laissez les bon temps rouler//jackson kenner

2.8

"Let me guess, no such luck?" I question.

Jack sighs. "Nothing viable. And now, Ansel's dead... along with Ollie."

"Trust me Jack I feel the loss of Ollie, maybe not as much as you do. But Ansel was my father, and I only got to know him for a few hours. I would give anything to have the months that you had with him." I pick up the brown notebook. "Now I am going to go through this and I am going to find a way to help our people."

Jack nods his head. "Take a crack at it. If you can find anything let me know." Jack walks away.

I sit on the dock reading through the book. I feel like I am getting to know my father in a way. Everything in this book is something he said to Jack. It's about my family's history. It's about what my father knew, what he saw.

After a while I head to find Jack. He is chopping firewood near his trailer. I hold up the leather journal. "You wanna stop playing mountain-man and explain why you kept this from me?" Jack looks at me unsurprised. "Why don't I jog your memory? 'The werewolves' power can be traced back to the myth of the Unification Ceremony, a ritual that bestowed certain unique abilities onto every member of the pack.'" Jack looks slightly guilty. "Do you believe this?"

"I didn't at first. And then Ansel swore he saw it with his own eyes. And then he dies, and I found out he was resurrected from a thousand years ago, which means he was alive to see it!" Jack tells me.

"How did I not know about this?" I question.

"You didn't grow up out here. Yeah, every kid grows up hearing the stories. Back in the day, werewolf bloodlines were all distinct, right? Some had speed, some had strength, some could sense enemies from miles away. Now, to evolve, we would perform a ritual. A shaman would marry the alphas of each bloodline, and then the special abilities of each would be... inherited, mystically, by everyone who participated in the ritual. See, after a few centuries, everybody had the same abilities, so alpha marriages became political. They became about... power, about territory," Jack explains.

I look at him for a moment, taking in all he just told me. "But I have a unique ability. Because I'm a hybrid, I can control when I change! So, if this mystical marriage thing works, then... then our people get my power, and they can ditch the rings!" Jack looks torn. "Which means my mother no longer has a hold over them!" Jack nods slightly. "Jack, this is exactly the answer that we've been looking for! Let's find a shaman, we'll say some vows. Hell, we'll make it a party!"

Jack doesn't look too happy. "It ain't just a party. If the vows ain't honored, it doesn't work." My face falls. "It's gotta be a real marriage, in every way, for the rest of our lives. Are you up for that?" I don't know what to say. Am I up for marrying Jackson? "Didn't think so."

Jack goes back to chopping firewood. I head out to see what I can learn about this unification ceremony. I call Cami on the way.

"Else, hey. What's up?" Cami asks.

"I need a favor," I tell her.

Cami agrees to let me into Father Kieran's old apartment. We look through his files. Cami groans and rubs her forehead as she leans over the desk.

I look at her concerned. "You sure you're okay?"

Cami sighs. "Yeah, I must just be coming down with something."

"I'm sorry to drag you out of bed for this," I tell her.

Cami smiles. "Please. You just discovered an ancient marriage ritual with pretty drastic supernatural and personal implications. The least I can do is get out of bed." I smile at Cami as she gestures toward a pile of files and books on the desk. "So, this is everything I found in my uncle's files about werewolf ceremonies and rituals. Mostly, it sounds like old folklore and fables." I nod at her. "...But, I'm guessing you're not here looking for some kind of proof."

I shake my head. "I don't know what I'm looking for."

"Not to pry, but... does Jackson have any answers?" Cami questions.

"He doesn't even want to talk about it. He doesn't even want to put me in this position. He's a good, decent guy, if those even exist anymore," I tell her.

Cami smiles. "Well it's not like you don't know Jackson. You did have a child together, you must feel something for him."

"Honestly we've barely talked since we lost Jolie. But, still, he is..." I trail off.

"Under your skin?" Cami questions. I nod my head, unsure. "Well, there is no right answer to this." She starts to pull her hair back into a ponytail. "You just have to figure out what's best for you, and think long and hard about your decision, because you're the one who's going to have to live with it."

I sigh. "No pressure."

Cami turns to start putting the files away. I notice a vertical line of what looks like large pin-pricks that runs down the length of Cami's spine. "Hey, what's that on your back?" I ask her worriedly.

Cami, concerned, walks over to a nearby mirror and turns so that she can see for herself. She looks at me in horror.

I feel bad, but I need to leave Cami alone to figure out what is wrong. I need to think about what I am going to do with Jack and the wolves. I head to the compound. I have sometime before the meeting. I know it sounds crazy but I think Nik can help me through this.

I find him in the courtyard. "Nik, can I talk to you?"

Nik smiles at me. "Not now sister. I still haven't gotten enough out of Finn yet."

Nik starts to walk towards the ballroom and I follow after him. "Nik, really I need your help."

Nik ignores me and starts talking to Finn, who is chained up by the manacles around his wrists once more. "So, brother ready to embrace your new life of freedom?"

"I'm already free, brother," Finn states.

"You're aware our mother cares nothing for you?" I ask. If Nik won't help me until Finn talks, then I'm going to get Finn to talk.

"Else, I assure you, my mother loves me. She loves all of her children. You would not exist without her sacrifice," Finn tells me. Nik smirks and walks towards the door. "Do you even know the truth? That she was barren? And she grew so desperate for a family that she begged one of the most powerful witches in history for help her sister, Dahlia. Of course, Dahlia's price was high. She agreed to make our mother fertile, but in exchange, she sought the first-born as sacrifice. Having no other choice, our mother gave away our beloved Freya."

I look at him skeptically. "Our sister died of plague."

"Esther gave her away. Think about that. The pain, the grief," Finn tells me.

I walk up to him so we are face to face. "If what you say is true, then death is far too delicate a fate for her."

"She loves us more than you realize," Finn instits.

"And is love the reason she wanted my child dead?" I ask angrily.

"She was trying to protect you from Dahlia's curse!" Finn shouts.

"WHAT CURSE?!" I shut in frustration.

"Dahlia demanded the first-born of every generation. Had your child lived, she would have paid the price! And, if anyone had tried to protect her, Dahlia would come and destroy us all," Finn tells me.

I glare at Finn before leaving the room. Nik tries to shout after me but I don't stop. I've made my choice.