11. Masonic Temple Cemetery

Masonic Temple Cemetery

Luc

"What the hell?" I was so angry. Never in my entire life—or afterlife—had I been this angry. "What happened to together ? What happened to figuring this out? I thought we were going to make a go of it. No. You lock me away? Like I'm your plaything?" I'd taken a chance on Austin. I cared for him. Wanted something with him that I'd never thought I could ever have, and he gave me hope. Then tore it all away.

"Luc. Luc, no. Please." Austin held his hands up to placate me.

"Well, I never. I'm done. Take the ring off, Austin. Take it off."

"No. I'm not. Luc, please. I'm sorry."

I turned my back to him and stared out across the intersection. It was nighttime again, but it could have been any night for all I knew. I couldn't feel heat or cold, but I could see the lights and colors, the old buildings, and in the distance, the much taller and newer ones. So much had changed, and yet so little. "I'm too damn old for your games."

"No games. I'm sorry. I didn't want you to see me so…broken."

"I see you, Austin Broussard. I see all the ways you are. You don't think I didn't see you broken? You were digging your own grave when we met." Whipping around, I pointed at him. "The mafia after you for a massive debt. Massive. You think I ignored that? You took me to your house, and I saw for myself how small and bare it is."

Austin hung his head. "Luc…"

"I'm not saying this to put you down, Austin. I'm saying I know who you are. I see you. And I chose you anyway. I didn't have to interact with you. I didn't have to make love with you."

"Luc." He held his hands up again. People on the street gave him a wider berth, going around him and looking back. They couldn't see me or hear me, so they thought he was crazy. Such small minds, and yet they come to New Orleans hoping for wonders that are right in front of them. "I'm sorry. So. Sorry. I won't do anything like that again."

"You bet you won't."

"Please give me another chance. Deities! Come on. I-I have something to tell you. Please…"

"Fine. But say it fast."

"I have the last of the payment."

"What?" How had he done it? I hoped to the afterlife that he hadn't gambled for it and risked slipping back into Marcello's clutches.

"Sloane gave it to me. It's going to be enough."

"You are so stupid." I couldn't let my anger go yet. "You know, I want to see every side of you. And I want to hold you. For real hold you. Not this slipping inside your body thing." If we were doing this for real, I needed to know he was in it with me completely.

"We can have that. I swear. Let's go and work this out with the mambo and get you that body."

"Fine." Giving in and calming a little, I gestured for him to go.

When he started walking, I felt the tug that pulled me to him, to the ring. If I didn't walk with him, I would still be pulled along, but it didn't feel good. It was kind of like standing in a hurricane but without the rain. And I'd seen real hurricanes. The worst one wasn't that long ago and brought death along with it. I didn't want to see those lost souls again. No, I wanted to go where Austin went. More than anything. And not because he was going back to the Voodoo priestess. Sure, I wanted a new life, a new chance. But it wouldn't mean half as much if I didn't have Austin in it.

I walked beside him, even passing through cars, streetlights, or receptacles, but I didn't like passing through people. Them, I dodged. Passing through the living left me feeling icky, not cold, so much as empty. And there were many places where the crowds were thick. They dressed differently, like Austin, with denim trousers and cotton shirts that pulled over their heads, and again, the colors were riotous. Thankfully, Austin avoided Bourbon Street on his way back to Lady Geneviève's. That area was insane. And loud. By the time he had to cross over it, we were all the way down St. Peter, where it was calmer. If anywhere in the Quarter could be considered calm. That was something that hadn't changed. I had once loved the energy of the city, but now it felt too intense with my potential life hanging on the line.

I was pretty sure I remembered the little Victorian cottage where Lady Geneviève lived. The colors were different. Not nearly as garish as they once were. But it wasn't a home I'd ever been in, either. And unlike Austin, I hadn't grown up here. But I had spent a lot of time in the city and had known a lot of people. All of them were gone now.

"Hey, Luc…where did you live? When you were living here, you know?"

"Over on Rampart." We had turned up Burgundy. "I think around the corner from here, not terribly far. I had a tiny apartment, but it was a great area for jazz." My whole life had centered around music.

"Oh, I think there's a park over there named for Louis Armstrong."

"He moved away from here. Went to New York."

"I don't know much about history."

"Doesn't feel like history to me." In some ways, it seemed like yesterday or a different time and place. It seemed unreal and in my face at the same time. And eons had passed while I was stuck in that grave, and the only thing I had to hang onto was Rose's Ballad. It had become so much more than her song to me. "Here we are." We stopped in front of the house.

"Did you know him? Armstrong?"

I shook my head. "No. I knew of him and had acquaintances in common. But I didn't know him." I didn't want to talk about my past. I wanted a future. "Let's do this." I jumped up on the stoop. "Come on."

He stood on the street looking up at me. "We can go there. Rampart. I bet it's different, though."

I sighed. "Aus, everything is different. The buildings, the automobiles. The way you dress. I'll adjust." I figured he was worried about how I would cope, but that was something I could figure out if I had the opportunity to.

"Okay." He joined me on the stoop and knocked on the door.

It opened quicker than the first time we were here, but it wasn't Geneviève who answered the door. It was someone younger but resembled her in many ways. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"We need to see Lady Geneviève."

"You have an appointment?"

"No, but tell her it's Austin and Luc."

She narrowed her eyes and pinched her lips as she glared at Austin, completely unaware of me. Perhaps she didn't have Geneviève's gifts, or perhaps she wasn't trained. It didn't matter. She still said, "One moment." Then closed the door on us.

"Well…" Austin said.

"We can wait."

But it didn't take long. The door opened again, and this time by Geneviève herself, and she ignored Austin, looking at me. "Nice to see you again, Luc. Hope you're closer to gaining your body."

"Yes. We have the payments."

"Good. I have a client right now. But I'll meet you at the Masonic Temple Cemetery at three a.m."

"Why there?" Austin grumbled. His face was so expressive. I could read him like a book, and right now, he was frustrated but curious.

"That's where the zombie is," she practically spat at him. I wasn't sure if she disliked him or was simply irritated at his questions. He had a lot, but he also gained information he could use that way. I admired the way his brain worked. He didn't give himself enough credit for how intelligent he was.

His scowl eased up, but he still asked, "Why?"

"Stop questioning me. It is. Now go." She shooed him off the stoop, and I laughed. Those two were like oil and water.

"Let's get over there and wait." That's all we had to do anyway, and I enjoyed Austin's company regardless of where we were.

"I bet there are a lot of spirits there, Luc. You sure you want to go?"

"I'm not afraid of ghosts, Austin."

"Whatever." He started walking again. "It's over an hour away and not far from where I met you."

It actually took us closer to two hours to get there, and the cemetery was closed, though I could sense other spirits milling around inside. It wasn't even ten o'clock yet, so we had time to kill. Austin said there was a park nearby where we could hang out . I assumed that meant to sit around and wait, which was fine with me. I didn't care where we were. And I didn't tire, but Austin did. And he looked exhausted. The rings under his eyes were getting darker, making him look bruised and fragile. Resting in a park sounded like what he needed.

I'd learned a lot about Austin in the short time we had been together. One thing was how much he pushed himself. He might have been broke, as he said, but he lived every day with joie de vivre. He had a joy about him, no matter what he did or who was chasing him. I hoped that once we settled this, I could get him to slow down. He needed to rest and eat more often. I was pretty sure he hadn't eaten since the beignets, and I estimated that to be about two days ago. I wasn't entirely sure because time did weird things when he wasn't wearing the ring.

With that in mind, I pointed out an eatery. "Look there."

"Uh…are you hungry?"

"No, but I bet you are, Austin. Do you have any money left? I bet you have enough for a bite." The little house with a blue roof set away from the road looked like it mostly had baked goods when a sandwich was what he needed, if not a full-on four-course meal. But he could probably afford something they had.

"Well, yeah. I am."

"We have time. Go in."

It turned out that he had enough for a sandwich. Since they were closing up, they had pre-made ones for half price. He ordered and we took it to his park, finding a quiet spot where he could eat. It was a dark area, but he could see just fine by the aura my spirit-self gave off. "Want to share?" he asked. "The bread is fresh."

"No, go ahead. I want to watch you. I'll be eating soon enough."

He ate slowly, savoring every bite. He was beautiful. Everything I could hope for in a lover he had. His multi-colored eyes and thick stubble along his jaw since he hadn't shaved in a few days. I could imagine what it would be like when it came in fully. But his insides were as gorgeous as his outsides. Though I didn't think he realized it. No one had ever taken the time to figure out what I wanted or needed, but Austin was tuned in to everything about me. And I wanted to know everything about him as well.

Between bites of his food, we talked quietly. "What do you think your body will look like?"

"Don't know. I don't think it matters. I haven't had one in a long time, so no matter what it looks like, I'll have to get used to it."

"Mmm…" he swallowed. "I will too. I mean, I'm used to seeing you like this. Mr. snazzy-jazzy. And I like it. A lot. But it'll be different seeing you in a different body."

"I've been spectral for so long. Without even human interaction. I think. Well, it will take time to get used to, no matter what."

"Right. I'm sure. Do you? Uh…"

"What, Austin?"

"Will we stay together? Do you think? After you get used to all of it?"

"Yes. I want nothing more right now than to lean over and put my head on your shoulder. To kiss your cheek. And maybe swipe a bite of that sandwich."

Austin laughed, which is what I had intended, and he held up the last of his food. "Eating."

"Good." I stretched out my legs in front of me. "Austin, I know we haven't been together long. Only a few days. But I like you a lot. I've come to care about you deeply."

He finished his sandwich and wiped his hands and face with the little paper napkin they'd given him. Then he leaned back against the tree we sat under and closed his tired eyes. "I care about you a lot too. I don't want to split up. I want you to be my boyfriend, Luc."

I tapped his foot with mine, though it went right through him, and he didn't feel it. He didn't even flinch. It made me sad and excited. "I can't wait to get a body so I can be that boyfriend, Austin."

He dozed off, and I let him sleep. I didn't need the rest like he did, so I waited, imagining what life would be like afterward. I'd seen the gay nightclubs. That had been another thing that had changed dramatically since my day. Those young men would have been arrested back when I was alive. Now, they were celebrated, worshiped. I'd seen Austin naked and touched him. And it still felt risky to me, though he didn't seem to have any issue at all. Being gay had been dangerous. Could have even meant your life. I surrounded myself with women friends, so I could never be accused of it. But now? So, so many years later, I would be able to be myself. I'd be able to love Austin out in the open. It felt liberating. And scary.

I hoped I could still be a musician. I needed music in my life. I think that was something that would never change, no matter what else I did. If I could keep that, I could adjust.

As the night wore on, eventually, I needed to wake Austin up. We had to walk to the cemetery, and we didn't want to be late. "Austin." He didn't move. I called his name louder. His body needed the rest, and I promised myself that once this was over, he would get it. "Austin!"

"What? I'm up. What?" He looked around, adorable, with sleepy eyes.

"I think it's time to go."

"Ugh, yeah." He stood and stretched, popping his back. "Not the best place to sleep, but I needed that."

"I know."

"Okay, let's go."

We made our way to the cemetery—but it was actually two cemeteries—and we stood in the road between them. I looked from side to side. "She didn't say which one?"

"No. And I should have known better. There are so many graveyards in this town that they give them the same name and a new number. But I should have asked where within too. Like which tombstone or by the gates or what?" He threw his hands in the air. "I don't know. We wait here, I guess." Austin walked over and leaned against the brick wall of the gatehouse on the number two cemetery. The gate had private property signs hung along with warnings about no tours.

"They'll probably come to the gate right. What time is it?"

Austin looked at his watch. "Not quite three."

I paced up and down the street.

Finally, a car turned down, the lights nearly blinding me. I moved to the side, near Austin. Even though they couldn't hurt me, I didn't like the thought of being run over. It stopped beside us, and both Lady Geneviève and her younger helper got out of the car. The back end popped open. "I have some things we need. Come help."

Austin walked over to the car, pulled out a canvas bag, and slung it over his shoulder then picked up a second one as well. "Where are we going?"

Geneviève pointed at graveyard number one. "I actually have a key to the gate, so we don't have to climb the fence or nothing."

"How…never mind." Austin was discovering there were things he didn't need to know.

I smiled serenely at him, wishing I could pat his head. But no matter. I followed them through the bigger of the two gates, providing enough light that they didn't need a lantern. There were legends about which gates you went in and out of so the spirits wouldn't follow you, but as a spirit, I didn't think the living gave us much credit.

Austin glanced around as we made our way through. "Any spirits around?"

Geneviève shook her head, and I didn't feel anything either. "No, Aus, don't worry."

"Okay, then." Austin relaxed a little, shoulders dropping away from his ears. I suspected he was actually afraid of the spirits rather than concerned for me, as he said.

We walked nearly to the back gate before we turned. We stopped in front of a huge monument close to the fence. It was almost in the corner. "Here then." Lady Geneviève looked around, then at Austin. "I hope you don't waste my time. You have the payments?"

"I hope this is enough. Luc says he has the sacrifice, but I don't know what that is."

"It's the song. The one I play for Rose."

Geneviève put her hands on her hips and scowled at me. "You know it will be gone forever."

"I do understand. Is it enough?" The song meant so much to me, and I did understand what losing it would mean. Some of the memories would fade, and though I thought they were ones I could part with, painful memories of what she'd done to me and how I'd led her on, it was also dangerous to lose them. But the song had also become more to me over the years. It had become a part of me, a lament, a little bit of hope. But I would part with all of that for a new chance at life.

"It is. The spirits will take the pain. The things you've loved and lost, and the things you've learned. You may be doomed to repeat the mistakes you lose. But it's enough."

"Good," Austin said, but I didn't think he understood exactly what that meant to me. And I didn't know if it mattered.

Lady Geneviève held her hand out. "And the cost of the zombie? And the ritual?"

"The ring." Austin held up his hand, showing it to her. "And this." He pulled a velvet pouch out of his pocket and opened it, showing her what was inside.

"Is that?" she asked, putting a hand over her mouth.

"It's a bloodstone."

"It's not a stone; it is the stone. Where did you get this?" She touched the edge of the bag.

"Long story, but it is mine and I'm free to give it." The stone that Sloane had given Austin. I didn't know what all of that was about, but it seemed valuable enough.

"Then we have a deal." She motioned for the bags Austin had carried in and opened one. "You must first build a man."

"What?"

"Out of dirt and mud. And natural things. Beside this monument here. In that other bag, I have water because there's not much mud around. It doesn't have to be too big, but large enough to hold your payments as we sacrifice to the spirits for your needs. Understand?"

"Not completely, but okay." Austin pulled out a spade and a bucket.

Geneviève pointed to an empty plot farther back. "You can get some dirt from there. Don't mind the grass. I'll help it stick together. I brought Salina to help us, but this part you must do yourself."

"Okay. Got it." Austin hurried over to the spot Geneviève had indicated and started digging.

"And hurry up. We need this done before sunrise." She snapped her fingers, and Austin got to work.

He spent nearly an hour constructing a little man out of the dirt and grass, using the water to make it muddy. His hands and clothes were filthy again.

"Good. Good." Geneviève waved me closer. "It's time to give your song."

My part was as easy as it was difficult. I had my violin in hand. It always appeared when I needed it, though I never knew how, and I began to play, pulling the bow over the strings. When the words came, I stopped playing to sing, but the music continued. I could almost see the song settling over the little mud man and sinking into it. When it was over. I looked up at Austin, trying to wipe a tear and only succeeding in getting more dirt on his face.

"Now, you must give the ring."

"Give it where?"

"Place it on his head." Geneviève pointed at the figure.

"But when I take it off, I'll lose him."

Geneviève sighed, but then she patted his arm. "Yes and no. You won't be able to see or hear him, but I will. And he will be right here. Waiting for his body."

"I thought we'd just put the ring on the zombie." Geneviève reached up and popped him upside the back of his head. "Ow."

"Put the ring on the totem. We're running out of time." She mumbled something about dealing with nonsense.

"It's okay. I'm not going anywhere. Do it." I wanted to reassure him.

He stared at me for a long minute as if memorizing me, and then finally, he gave a curt nod and took the ring off, placing it on top of the mud man.

"I hope the zombie will be cute. He's not decayed or anything, is he?"

That earned him another smack on the back of the head, and Geneviève looked over at me. "You sure you want this one?"

"I'm sure. I adore him." And that was the truth to the core of my soul.

"To each his own."

Austin chimed in with, "What did he say?"

But she didn't answer him. She went into some kind of a trance, muttering words in what sounded French, but I didn't know what she said. Then I felt a vibration. Apparently, Austin and Salina felt it too. They held their arms out as if trying to balance on shaky ground. "Salina, unlock the tomb." She handed the girl a key, and she unlocked a gate on the side of the giant tomb we were next to. Geneviève said a few more words and held her hands up.

And then it came. From inside the tomb, Salina had opened. He was slow and maybe not looking so good. His blue eyes were unseeing, and I couldn't feel anything alive or supernatural coming off of him. He was like a void.

Austin stared at the zombie, glanced over at Geneviève, then back to the zombie. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, she put her hand on his face, shutting his lips tight.

"When Luc's soul goes in, his life force will repair the body. So stop worrying…"

Austin nodded. Then she let him go to perform the ritual. She and Salina moved back and forth between the zombie and the totem, making jerky movements in almost a dance, but not. The whole time, chanting more words I didn't understand.

And then I felt it. A tug. Not unlike when Austin moved without me, but different. I was yanked toward the ring, becoming small and smashing into the totem, ruining it.

Geneviève and Salina raised their hands above their heads. Salina continued chanting and Geneviève moaned. Then I was shoved—thrown—at the zombie. I couldn't stop. I entered the body, much like I had entered Austin's previously, but again it was different. I went in deeper. Down a dark tunnel. I felt like I was spinning faster and faster, but I couldn't see a thing.

When I shared Austin's body, he was always there. I felt his consciousness like a rubber ball. Inside the zombie, there was nothing.

I stretched out. I took over. I owned every bit of it.

I opened my eyes. "Austin…" the voice was not mine.

Geneviève brushed her hands together. "Pack this stuff up." Salina jumped to it, loading their things in the bag. She snatched the velvet pouch from Austin and picked up the golden ring from the leftover mound of mud. She nodded. Looked at me and smiled. "Don't exit through the main gate."