Sacrificed (Creole Curse Book 1) Read online




  SACRIFICED

  By Heather Doltrice

  Chapter 1

  Dair

  Black.

  It was a color I was well used to seeing and wearing but that day it was unwelcome. It was reminding us of what we all lost. Taunting us, if you will. You see, the endless sea of black was filling the pews of the St. Louis Cathedral because we were burying one of our best friends.

  Edge Lanoix was being laid to rest at just twenty-three years old.

  Looking at his family in the front pew, I saw different expressions on their faces. His mother was devastated, his sister, Garner, was still in shock, and his brother, Bowen, was angry.

  This was the second family member they lost to a curse. Their dad died ten years ago.

  Bowen was fuming because he knew who killed Edge and his father. He wanted revenge, we all did. And we were going to get it.

  The priest walked up to the massive alter and read some words about Edge. It was the usual speech about how the deceased was this great person and about all of the wonderful things they had done. It was bullshit, every word of it.

  Edge was a pompous son of a bitch, but he was our pompous son of a bitch. He wasn’t kind and wholesome like everyone in the church was being led to believe. He didn’t rescue kittens in his spare time and he definitely wasn’t a gentlemen.

  He had demons and a shit load of flaws, but I always thought that was what made our group click. We were one in the same. We were all entitled people with too much money and we were bored out of our minds. We entertained ourselves by causing as much trouble as possible and never feeling bad about it.

  We thought we were on top of the world until one phone call knocked us back down to earth.

  He was gone. It hadn’t felt real until I saw his black coffin trimmed in silver sitting there for everyone to see.

  He was really gone and he wasn’t coming back.

  After the funeral mass ended the priest announced that everyone was invited to view Edge’s body. Grabbing my sister’s hand, I pulled her into the line that was already forming.

  “I don’t know if I can look at him,” Lux said, looking up at me.

  She loved him something fierce, we all did. You never saw one of us without the other. We would never be the same because something would always be missing from our group.

  “You need to see him, Sis.”

  Nodding, she got in front of me in line. His family viewed the body first. I watched as each of them said their final goodbyes.

  We shouldn’t have had to bury him. He didn’t deserve what happened to him. One thing was for sure, he tried to fight it. Edge gave it his best, he just couldn’t win.

  The line moved along rather quickly and within minutes we found ourselves looking at the open casket. He looked like he was sleeping.

  I wasn’t big on emotion but seeing him, I felt like I wanted to hurt someone. I didn’t cry. I never cried. My sister on the other hand was sobbing. I knew exactly what she was feeling. She was like his family, completely devastated.

  “I love you, Edge,” she whispered, rubbing his face.

  Placing my hands on her shoulders, I squeezed them to let her know I was there. Looking back at me, she smiled but it was a broken smile she was trying to piece together.

  “I’ll meet you outside,” she said, walking to the exit.

  Looking at his face, I remembered all of the nights we wreaked havoc and drank until we couldn’t remember our names. He was someone you wanted to be around because you knew when you were with him you were going to have one hell of a time.

  “Sleep, Brother,” I said, smiling at him, “They won’t get away with this. I promise you that.”

  And with that I walked out of the door.

  The heat hit me in the face as soon as I stepped outside. Shedding my black sport coat, I folded it over my arm and spotted my sister.

  She had her head on her boyfriend’s shoulder.

  It happened to be that her boyfriend was also one of my best friends. Saint and my sister had been an item for about three years. They were practically married.

  He was a big old teddy bear when it came to her. We loved to give him hell about it but he didn’t care.

  “Hey, man,” Saint greeted me, peeling his hand off of my sister long enough to shake my hand.

  “You good?” I asked.

  “Hanging in there,” he said, looking past me.

  Following his gaze, my eyes landed on Synn and Garner who were walking our way

  “Tell me that we are not going back to the house. I don’t want to eat finger food and drink champagne with a room full of people who knew nothing about my brother,” Garner Lanoix said, looking down at her black Louboutins.

  “Well as fun as you make that sound, I think we should go to a sleazy bar and grieve our own way,” Synn LaFleur, Saint’s identical twin brother said, running his fingers through his already messy jet black hair.

  “Where’s everyone else?” I asked Garner.

  “Bowen and Thorn are over there,” she said, pointing to the steps of the church, “I have no clue where Salem is.”

  Salem Rieux was my ex-girlfriend and Thorn’s sister. Things ended badly between us. I was ready to let bygones be bygones but she wasn’t feeling that. She was bitter toward me because she thought that would make me care more.

  It didn’t.

  “Who cares where Salem is,” I said, swinging my arm around Garner’s shoulders.

  “Eat me, Dair,” Salem’s infuriating voice said from behind me.

  “Seriously, you’re like Beetlejuice. Say your name and you appear,” I said, attempting a joke. She didn’t think it was funny because she gave me the finger.

  We were all having a bad day, so I was going to at least try to be civil with Salem. But for the record, I was only doing it for Edge. I hated the bitch.

  “Put the claws away, you two,” Thorn said, walking up beside me.

  Bowen stood beside Lux and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket.

  “Anyone want to give me a light?” Bowen asked, winking at Lux.

  “You don’t even smoke, Bo,” Garner said, rolling her eyes, “Why do you even have cigarettes?”

  “He wants to be James Dean,” Synn said, laughing, “Trying to be cool.”

  “Smoking definitely isn’t cool, Bowen,” Lux said, pursing her lips at him

  Bowen tried to slyly toss the pack of cigarettes on the ground behind him, but I saw him. He was always trying to impress my sister.

  Lux thought he was an asshole but I knew why he acted that way toward her. He wanted her and he hated Saint because he had her. Always had. But I also knew how Lux really felt about Bowen. Saint was the safe bet and she didn’t like safe. She liked mysterious, rough, rugged assholes, so in other words Bowen was just her type. And Saint knew it.

  That’s why he was always with her. He literally never gave her breathing room.

  “I can’t give you a light but I can give you a shiner,” Saint said, moving my sister behind him.

  “Don’t forget I have a voodoo doll with your name on it,” Bowen said, pretending to stick his hand with his finger.

  That fight was going to happen but not on the day we were burying Edge. Any other day, they could have tried to kill each other and I wouldn’t have cared.

  “Let’s go get drunk,” I said, trying to keep the peace.

  Liquor was one thing that always brought us together. We all loved our alcohol. Getting drunk in New Orleans was a rite of passage.

  Piling into the cars, we made a break for it before our parents could drag us to Edge’s house. Seeing our favorite bar, Pinkie’s, I pulled over, got out of my car, and waited for everyone to jo
in me.

  Looking at my city, I enjoyed the views. New Orleans was like another world compared to everywhere else. I stood there watching as herds of people walked by. The tourist had no idea what they were walking amongst.

  That’s when I saw her. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid my eyes on. Her chocolate brown hair hung in soft waves and her jeans hugged her body perfectly.

  “Who are you creepin’ on?” Bowen asked, slapping me on the back.

  “Her,” I said, pointing to the brunette.

  “Well, it looks like she’s lost. Must be new, you should go help her find her way around, if you know what I mean,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

  “Pig,” Lux said to Bowen, holding Saint’s hand and walking inside.

  “You love it,” he said, following after them.

  I watched the beautiful stranger like a hunter watches its prey. My eyes drank in everything about her. She was confused and as cute as hell.

  “You lost?” I asked, turning on that good ole New Orleans charm.

  The ladies loved the Nola accent.

  “Yeah, actually I am,” she said, laughing, “I just moved here from Iowa.”

  They really knew how to grow ‘em in Iowa. The girls in New Orleans couldn’t hold a candle to the beauty standing in front of me.

  “I’m a local, New Orleans born and raised. Maybe I can help you out?”

  “Maybe,” she said, showing me the paper she held in her hand with the address she needed to get to on it.

  “It’s on the next street over. Just a straight walk from here and turn left,” I told her, pointing her in the right direction.

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “See you around, beautiful,” I said, watching her turn and walk away.

  “My name is Haley, by the way,” she said stopping and turning around to face me once again.

  “Dair,” I told her, putting my hands in my pockets.

  “That suits you. See you around,” she said, walking completely out of sight.

  I had never been enamored like that by any other girl, especially a girl I had just met. I was Dair Bordeaux and that meant I didn’t let anyone get to me, but something told me Haley just might be the one that changed all of that.

  I wasn’t scared of anything but I had to admit she scared me.

  Chapter 2

  Haley

  New Orleans was unlike any other place I had ever been. It was like I had stepped off of the plane into another country and I didn’t even need a passport.

  I spent my first night wandering the squares and all of the small shops. I was lost in the history of my new home.

  Jazz music filled the air and so did the smell of the cuisine. I felt like I was dreaming.

  Growing up in Iowa, it was typical small town America. Everyone dressed and acted the same. You would think it would have been the perfect place to live but I had to get out. I had to break free.

  I felt like I was drowning. The feeling that I was living someone else’s life constantly haunted me. I had the white picket fence, the doting fiancé, and the cookie cutter American dream. The only problem was I didn’t want it.

  I got engaged to my high school sweetheart, Jesse, on graduation night. We were the perfect couple to everyone but me. I felt no spark. When he kissed me, I didn’t get excited like I should have. Hell, even getting directions from a mystery man on the street made me feel more than our whole relationship. It wasn’t fair to me or Jesse to stay in that relationship. I was tired of lying about who I was and how I felt.

  I couldn’t make my heart feel something. I know because I tried for years.

  I felt like an imposter, trying to be something I wasn’t. So, one morning I called my cousin, Julia, and told her I needed to escape. She told me to buy a one way ticket to New Orleans and don’t look back. That’s exactly what I did.

  She was looking for a roommate anyway and she said she could get me a job at the bar she had been working at for years. I had no reason to stay and be miserable any more. I had to start living for myself.

  I packed very little, only what I needed, and bolted.

  That’s how I found myself serving beers to men and woman who obviously didn’t need anything else to drink in a t-shirt and cut off jean shorts. Sure, it wasn’t ideal but at least I felt free.

  I could do my own thing and to me that was everything.

  “Table seven is yours, “Julia said, pointing to the table with a group filling the vacant seats.

  They were all freakishly beautiful, well, the ones I could see were. A few of them had their backs turned to me.

  “Hi. Welcome to Pinkie’s on Bourbon. My name is Haley, what can I get you?” I asked, looking around the table.

  One face in particular stood out to me. Dair was sitting in front of me and from the look on his face I could tell he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

  “It’s good to see you again, Dair,” I said, feeling giddy like a school girl with a crush.

  “And you as well,” he said, smirking.

  He was beautiful, literally beautiful. But he also seemed dangerous, like he was always up to something. His smoky grey eyes held secrets and I had to admit I wanted to know all of them.

  “You two know each other?” The beautiful blond girl at the table asked.

  “I just moved here and he helped me with directions,” I told her, smiling.

  I knew she wasn’t his girlfriend because they looked alike. They had the same white blonde hair and the exact same grey eyes. She had to be his sister.

  “Well, in that case, welcome to Nola. I’m Lux, Dair’s little sister,” she said, holding her hand out for me to shake it.

  “Nice to meet you. So, what can I get you guys?” I asked, everyone at the table.

  After taking their drink orders, I went to the bar and waited while the bartender filled them all up.

  When I brought their drinks to the table Dair had his arm around one of the girls and this girl definitely wasn’t his sister. She had long wavy auburn hair and these bright, hypnotizing green eyes. Of course, a guy like that had a girlfriend and a beautiful one at that. Why did she have to be so freaking gorgeous?

  “Enjoy. Let me know if you need anything else,” I said, looking at everyone except Dair and his girlfriend.

  Why was I jealous? I had just met the guy the day before. It’s not like he was interested in me anyway. And even if he was I didn’t need to get in a relationship. I had just gotten out of one and I need to focus on my happiness, not someone else’s.

  “Hey, why the long face? Sad waitresses don’t get tips,” Julia said, attempting a joke and bumping her hip against mine.

  “I met that guy yesterday,” I said, discreetly pointing at Dair, “I was lost and couldn’t get you on the phone, so he gave me directions. When I saw him in here tonight my stomach filled up with a million butterflies. But now, I know he has a girlfriend and I feel stupid. It’s silly.”

  “It’s not silly. And Dair Bordeaux doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s been footloose and fancy free for a year now. He had this thing with Salem Rieux about a year ago. She’s the one with shoulder length black hair. The girl he has his arm around is Garner Lanoix. They are definitely not an item. All of their families are really close. They are like royalty around these parts. Old money and hot as all hell,” Julia said, putting her hand on her hip.

  “How do you know all of this?” I asked, trying to store all the info that spilled from her mouth.

  “I’m like the creole gossip girl,” she said, winking, “Now, get back to work.”

  Nodding, I walked by over to Dair’s table.

  “You guy’s need anything else?” I asked, clearing the empty glasses from the table.

  Where was Dair? Did he leave?

  “I think we’re good,” Salem sneered, turning her nose up.

  “Salem, don’t be a bitch. Sorry about her. I’m Bowen,” T
he one with black hair and midnight blue eyes said, smiling.

  “Nice to meet you. Wow, you all have such unique names,” I said, trying to make conversation.

  I had to admit they all made me nervous. I didn’t know how to act around or what to say.

  “Yep, our parents were trying to be cool. You think our names are strange, these three assholes have the worst names of the bunch,” he said, nodding his head to the three men at the other end of the table, “This is Thorn, that’s Synn, and beside him is his twin brother, Saint. Saint is the douche of the group.”

  “Screw you,” Saint said, pulling Lux on his lap.

  I saw a hint of jealousy in Bowen’s eyes. There was something going on with the three of them. Feeling someone stand behind me, I turned around and saw Dair.

  “I see you’ve met everyone. Don’t let Bowen startle you, he’s kind of creepy,” he said, smiling down at me.

  “That because he’s a creep,” Lux said, wrapping her arms around Saint’s neck.

  “Bite me, Sweetheart,” Bowen told her, winking.

  “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Lux asked.

  “Very much so,” Bowen said, tossing way too much money on the table, getting up, and walking out of the door.

  “Haley, how long until your shift ends?” Dair asked.

  “Ten minutes,” I said, looking down at my watch.

  “I’ll be outside,” he said, turning and walking out the door.

  It wasn’t a question, it was a demand and I was more than happy to comply.

  I stood there feeling a little confused as to why he wanted to see me, though. Why was he going to wait outside? Clearing off the table, I took the empty glasses to the bar. Explaining to Julia what happened, she told me to go and that she would take over for me.

  Rushing out of the door, I thought to myself that I was crazy. I was leaving early on the first night of my new job to meet a man I barely new.

  I was a brand new Haley and I had to say I liked it.

  They say witches, vampires, and ghosts roamed the streets of New Orleans, but I knew they weren’t real. They were myths.

  Dair Bordeaux was real and for some reason he scared me a lot more than any of those fictional creatures ever could.