BLOODLINES

Sarah returned to their hotel, exhausted but exhilarated. As they ente

ned to paint the town red, aren't you?" Sarah grinned mischievously. "Of course my friend

ger from the courtyard. His piercing gaze lingered in her mind. With their makeup and hai

ed around them. Colorful floats and masks danced down the s

ts, catching a strand of purple beads. Sarah grinned, fee

ozy bar in the French Quarter. Vera, Sarah's

ow a haven amidst the revelry. Inside, couples snuggled in plush armchairs, while l

the private booths . Vera's radiant dimpled smile illuminated the dimly lit bar. Her curly brown hair cascaded down her back like a rich, velvet

eey cookie I'm glad you could make it" she then turned to Leila and smiled. " He

t you, Vera. You're just as fabulous as Sarah described." Vera chuckled, her eyes

stery they added to her overall elegance. Sarah grinned mischievously. "Now tha

ill hook us up with the best cocktails in town." As they approached the bar, a char

are my friends Sarah and Leila and they came her to celebrate Mardi Gras with me." Jacques's eyes twink

." Jacques winked. "I have just the thing. My signature

ar's intimate atmosphere. Vintage jazz posters adorned the

toward two handsome strangers on the other side of the bar. Sarah immediate

ntering over to the two handsome guys. " That girl doesn't waste any time does she?" Vera asked. Leila laughed, " Of course not if. Theirs one thing I've learnt about Sarah is

ter. " It's on the house" he winked at them both before he walked away to atten

f different flavors burst across her tongue. " Holy crap why is this so good"

asked, looking at Leila over the rim of her glass."Anything, since I don't r

know my name, so I guess there isn't much. I'm not that interesting, to be honest." Leila smiled at her. "I d

. "Flattery will get you everywhere... well, I g

legends and other creepy stuff like that ?" She asked. Vera chuckled, playing with a curl

turned thoughtful. "Growing up here, you can't help but feel the city's vibe. All t

is place." Vera smiled. "Exactly! And I'm obsessed with uncovering its secret

w Orleans?" Leila asked. Vera's smile faltered for a moment, and she glanced away, he

s gaze drifted back, but her expression remained guarded. "Yeah, they've been here for a whi

rd silence settled between them, thickening the air. Leila sensed she'd touched a sensit

lright, I think you've picked my brain enough for now," Vera said with a sly smile. "It's my turn to pick

her at ease. Well apart from the fact that Sarah has been wanting this trip for months now the truth is I've been having th

as she stared into it. " Their Weird dreams to be honest, but I've been dreaming about the end of the world, and somehow it always

ut the end of days", she said. But Vera only shook her head. " I don't think so, Cher, my grandmother always said that dreams are just

p to us to look beneath the surface" she said. But before Leila could respond they saw Sarah skipping

eady? I need to get some beauty sleep for my date tomorrow" she said. " Yeah, I'm

an walking towards the hotel,they could hear the distance sounds of partying in the distance. As they continued walking home, the v

ce, the hotel's neon sign shone like a beacon. " Almost there," Vera said."Thanks for walking us home, Ve

kled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." Sarah som chimed in. "We definitely did. The drinks

gthened. Leila's hair whipped around her face.Sarah clutched her arms, shivering. Vera's smile

ollowed by a c