Man Of My Dreams

Chapter Three

I started on my chores as soon as I woke up. Not giving Mama any reason to tell me I couldn’t go out in the woods. When I walked inside after feeding the chickens, she was standing at the counter making her morning cup of coffee. “I’m all done with chores,” I turned the kitchen sink on and washed my hands. “I was thinking, if you’re okay with it,” she was staring at me with that same old look on her face. Resentment, regret… “I-I’d like to spend the day in the woods. I wanna try and find this plant that grows here. It’s rare and–” She held up her hand and sipped her coffee.

“Spare me the details. Just be home by supper.” My shoulders slagged. Relief washed over me. I grabbed my small backpack and headed out of the door, “I will.” I’d stashed my bike about a mile out into the woods this morning. I’ll walk to where it is and then circle out onto the road through the woods. She won’t be able to see me if I take the long way there.

The critters of the swamp were especially rowdy this morning. I guess with winter approaching, they’re all busy getting their nests and dens ready for hibernation. Winter is my favorite time of the year. I spend all summer stocking the freezer because hunting is useless when it’s cold. So I have more time to myself and Mama actually slacks off me a bit. Almost to where I stashed my bike, I stopped and said a prayer to whoever was listening, “Please let this day go as planned,” The wind blew in response and I took that as a good sign.

The bike ride to town was long, and hot. I was sticky with sweat by the time I made it into New Orleans. Or what used to be New Orleans. I guess it still was since that’s still the city’s name. Three hundred years ago, war erupted here. Vampires had exposed themselves. Claiming they wished to return to their human roots. That they no longer wished to live as blood-thirsty monsters. And it worked, for a few months. Until a band of vampires came through the veil and deceived the human organization that aided in the rehabilitation of vampires that chose to live docile lifestyles.

That started a 5 year long war that raged all over the country. Some folks supported vampires. They had lived in peace among the ones they knew long enough to know that they weren’t all bad. But others believed there was no taming them. That they were much like wild bears or tigers or lions that couldn’t fight their nature for long. Many large cities were targeted. New Orleans being among the first to fall. Bombs wiped out most of the city. Its beloved French Quarter somehow remained untouched.

After the human-vampire side of the war won, the citizens of New Orleans rebuilt. But even now, three hundred and some years later, it still isn’t right. At least that’s what Mama told me. I’d only seen this place a few times. And none of those times were recent enough for me to thoroughly remember. It seemed like a city to me, though. People were bustling about. I hadn’t seen a vampire yet, though. I’m not even sure I care to see one. I turned the corner and realized I had spoken too soon.

I had made it to the French Quarter and it was teaming with vampires. But they didn’t look like monsters. They looked human. Kind of. They almost glowed with beauty. Human-like but not. Not a single blemish on their skin. Not a split end on their hair. They were utterly perfect. Nothing was out of place on their bodies. From their heads to their toes… perfect. Other-worldly. But still… human-like.

I parked my bike against one of the posts. A human girl, possibly my age, walked over to me. “Hi,” she said, shoving her hands in her pockets, “Are you from around here?” If I say yes, she’ll ask me where and I can’t make up a lie fast enough and I haven’t been here enough to know my way around. “No,” I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants, “I live further south.”

She studied me for a moment and said, “Well, can I help you find anything? I’ve lived here all my life. I know pretty much anything and anywhere.” She smiled. Ordinary. So ordinary in comparison to the group of vampires nearby. “Uh, well I’m just looking for someone that can sketch something for me.” Her eyebrows knitted together, “Oh, I know just the person!” she quipped.

I smiled, grateful I didn’t have to spend all day on the hunt. “Great, thank you.” She shook her head, “Oh, it’s really no problem. It’s kinda my job.” I followed her around a few blocks before we wound up at a little shop. Inside, there were paintings and drawings. Sculptures and small little handcrafted trinkets. An artist’s shop, I assumed. “Her name is Baylee. She should be able to help you.” I smiled and thanked her. She didn’t bother to hover, thankfully.

I walked around the shop looking at all of the different pieces of art this Baylee created. Oh, she will definitely be able to sketch him. Everything in here is perfect and detailed. A bell jingled in the far back part of the shop and a voice called out, “Can I help you?” Her voice sounded clean. I walked around the corner and saw her standing at the front desk. She was vampire. Tall and lean, with perfect blemish-free skin and sharp features. Beautiful long brown hair was braided and set down her side. And her eyes… They were a shade of green I had never even known could exist.

“Hi, are you Baylee?” I asked, my voice cracking and shaky. She smiled softly at me, “I am. What can I do for you Miss-?” “Uh, Wren,” I held out my hand to shake hers. She took it. Cool to the touch, but not icy cold as I thought it would be. “It’s nice to meet you, Wren.” I smiled, “I was wondering if you could sketch something for me? My uncle’s gone missing and I’d like to hang flyers around town.” The lie came out easily. I’d practiced the whole way here on what to say and how to say it.

“I can do that. Come,” she motioned for me to follow her, stopping at her shop door to flip the open sign to the closed side. We sat at a table. With her sketchbook in hand, I began describing the man, or my uncle, as I told her. “His hair hangs a little below his shoulders. Green eyes. His cheek bones are a little high and angular. But not a lot. His nose is straight, with a small scar slanted across the bridge. Full mouth…” I described him in great detail. His facial hair, each scar and freckle. After thirty minutes, she had finished.

She turned the paper to me and there he was. Exactly him. “Wow, how did you get so good at that?” She laughed and handed me the paper, “I’ve had many years of practice.” Oh, right. I suppose being immortal does give you all the time in the world. “This is perfect, thank you. How much do I owe you?” I managed to save up any money I noticed Mama would leave lying around. Always waiting a few days to take it to make sure she’d forgotten about it.

She waved her hand, “On the house.” I shook my head, “Please, you are entirely too talented for me to not pay you for this. She laughed, but she looked back down at the sketch and her eyes widened a little. “What’s wrong?” I glanced at the sketch and then back at her. “Nothing is wrong, really, it’s just that… nevermind, it’s nothing.” she waved a hand, dismissing whatever had surprised her.

“Do you know him? Have you seen him?” I asked, as I stood up from the table. She laughed nervously, “Are you sure this man is your uncle?” I blinked, not sure whether I should keep the lie going or just give her some of the truth. I chose the latter, “Actually, he isn’t my uncle. I’m not sure who he is.” I won’t say anything more than that, even if she asks. She wouldn’t believe me if I told her the truth anyway.

“It’s just that this man looks eerily similar to King Kian.” Kian. Ky. “I’ve never heard of that name before.” True, I hadn’t. A king? I've been dreaming of a king? “Where have you been living your whole life? Under a rock?” I snorted, “Not a rock. In the middle of nowhere all my life. I’ve only been to the city a few times with my mother.” I admitted. Baylee narrowed her eyes and shook her head slowly, “So what’s the story then? If you’ve never heard of Kian, how do you know what he looks like?” This, I couldn’t tell her. She’d think I’m crazy.

“I saw him once, as a child. I’ve been curious ever since.” I lied. Her eyebrows knitted together, “You only saw him once and yet you remember enough details about him for me to sketch an almost identical portrait of him?” I blinked, unsure of what to say. I don’t like lying. I suppose I could just tell her. But what would that do other than satisfy her curiosity and make me look insane?

“Look,” she said suddenly, “you don’t have to tell me anything. But if you’re looking for him… well, be careful.” I nodded, grateful that she didn’t pry any further. I am looking for him, and I don’t even know where to start. “Can you tell me how to get to wherever he is?” Will you tell me? I pleaded to her with my eyes. She sighed, “Sure, but you should know where he’s at… others are, too. And not all of us are like me or most of the vampires you’ll see here. So if you find yourself in deep s**t there, girl… You’ll have to be strong enough to get yourself out of it.”

I nodded, “I understand.”