North

Within the Northern vicinity of the city, the wealthy gather behind meticulously trimmed hedges and high-class architecture. The pristine streets are paved with stone and the storefronts are brightly lit and inviting - for the right clientele. In the North, every establishment is eager to cater to the rich and the wealthy. Many such places are used to the sometimes peculiar requests of the otherworldly but here there is little that money cannot buy - whether it happens to be illegal or merely involves looking the other way. Vampires and Dark Hunters are often found upon these Northern streets, their long lives often contributing to their sizable wealth which allows them the luxuries that the North provides.

What You'll Find Here

Eternity
The VooDoo Room
The Witchery

Eternity

The newly opened Eternity is an expensive fine dining restaurant nestled high upon the hills of the North - providing it a breathtaking view of the city below. The award-winning chefs at Eternity collaborate directly with local farmers and producers to source the freshest ingredients for its ever-changing menu. The staff at Eternity pride themselves on serving each customer's unique dietary needs - from the vampiric to the mortal races. Reservations are strongly encouraged as Eternity is frequently booked to capacity.

The VooDoo Room

Located in the heart of the North, the Voodoo Room is the spirits lover's destination of choice in Sacrosanct. The Voodoo room is a craft cocktail bar that aims to provide an eclectic and exotic atmosphere. Nestled among the William Morris wallpaper, gold, and wood, you will find a new kind of neighborhood cocktail bar. One where hospitality and skill work in concert. With intoxicating liquors and a voodoo vibe, the Voodoo room will keep you coming back for more. Guided by the mantra of providing a one of a kind, high-end experience, the Voodoo Room's mixologists meet the highest standards with a fantastically themed selection of cocktails and specials.

The Witchery

Dark, Gothic, and thoroughly theatrical, the Witchery is a place to indulge yourself with it's lavish, theatrical suites. Whatever room you choose, you'll find glamor, indulgence, and luxury. From the Vestry to the Library and the Armory, the suites of the Witchery are nothing short of sensually romantic. A stay at the Witchery is not complete without dining in the rich baroque surroundings of the original oak-paneled hotel or among the elegant candle-lit charms of the Secret Garden. Whether you stay or dine, The Witchery is an unforgettably magical experience.

Audette Rousseau

Pick your poison


Posted on January 09, 2024 by Kit Marks
North


Just because I'm the bookworm in the family doesn't automatically make me the smart one. Vampires kill fae more than any other species on the plant, yet my brother and I get our kicks by killing them at the risk to our own lives. I know that during any hunt, it could easily become my last, yet I couldn't help myself. With the announcement that I'm going to be a father, things suddenly felt like they were a little out of my control. Not that I'm not excited to be a father; I am. I just wanted something, just one thing that I could control the outcome of this time. Most vampires, especially the young ones, are predictable. Luckily for me, the one who decided to chase Audette and I fell into that category or I might not be here right now. I may look calm on the outside while I shrug it off to the pretty blonde, but on the inside, my heart is racing and if she were to look close enough, she'd see that my hands are shaking from all the adrenaline still running through my system after the kill. It's been a while since I've hunted. To say I'm out of practice would be an understatement.

Her soft tinkling laugh makes my own lips tug up in the corners as she exclaims that more fae should be so brave and I can't help but shake my head.

"Or we'd probably be extinct by now. Most fae who take up hunting don't have a very long life span in my experience. Though most of them also don't have a brother to watch their back."

I know I'm lucky in that regard. Troy has saved my ass on more than one occasion. Not to say I haven't returned the favor a time or two. Fae who tend to hunt in groups get too cocky and take on bigger risks while others tend to go solo then make a mistake and it costs them their life. Troy and I seemed to find a perfect combo by just going with the two of us. Then you always have someone to watch the corners you can't and you still take precautions. We've lost a lot of hunters from our home monarchy and it's a bitter pill to swallow, getting used to the death that follows our occupation. But after what happened to our family, neither Troy or I were content to sit on the sidelines anymore. When Audette dips her head, I feel myself inhale with surprise. I force my shoulders to relax again though and meet her gaze with a smile, offering a small dip of my own in acknowledgement because words seem to be lost to me at the moment. I honestly don't know what to say. What I do is not something that I condone; it just is what it is.

Audette is as stubborn as she is beautiful, bringing up coffee again and I can't help but chuckle softly.

"Fine, after coffee, we're even."

Eyes twinkling with amusement, I hold my hand out in a "lead the way" gesture as we make our way down the sidewalk. Coffee doesn't sound so bad after the situation we just found ourselves in. We end up having coffee in a quaint little cafe and I fill her in on my family, my brother Troy, and the tragedy that befell our mother. The only things I really leave out that my parents were royalty since that would open up a whole new can of worms and neither Troy nor I want that sort of attention. Plus we definitely don't need word getting back to any scouts that could be nearby to let them know where we are. We've managed to stay under the radar this long; I'm not screwing that up any time soon. Audette finds out why Troy and I decided to become hunters and I manage to paint over the details in my little kidnapping scheme. No need to let her know that I was held captive for 50 years by a witch coven while my brother thought I was dead. I just put it out there as a mission going screwy and Troy fearing the worse then finding me later and getting out of the situation.

Once we both swap stories and finish our coffee, we part ways and I discreetly watch as she disappears down the sidewalk, not wanting her to know that I'm still worried for her safety. The hunter in me can't help but overanalyze the situation we were just in. Was it just a random attack or was there more to it? What if someone planted the vampire to come after Audette? Or if there was another target in mind and she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? I hit the books that night and find nothing but dead ends. I call up Troy to see if he knows anything new but he comes up with nill, too, even laughing at me for thinking it was anything more than just a hungry vampire and a delicious smelling fae. A few weeks go by with no major events before that dreaded day arrives. I wake up to find a note. Sam is gone...along with my unborn child. She doesn't let me know where she's going or how long she'll be gone, just lets me know that she'll be okay and she'll reach out when she can. My heart drops as I read the words until they become blurry. At first, there's a feeling of panic, a need to go run her down and drag her back here, make her see that this is where she belongs, where my child belongs.

Of course I have nowhere to start and no clues so I know it would be a wild goose chase. Plus, Sam has a penchant for disappearing anytime she wants to. She'll be hundreds of miles away by now. Once the panic subsides, anger takes its place. How could she just leave? Did I not give her enough reasons to stay? Frustrated, I end up throwing the note into the fireplace and watching it go up in smoke. Later that week, I find a flyer in my mailbox, advertising for a performance at the same ballet studio I've seen Audette leaving. I hadn't seen her in a while so I decide to go. Besides, it could be a good distraction from all the research I've been throwing myself into. I killed another vampire two days ago and he had a strange brand on his chest that I found while he was trying to choke me. Obviously, I managed to get out of his hold, but the bruises are still there, yellow blotches on my skin that thankfully sit below the collar of my shirts so they mostly remain hidden. I've been trying to find what I can on the brand but so far, I'm at a loss. Maybe a good ballet performance is just what I need to take my mind off things.

I don't even know if she'll be performing or even there, but it's worth a shot. I rummage through my closet and find a three piece suit I haven't worn in years. It still fits like a glove and I can't help but smirk a little in satisfaction as I check it out in the mirror. I haven't dressed up for something in a long time. I decide to walk to the ballet studio, knowing traffic in Sacrosanct is a real thing. Plus Troy sold my car while he thought I was dead and I haven't had the motivation to go buy another one just yet. I don't mind walking. I still have a little thing about being cramped in small spaces after being a captive, after all. The night air is cool as I make my way to the studio and I breathe it in, letting it clear my mind and cool my still broken heart. My instincts are also on high alert since the sun went down, but so far it's been quiet. I check my watch as I turn the last corner. It starts in 15 minutes, just enough time to find a good seat. As I walk past a florist shop that's two doors down, I can't help but pause. There's a small bouquet in the window filled with roses and orchids and I can't put my finger on it, but somethings tells me I need to buy it. And so I do. Taking one of the purple orchids near the outer edge, I slide it into the front pocket of my jacket for a little extra flair before walking up the steps to the studio.

It feels almost strange to be walking through the front doors, since we were in the back alley last time I was around here. I take a good look around and find mysel pleasantly surprised by the small but humble studio with its many pictures of dancers, both famous and ones I've never heard of. Some almost looks like they took pictures of the students as they were learning. It seems inspiring to me, a smile tugging at my lips as I buy a ticket in the lobby and make my way toward the stage to find a seat. I pick a seat a few rows back from the front, enough to see everything easily on the stage but not too close that I'll need to turn my head back and forth constantly to see everything as they enter and leave the stage. Sticking the bouquet across my lap, I pull out the pamphlet I was given in the lobby to introduce the performance, starting to glance through the list of dancers and the story behind the performance, but the lights start to dim before I get halfway through the list so I slip the pamphlet back in my jacket pocket and turn my gaze to the stage as it begins.



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