Page 50 of Alpha's Heir

"You can go talk to them if you want. I'll hold your space." I offered, gesturing to the group of people still in view. She shook her head.

"No, I'll see them soon." She waved her hand as if physically waving off the thought. "Why choose New Orleans? Do you have family here?"

"No, actually I came for the art and the music, the food. I've heard about it and thought if I was going to finally take a vacation it should be somewhere lively, somewhere fun. So when I got the opportunity, I packed a bag, got on a plane, and came here. My mom insisted I shouldn't go alone, but my roommate had classes this semester while I didn't, so yeah, that didn't work out." I shrugged and moved a little closer to the counter.

I could finally see the counter so that was a good thing at least, the conversation had me needing the coffee less.

“Well, those are good reasons! We have the best food and the most amazing music. In fact...would you be interested in coming to a party with me? My friend’s band is playing a special concert in the swamp. He’s kind of a bigger name around here, so it’s the only place he can play without beingswampedby groupies!”

Her emphasis onswampedmade us both laugh. “That sounds like a blast! When is it?”

“I was heading over there now if you would like to join me? This line is taking way too long and it's annoying me.” She looked at the beaded watch on her wrist. "It's only 6:30 and the party doesn't start until 8, but I could introduce you to some people I know, hang out before the party."She slung her arm around my shoulders and gestured toward the door as if asking me if I wanted to go. I thought about it for a moment, wondering if I should just stay in line for my coffee, but then decided to take her up on it. There was no better way to observe culture than to be immersed in it.

I let her lead me away from the shop.

As she steered me through the crowd, we talked about music and poetry. She recited some poems she said she had written and I enjoyed them very much. She had a real flair for the dramatic.

At one point she knocked off some passerby’s hat with a casual fling of her arm and we ran off, laughing. I was sweating by the time we got to an alleyway that led to a swamp beyond. The abrupt change from the mass of people to being alone with this new person kind of unnerved me. I didn’t know what I expected, but I thought there would be people on the way to the party. Maybe it wasn't the best idea, letting some stranger drag me into the swamp.

This hadhorrormoviewritten all over it.

“On second thought, I have somewhere I have to be.” I turned to run back to the street. I only made it a few paces before her arm wrapped around my shoulders again.

“Shhhh,” she whispered in my ear. “Quiet, cher.”

She put a cloth over my face. I struggled to get away for a moment, but whatever was on the cloth smelled strong, and in the next second I fell into darkness.