I enjoyed playing cards, for some reason I've always had a the talent for it. I guess if I had to credit someone for getting me into poker. It would had to be my father. When I was a kid, he would sit me down and teach me. It was something to do so he could get his mind off of the death of my mother. I guess it helped me as well but death didn't bother me, not even my own mother's death hit me hard. So for years my father and I would play card till the he himself passed away, again his death didn't bother me. We all die in the end. It doesn't matter what you do. Everyone dies, it's just one of the facts of life.

I was at the Cajun Delight. It was a one of the local bars down on Bourbon street. It was a just a couple of friends and I play a few games of poker in the back room of the bar. The owner let us have our poker nights at his place of business, and it did help that I grew up with the guy. Tonight it was just Tommy, Steve and myself, our other friend Shawn couldn't make it. Something about working late, we all knew it meant he was going to go see some bitch. He was the man whore of the group, so it's not shock if that was what he was really doing.

I lit up a cigarette as Steve dealt the cards for the next round. Tonight we were playing five card draw and I was winning. I was betting I would clean Tommy and Steve out in the next few hands. I took a drag from my cigarette as Steve dealt the fifth and final card. I picked up my hand as I blew the smoke from my lungs. It wasn't bad, I had a pair of kings, a jack, a ten and a queen.

"Hey Ethan, does it feel wrong that you gamble like this?" Steve asked as I took another drag from my cancer stick.

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well you're a cop aren't you?"

"No mon ami. I'm a vampire executioner, I just work along side the cops if a crime involves something of the supernatural."

"Oooooh, I get ya. So how many do you have to your name?"

"I'm guessing you mean kills. Ten, thus far and I've been at this for about five almost six years." I said as I placed down my bet of ten bucks, Tommy and Steve called and added their ten in the pot.

"Ten? Isn't that a little low for five years?"

"No, it's rather high. It's not like I can just go out and kill a vampire, I have to have a warrant. Don't you pay any mind to the news? The Supreme court passed a law saying that vampires were "alive". So now I have to have a court order to kill them"

"Shit, maybe I should watch the news more often."

We all laughed. It was a good night but something in my gut told me it wasn't going to last. If there was one thing I trusted, it was my gut. I passed my ten and jack to Steve. He tossed two back. I picked them up and added to my hand. Another queen and a ten again. Two pair, I could run with this. I've won with a game with a lot less. It was my turn to place a bet once more. So I put down fifty, the guys called and placed their bet down. I was about to show my cards when I felt a presence. It sent a chill down my spine, it felt like there were little needles were stabbing into my skin. Shit. This wasn't good. Something or someone was about to walk through that door. I stood up and kicked my seat backwards and drew my Colt .45 and pointed it at the door. Tommy and Steve were looking up at me confused.

"What's going on?"

"Yeah, Ethan what gives?"

"Shut up and get behind me now."

That's when the door opened up. Death filled the room and it weighed me down. All I could see in the doorway was a black silhouette, star bright blue eyes looked right at me, as if they were looking into my soul. I was squeezing the trigger, waiting for the right moment to fire my gun.

"Come now love. Is that anyways to treat an old friend?" The shadowy figure said in a soft English accent. That was hint enough for me. I knew who was standing in the doorway now. Only thing is, I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad one.

"Belladonna, enough with the smoke and mirrors bullshit. Step into the light so I can see you."

The female chuckled and stepped into the room. She smiled softly at me.


"What is it you want Belladonna? I'm in the middle of a game."

"I wish to speak to you. It's important and can not wait."

"Oh ya? What makes it so important that I have to step away from my game?"

"Very. If I don't speak with you for one, my master will be very angry and two if we don't get your help. Well then there is going to be a very bloody war. So you can finish your game and in doing so might cause New Orleans to burn down or you can come with me and have a chat." She flashed me a smile. She knew she had me now. I couldn't just tell her to fuck off now. Fucking vampires. They always know what to say.

"Well when you put it like that. I guess I have to go now."

To Be Continued.