the ursuline convent
To the unsuspecting human eye,we look like a group of macabre performers heading to the nearest stage. To the paranormal community, we’re a group of powerful beings, heading to the fight of their lives or certain death. I understand Erick and Phillipe’s apprehension about coming to our aid. Their lack of enthusiasm is unmistakably attributed to Harrison Chamberlin. Honestly, it’s nice to know that my maker pisses everyone off…not just me. I don’t know what we’re about to walk into, but my instincts tell me it’s not going to be pleasant.
We move through the familiar streets of what is quickly becoming the tourist area of New Orleans. In the short amount of time I’ve been away, several of the older buildings that were once falling-down relics of a time past have begun receiving a well-needed makeover, covered in questionable-looking scaffolding.
Terrin stops in the middle of Chartres Street, and the rest of us follow suit. “He’s in there,” he says, pointing at one of the most iconic buildings in New Orleans. The white stucco building, looming over everything that happens in the city, is the former Ursuline Convent, now a boarding school for boys.
Harrison and I laugh in unison. “You can’t be serious,” he says rudely. “The convent?”
“Yes.” Terrin looks confused by Harrison’s question. “I have no reason to lie.”
“Please excuse Harrison’s rudeness.” I glare at my maker, daring him to contradict me. “That building is the basis of many vampire stories,” I answer the unasked question. My brain reels over the stories of the casket girls that have been passed down through the centuries. “Are you positive Cyrus is there?”
“Yes.” He pauses. “But he’s not alone.”
“Of course he’s not,” Harrison mumbles.
“Who’s with him?” Gideon asks. “Vampire or lycan?”
“Vampire. It feels like more than one, and the energy feels…old.”
I look around our small group. “Does anyone else feel anything?”
“Nothing lycan,” Stella answers. She turns toward the immortal child. “Can you hide us from whoever is inside?”
“I’ve been doing that since we left the cathedral,” headmits. “I can feel something poking at the cover, though.”
“What do you mean?” Lucien asks.
His tiny forehead wrinkles. “It feels like someone is bumping into me, but there’s no one there.”
“Callum,” Harrison announces. “He knows something is off, and he’s trying to find it.”
“Has he poked through?” Lucian asks, ignoring my maker.
Terrin shakes his head. “Not yet.”
“That gives us the element of surprise,” Gideon announces.
“Has anyone else thought about the fact that we have no plan? Or is it just me?” Simon crosses his arms across his chest in rebellion.
“Son, even if we had a plan, there’s no way we could’ve imagined this scenario or what could be waiting for us in there.” Gideon steps to the front of our group. “What is this building used for?”
“Currently, it’s a school for boys,” Harrison answers. “It’s been many things over the years, but the stories have remained the same.”
“What stories?” Simon asks.
Harrison smiles the smile that tricked me into trusting him for an innocent walk along the river. “That is a story for another day.” He turns his attention back to the convent. “If Callum is inside, you don’t stand a chance.” He scoffs, pissing me off once again. “I doubt you’ll even make it through the front door.”
“You’re an asshole,” I say louder than intended.
He bows grandly. “At your service, daughter.” I recoil at his words and turn my attention back toward the convent.
“I can get in,” Terrin says, interrupting the awkwardness that is Harrison Chamberlin.
“I won’t let you do that,” Lucien says. “That’s where I draw the line.”
Terrin moves toward the warlock. “With all due respect, Lucien, I am the one in charge. I appreciate everything you have done for me, but I am an immortal child vampire with powers that even you don’t understand. I’m going inside.” His words are final as he turns toward the building.
