Five years later…
The French Quarter was alive. As Music spilled from open doors, brass and drums and laughter colliding in the warm night air. Tourists flooded the streets, drunk on sound and sugar and spirits, never noticing the narrow alley just a block away, where violence was taking place.
The sound of fists striking flesh was swallowed whole by sounds of the crowd.
Three white men lay sprawled across the wet pavement, bloodied and unconscious. One groaned softly. Another didn't move at all. While the biggest of the three was having his head slammed repeatedly against the brick wall as his face was being punched. His face was little more than a swollen mess.
Standing over him was a boy. Light brown skin. Golden amber eyes burning with cold fury. His fist's then came down again...And again....And again.
"Kai...! That's enough, your gonna kill him if you keep going." a woman cried out.
The boy froze mid-swing. His knuckles were dripping with blood. But it wasn't his.
He then straightened himself slowly, rolling his shoulders as if he was coming out of a trance. The boy turned to the woman standing nearby, a beautiful light skinned sun-kissed girl, with long brown hair and sharp mixed features. Her black eye was already swelling, her breath uneven, fear still clinging to her voice.
"Fine," the boy said flatly. "I'll stop, Mary." His accent was unmistakable. Southern Creole, it was smooth and sharp all at once. He wasn't even out of breath.
He stepped back from the man, annoyance flashing briefly across his face.
A fourth man was still conscious, as he cowered against the alley wall, clutching a black coat with trembling hands. He was in pure shock of how a little kid beat three grown men.
The boy wore a black and blood-red three-piece suit, tailored far too well for someone his age. He held out his hand the the cowering man.
"Good sir...My coat."
The man fumbled. "I—I—"
"But a handkerchief first if you don't mind," the boy added calmly in gentlemen tone.
"I...I don't have one..."
The boy sighed. "Merde." (Shit, in French)
He then unrolled his sleeves, and waved one hand over the other. The blood on his hands then vanished. Not smeared or trace left.
The man's eyes widened. "What the hell...."
Then the woman Mary, leaned in and whispered something in his ear. The man collapsed instantly, unconscious before he hit the ground.
Mary exhaled sharply. "You keep using magic in front of tourists, Kai. You're gonna get us in trouble."
Kai picked up his jacket from the man's slack grip, shaking it once before slipping it over his shoulders. He adjusted his black waistcoat, straightened his blood-red trousers, and smoothed his black tie as he spoke.
"I was gonna erase their memories anyway." He waved his hand again. The blood vanished from his shirt. "You could've grabbed my coat before letting this idiot drop it. These street's are filthy." He said annoyed after waving his hand over the coat.
Mary fixed her evening navy blue dress with a similar flick of her hands. The magic cleaned off the dirt and grime, making fresh and brand new. "That doesn't fix the problem of you getting into fights, and leave bodies on the ground. At this point the local police know it's you."
Kaison rifled through the men's pockets, pulling their wallets out and taking the wads of cash. He counted quickly.
"Five hundred," he said. "Nice."
"You know what your mama and Madam Moon will do if they find out."
"They said if I start a fight," Kai replied calmly. "I didn't start it, and I was saving a coven witch."
Mary crossed her arms. "Kai"
"What Mary? They dragged you in here," he continued. " You were drunk, and they thought they were clever. I just happened to see it."
Mary muttered in Haitian, her magic slipping into the men's minds.
"Ou pral bliye figi nou... men sonje nou konnen kiyès ou ye... ak ki kote ou rete.". (You will forget our faces… but remember we know who you are… and where you live.)
She paused, then added another whisper. "Epi pwofite de malfonksyonman erektil pou ane kap vini an." (And enjoy erectile dysfunction for the next year.)
She then stepped beside Kai, navy-blue dress hugging her frame, her green eyes glinting beneath the streetlight. She held out her hand.
"Where's my cut?" Kai stared at her, unimpressed. He peeled off two hundred dollars and handed it over. Mary scowled. "This is it?"
"I did the work," Kai said, already turning away. "And saved you. Your lucky you don't have to pay me." He then stepped toward the mouth of the alley. "Go report this to your sister. I'm late. Grandma's got me closing the show."
As Kaison stepped out the alley. The French Quarter swallowed him whole. All he saw was the bright lights. Loud music. And drunken laughter. A thousand eyes sliding past him without ever truly seeing him. To him, this was just another Friday night.
Five years. That was how long it had been since Jasen woke up in this body. Five years since his consciousness awakened.
He'd been reborn into the body of Kainos Moon. He was raised by a coven of Witches, led by his grandmother, Madam Moon.
They called themselves the Druids Lalin ak Lanmè Yo. Or the Druids of the Moon and Sea. A strange but powerful mix of Haitian Creole magic, French traditions, African roots, American witchcraft, and old druidic and native American rites.
They are located in New Orleans and are one of it's many protectors. They were also his family and teacher's. He was homeschooled by his mother and each woman took turns. They trained him, watched his growth throughout the years. All the woman were from different backgrounds, and magical disciplines.
And to Kainos. Magic came easily. Almost too easily, like he was blessed by it. It wasn't like the hand signs from the Magician's books. Or the wand wielding of Harry Potter. It was different and yet felt so familiar.
This was real magic, and he had strong magical affinities. Druid magic healing magic. Voodoo magic and curses. Death rites and awareness of spiritual entities. With some other abilities. He felt strong in the water, and was a great swimmer, he could also hold his breath for a long time. The shadows and darkness it's self answered his calls. Whether hiding him or others.
Languages came just as fast, which was good cause his mother and grandmother taught him so many. English, Latin, French, Haitian Creole, and Ancient Greek, all before he turned four. His memory was photographic.
Which was new since his old body was as good. But he wasn't perfect. He was diagnosed with Dyslexia. And ADHD. His body became restless and frustration gnawed at him when he forced to sit still. So his teachers adjusted their teaching style to him.
Hands-on learning worked instead of just reading. Floating glyphs text then book to book, not saying he couldn't read from a book, but after 2 hours of constant still he would start get restless.
Another of his flaws was his sense of direction. It was an absolute disaster. Kainos was once told to walk down the street to give his mom her lunch by his grandmother, he ended up inside a strip club. Luckily, the lady and owner the establishment. Creole Silk was part of the coven. Her and the ladies to care of him. And apparently, he was handsome, almost uncomfortably so.
People stared. Mostly women who smiled and asked for pictures. Every now and again Men looked twice. The boys and girls his age all wanted to be his friends, some parent's from other coven's even came and asked for an arranged marriage. Luckily his mother and grandmother turned them all down.
His worst of all flaw or curse, he said he himself had was his magnetic ability to attract danger and violence. Fights followed him. Sometime boys would get jealous and try to fight him. Or just the sight of him would piss certain people off, and they couldn't help but antagonize and fight him. Even when he dismissed them and walked away they still fought him.
But Kainos was stronger then most children, he could move and strike a lot harder. Even if some people had size or experience on their side, once he saw blood the fight was over. Blood excited him and if he was touched with blood from his, opponents then he would become a lot stronger. Almost to strong, it took several police adults to restrain him one time.
That's why Mary was assigned to watch him. When he had to get to and from the house to the performance stage. She was relatively new but a legacy of the coven. Meaning she had a mother or grandmother part of it, and since she has magical abilities she was welcomed in.
As Kainos walked down the street, his mind was reflecting on the routine he was gonna do tonight. He wanted to try and pull in some more tips for his personal savings. That's when a few women stopped him.
"Excuse us. Can we take a picture with you? You just so handsome"
Kainos noticed it was a mixture of Tourists. Some college girls some from a sorority, and a few Older women.
Kainos smiled smoothly. "Of course, lovely ladies of the world. It will be my honor and pleasure." He said in his little southern gentlemen act. He paused. "Ten dollars a picture. Fifteen for a kiss on my cheek. Twenty if I kiss yours."
The ladies began to laugh, and blush. Money exchanged hands. For thirty minutes, he made two hundred and fifty dollars. Smiling in pictures with ladies even kissing them, and letting them kiss him.
Then Mary returned with a curvy redhead woman in a black dress. "Kai," Mary hissed. "You're late."
Kaison looked at his watched and muttered. "Merde."
"OOHH. That sounds sexy," one woman giggled. "That's French, and he cursed. The little potty mouth one chuckled." another said.
Kaison bowed slightly. "Ladies, thank you for your patronage. But I must go."
Disappointment rippled through the crowd. "What but we wanted to take a picture with you too!" Kaison always happy to make more money, then added, "But if you want more… I'm performing at St. Anthony's Garden tonight." As he walked away holding Mary's hand.
The crowd began to follow slowly followed.
Mary sighed "Madam Moon is gonna kill me."
Kaison smirked. "Grandma saw something like happening, that's why she put me on for last." They reached the garden just as his mother finished her act, water dancing like it was alive.
The crowd roared. As the water moved around making different shapes and images, as music played in the background.
Kaison was focused. Yet deep down he still felt like something was missing. And he knew, deep down. New Orleans wasn't where his story would end.
The three slipped backstage, just in time for her Samira's act to end.