’t good. Being whatever the hell we were didn’t mean we wouldn’t still need to wash our hair and bodies, or that we didn’t need new clothing because a lot of it was now ruined, or that we didn’t want chocolate sometimes at one AM, but couldn’t go get any of these things because we were flat broke and a dosser.

Well, I was a flat broke dosser.

As far as I knew, I was the only one without money. The Council was well off, Khaine and Salome had millions, Naomi was working with Henri, and Adam had been assisting Cassandra with a few things.

I, however, was living off of Jackie like some bum.

“Violet? Are you listening to me?” Jackie’s voice popped my thought bubble.

“Hm?” I must have spaced out.

“I asked if you were sure that you didn’t need anything. Maybe I will just stop asking and get you whatever I think you’ll need.” He waved his hand at me.

“No, no. Don’t do that; I’m fine.” I tried to reassure him.

“My sweet ass, you aren’t. You need new toiletries, you need new clothes, you need a new laptop, and you need to get the fuck outta the house!” Jackie preached at me.

“I don’t have money for any of those things and—and I really don’t want to be around anyone.” I shook my head absentmindedly.

“I told you; Cassandra said she would cover the laptop. She knows how important it is to you and writing might do you some good right now.” Jackie had a hand on his hip as he tapped his leather loafer on the tile floor.

“But I don’t have the money to pay her back. I can’t have her buy me things just because she can; I’m prideful.” I admitted a little sheepishly.

“I have an idea then; come with me.” Jackie waved his hand as I followed him across the hall, still eating my sandwich.

He led me to a locked door and opened it slowly to reveal a musty room stacked with all sorts of odds, ends, and furniture.

“I know that it’s in here somewhere.” Jackie started searching through piles of things while I stood by the door. He finally found what he was looking for, a small leather suitcase of some kind, and set it up on a dusty desk.

“You can use this to write in the meantime. It’s a vintage 1920’s Remington typewriter.” Jackie unlocked the box and opened it to reveal a sleek navy blue machine.

“That is beautiful.” I stepped foot into the room and came to run my hands over the keys. They made the most wonderful springy click sound when I depressed them, and the smooth round letters felt right under my fingers.

“It’s yours. I have so much junk I don’t even know what to do with it. I was really into antiques for a while and figured I would use this someday, but I never did. It works perfectly fine and I have plenty of paper to go with it.” Jackie snapped the box up and handed it to me.

“I know this is supposed to make me feel better, and it does, but I also feel like I am stealing from you.” I admitted, biting the inside of my cheek as I considered it. This was quite an expensive gift.

“Let go of that pride, Vi, and just accept it. You are family to me now and I always shower my family with gifts…except for maybe Henri.” Jackie was pensive and unintentionally funny.

“Then thank you. I really do need something to take my mind off of things.” I held the typewriter close to my chest.

“Then off you go. You should sit out back in the garden; might give you some good inspiration. I’m going to run out for a bit, but you can call me if you need anything.” Jackie patted me on the back as he left the room and went to get his car keys.

“I—I really could use some new shampoo and maybe some soap…and razors.” I half smiled as Jackie readied himself to leave.

“I’ll take care of it.” He winked at me again before slipping out the door.

I had the house to myself now and I thought I would spend some of that time trying to write something.

The garden was rather nice, despite the heat. Jackie had erected a pergola complete with electric fans that were giving off a nice cool breeze.

I had surprisingly been able to write and had completed a full three chapters in my latest Ghost Prophecies book when I got the distinct feeling that I was being watched.

With every click of the keys, there was another click to accompany it. I thought it was weird that my typing had an echo, but when I paused to listen, it would stop.

After about twenty minutes of this, I stopped again and finally spoke.

“If you need to say anything, I’m listening.” I took the bold route and waited for a response.

Nothing.

I started typing again, but there went that extra clicking sound every time I depressed a key.

“What do you want from me? I told you I was listening, but you’re not saying anything!” I raised my voice slightly as I stopped writing again.

Still, there was no response.

I started to pick my writing back up when I heard a sliding noise. It was like someone was running a glass across a wooden bar top.

VIOLET!!!

A voice screamed right in my ear accompanied by a symphony of shattering glass.

I leapt clear out of my seat and hit the concrete hard; facing the outdoor bar that Jackie had built. At least ten snifters had somehow slid from their shelves under the counter and now lay in a million glittery pieces on the ground.

“Is everything alright out here?” Jackie burst through the back door to find me still sitting on the ground, staring at the mess that had just been made.

“I did what you told me to do! I let them know that I was listening if they wanted to talk and instead they just fuck with me!” I scrambled back up to my chair, but never took my eyes off of the bar.

“A spirit did this?” Jackie looked slightly alarmed.

I just nodded, my heart still beating loudly.

“Maybe I do need to get out more.” I slid from the chair and sidled over to Jackie.

“And that gives me another idea. We are down to two bartenders at the club and I need someone else to pick up the open shifts. Would you be interested?” Jackie offered me a job.

“You—you want me to work for you?” I hadn’t been expecting that to be his solution to this.

“Yes. I know you have a great work ethic; you’re friendly, and sexy, even though you aren’t my type. You work Sapphic Nights and you’d make a killing.” Jackie smirked.

Bartending was good money, that I knew, and probably even better here in New Orleans. It had been a while since I worked a fast paced job like that, but Jackie was right…I definitely needed to get out of the house.

I just shrugged.

“Perfect, then you can start tonight. I can have you shadow Roxy, but we need to get you something a little more—dressy.” Jackie eyed my baggy sweats and Blood of the Fallen shirt.

“Adorn me as you see fit.” I curtsied.

“Let me call Miracle and see what she has; you two are a similar size.” Jackie opened the back door for me, “Oh! And since you are working for me, now you can get a new laptop. We can get it from Cassandra on credit.” He laughed.

A job.

And a new laptop.

Things may not have been ideal, but they were starting to look up.

October 28th, 2016

I had been working at the nightclub pretty much full time for the past couple months. It had been nice to get out of the house and live a little, but things felt sort of hollow without the rest of my family by my side.

Everyone was doing well, but our rather busy schedules, mostly mine, had kept us from spending a whole lot of physical time together.

Phone conversations were still frequent, but it just wasn’t the same…

I was sitting in my room, typing away on my fancy new laptop when my mobile rang.

“Hey.” A smile crept across my face when I answered; it was Adam.

“Hey, Vi. What you up to?” He asked.

“Writing, but I have to get ready for work.” I saved my latest chapter and closed the laptop as I rose from my seat with the phone still to my ear.

“Almost done with that book?” Adam made small talk as I put him on speaker phone and began doing my makeup.

“Almost. Just two more chapters and then I can begin editing.” I powdered my face as I spoke.

“Good. So, guess what?” I could hear the excitement in his voice.

I was curious as to what the news was as I responded. “What?”

“We’re coming to see you at work tonight.” He replied.

That would be a first. I had been working there for a while, but no one had come to visit me yet. I had made plenty of excuses as to why they couldn’t, or didn’t, want to come to Jackie’s house, but they hadn’t tried to visit me at the nightclub yet.

“That’s…great.” I tried to sound exuberant, but I wasn’t sure how I’d be if I actually saw them.

“You don’t sound like you want to see me.” Adam breathed into the phone.

“That’s not true, I just—I don’t know if it is a good idea.” I had no more excuses left. I wanted to see everyone, but I was afraid of what might happen if I was thrown into the mix again.

“Vi, nothing is going to happen. I know that you are worried about something coming for us if we are reunited, but things have been quiet for months; not an Angel or Demon in sight.” He tried to reassure me that everything would be okay.

“Exactly…quiet for months. Quiet for months because I’m not there.” I was convinced that that was the reason why things had been so docile.

“I don’t think that’s it. Come on, Violet! We’re going to come see you whether you like it or not. We’ve already talked to Jackie and settled it. Besides, we’ve been working rather hard lately and need a little respite.” Adam was going to do what he wanted regardless.

“Fine.” I had a one-word response as I worked on my eyeliner.

“Fine? That’s what you have to say about us coming to see you?” Adam sounded a little hurt.

“I—I miss you. I miss all of you, but I don’t want anything bad to happen.” I confessed, sighing loudly.

“Nothing is going to happen. We’ll see you around nine, okay?” Adam assured me that all was well.

“I’ll be looking for you.” I tried not to sound defeated, but now I was just going to worry.

“Good. Have a vodka and Mountain Dew ready for me.” Adam chuckled a bit and hung up the phone.

I didn’t know what would happen if they made their presence known in my vicinity…Jeremy said he had followed my signature and I was sure that wasn’t something he would lose track of.

“Viiiiiolet!” A shrill voice called up from downstairs and almost made me leap from my chair. I was starting to tire of my name being called by disembodied voices.

I came out into the hall to see Miracle standing at the bottom of the stairs with a garment bag draped over his arm.

“I didn’t know you were coming over.” I took the stairs quickly and threw my arms around his tiny frame.

“I came bearing gifts, sweets. This is for you.” He handed me the garment bag and I unzipped it.

“An Alice in Wonderland costume? Thank you?” It was a really pretty dress, but I didn’t know why he was giving it to me.

“Jackie mentioned that you didn’t have a costume for tonight.” Miracle winked at me.

“I didn’t know I needed one.” I pulled the costume from the bag and held it up to me.

“Tonight’s Halloween Pride and everyone who works at the club dresses up in costume. Jackie didn’t tell you?” He crossed his arms and cocked his hip to the side, a pair of sunglasses dangling from his fingers.

“He did not.” I threw up a brow.

“What didn’t I do?” Jackie came from the kitchen dressed in a three-piece suit. One side was magenta with a zebra print lapel and green pocket handkerchief while the other was more of a black tie affair.

“You didn’t tell me that we were dressing in costume tonight.” I cast a brow his way.

“Oops. Well, Miracle has it covered.” He smiled at me and kissed Miracle on either cheek.

“Powder blue isn’t exactly my color.” I screwed my mouth up.

I loved Alice in Wonderland, it was my favorite book, but the color of her dress was my least favorite part. I touched my finger to the garment and the color darkened to a midnight blue.

“Now it looks a bit better.” I analyzed my work.

“I’ll never get over that, you know? That’s some serious magick, but who am I to doubt what my own eyes can see.” Miracle clucked his tongue.

Miracle knew about what I was…or at least he sort of did. He had shown up one day while I was home alone. Jackie had given him the key and when he walked in I was caught like a deer in headlights, purple skin and giant third eye in plain sight.

It took me a while to calm him down, but it had ultimately been Jackie to talk some sense into him. Miracle’s grandmother had been heavily into the occult and magick, so with a simple explanation, he seemed to be alright with it.

“Just don’t tell anyone…I know you’re dying for gossip at all times.” Jackie warned him.

“I ain’t gonna tell nobody, Jackie. Besides, even if I wanted to, who the hell would believe me?” Miracle laughed.

“He has a good point,” I smirked, draping the dress over my arm.

“Go put that thing on and find you some shoes; we’re going to be late for the opening meeting.” Jackie tapped his wristwatch.

I sprinted up the stairs and returned in just a few minutes with the dress on, my birthday shoes, and hair the color of chocolate.

“Girl, you gotta teach me how you do that; your wigs are better than mine.” Miracle ran his hand over the short curly hair atop his head.

“It’s not a wig; you know that.” I flicked him in the face with my hair as I went to grab my purse from the hook by the front door.

“I know…I just keep wishin’ that it was so I could borrow one.” He winked at me as the three of us prepared to leave.

Tonight was going to be eventful: I was dressed up in costume, everyone was coming to see me, and there was the distinct possibility that things would go south…