CHAPTER 6

When I got home, I unpacked my shopping bags to make sure none of my newley purchased frozen goods goes off. I planned to chase after Lydia but the food in my boot made me prioritize accordingly.

As Soon as I was done though, I went back to the pub, but no Lydia. Instead there was a young man he looks around 32 years of age, brown hair hazel brown eyes, if that even is a color! He built like a boxer. He is from what I gather around 6 feet 3 if I had to compare him I would say that he reminds me of Marcel from The Originals.

“Hi, I am looking for Lydia?”

He looks up from rubbing down the bar with a white cloth

“If you find her please tell her that I will not give her another chance to fuck me over, whenever it gets busy the bitch disappears.”

very angry vampire manager, oi this girl has gotten herself into a but load of trouble today.

“Alright lad, calm down. I take it you’re the owner of this lovely establishment? The food is amazing. I bumped into Lydia at Urban Outfitters earlier?”

Lifting the bag in my hand to show him “I brought her goodies, she just bolted without them.” He tilts his head with a wonderful smile on his, boy is that a panty-dropping smile?

“I love Scottish women! My name is Markus and what might yours be beautiful goddess?”

Shaking my head I hand him the bag which he accepts and places under the bar,

“My name is Scarlette. How long have you owned the pub?”

Taking my left hand he places a kiss on my knuckles “Nice to meet you” he says gritting his teeth “My apologies, you sent tingles down my spine, no joke” his fangs release I can see it was not on purpose given my hand is still in his willingly ofcause. He stares into my eyes but his not see the mate bond in my eyes.

“Only a mate is supposed to provide tingles but you are not giving me the glossy eye. What madness is this?” Leaving my hands in his to bring him some comfort as I can feel his disappointment and despair.

“I am still figuring out what I am, as soon as I know I will let you know. I am sorry for the negative emotions I am providing you.” Shaking his head he releases my hand and pours himself a glass of the brown stuff

“No stress, A fella can only hope. I don't own the bar, I just manage it for my maker..” He chuckles, I on the other hand have a big frown on my face.

"Listen, Markus, I’ve never traveled outside of the hill I live upon in Scotland, literal hill. Every supernatural being? I met in New Orleans and not on purpose either. Is this city like a supernatural magnet or something?”

The biggest smile he has graced me with in this short period of time and a blush? Or is he flustered?

“I have no idea, I have been living here for two hundred years and nobody has ever questioned the fact that I don't age and I have seen some funny business around here too. I guess everyone keeps to themselves..”

Shaking his head, he opens a can of Sprite pours it into a glass with mint leaves and 2 cherries with ice, and slides the glass over to me after adding a red straw to it. We got to talking after that I figured I might as well tell him of my dreams since he is so old he may have answers for me.

“You’re not dreaming, you are traveling through dimensions. Think of it as Astronomical projections! I wonder if my maker was crazy, he always spoke of a being such as you, and I always wondered why you would enjoy playing this game with yourself all the time, it freaked me out when he told me about it but now I am starting to see the humor.”

Lydia chooses that moment to pitch up at work but freezes in the middle of the pub when she notices me.

“Thank you for finally showing the fuck up, I was about to tell your friend here to let you know you are fired if you did not show up to work.” She does the same submission tilt Jax did while Gabriel reaches for the shopping bag under the bar. “Apparently you forgot this while shopping, you work for me not the other way around.” He hands the bag to Lydia who accepts the bag and looks at me wide-eyed.

“Oh think nothing of it Love, just trying to make new friends,” I say getting up from my seat, by this time the drink is halfway done, and I want to eat as I came straight here after packing away the frozen goods.

“Thank you for keeping me company Markus, we should have coffee sometime.” I reach into my purse to pay for the drink but he holds up his hand “I was informed not to accept your cash, you can let me know as soon as you want that coffee.”

Nodding my head. “Hmmm, that’s my new favorite drink.”

Markus is definitely someone I need to get to know better.

He seems like he knows plenty about me and by the sounds of it, if I

want to know more about me he is the guy who might be able to fill in the blanks or rather his maker.

Time to get ready for the festival, I was going to eat something before I go get shit-faced but all the questions had me spacing out and I eventually lost track of time. I am sure I can get something to eat at the pub.

Yes, I decided to wear the shorts with the white cropped tank top and my low-cut Converse.

When I was done, I took a cute little denim bag across my body with cash, my phone, and keys to get into my temporary home.

I went straight to the pub to get some food in me sadly Lydia and Gabriel both seemed to be missing.

“Can I have some wings and a club soda please?” I ask the barkeep, “Oh tell me that you ate something before you left your home Scarlette, or you will be puking your guts out before the night ends.” I look to my left to see the handsome wolf leader seated beside me.

Ha, ha, Jackson. I was a bit preoccupied so I didn’t get the chance to eat anything therefore wings.”

How did I not notice him when I walked in? “Well in that case, would you share my meal with me? I ordered one of everything on the starter menu.” I grin at him, “I love people who eat! Ofcause I will assist you in clearing up your plates.” The nodes and our food arrived with a six-pack of still water, everything was in a takeaway container. Come on, I know a great spot with a perfect view of the entire festival, the only thing you will be missing out on is actually being in the crowd.”

I nod my head and follow Jackson through the crowd to his mysterious destination.

Now I am not dumb, I have seen the news and read enough newspapers to know that I should not get into a stranger's car.

"Jackson, if you are going to kill me, you need to be a little more creative than luring me into your car?" I mock him fanning fear when in actual fact I feel a strange kinship to the Alpha "Haha, very funny, crowded streets are not really gonna help my case. The spot is an eleven-minute drive, if you calculate the walking distance and still choose to do so be my guest but your dinner will be gone by the time you get there." He holds up the bag of food with one hand and pats his belly with the other.

Narrowing my eyes I grab the food and jump into his truck, he gets into the driver's seat still laughing his ass off. "Well if I was going to kidnap you I would say you are an easy steal Scarlette." Looking at him with a pouty face I respond "No one holds my food hostage"

He laughs boisterously putting his truck in drive.

“So how come you only got to the festival now? You missed out on some good shows.” Jackson asks me, I look out over at him will I take a swig of my water bottle; “I had some shopping to do, and met a few interesting characters. You know how it goes when you’re in a new place. 

He shakes his head while chuckling under his breath. “No, I haven’t been living in New Orleans all my life since I was a pup.” 

The festival is located in the Gentilly Neighborhood, Jax thought the best view came from St John Bayou.

I now understand why he suggested, after the fact mind you, that I come during the day. This place must be breathtaking with the river, the people, and the open feel it's a sight to behold.

"I will admit I am a bit disappointed, I was hoping for more of a street band marching up and down giving jazz music while the neighborhood joins in dancing, singing the lyrics of the songs while getting drunk off their asses."

"Typical tourist, you all have the same expectations, the things you see in your movies must be back-dated Just like the rest of the world New Orleans also evolves once every few centuries," Jackson responds.

I unwrap my food while I sit cross-legged on the grass watching the people enjoy themselves to whoever is making the music.

"You know Scarlette, you missed Ed Sheeran?" I look up at him, and swallow the bit of food in my mouth "Who's that?"

The look on Jackson's face tells me that I will instantly regret the words that just came out of my mouth. "Ma'am, do you live under a rock? Who in the hell does not know who Ed Sheeran is?!" As he said the word Hell, I heard a thundering scream in my head, it sounded like a woman, I felt paralyzed not with fear I felt quite brave mind you. What is this odd feeling?

I am having an awakened Vision, the same one I had before I hopped on the plane.

I look at Jackson who had seen what happened "Jackson, I need you to trust me. I am about to give you information if you can help me please do. It's very urgent. Any questions you may have will have to wait until after the fact okay?" As he nods his head in understanding, I tell him the vision this time it has some more details which I share.