Present Day-New Orleans

Giselle stared up at her new home. It was large and made of white stone. She suddenly felt an arm loop around her waist and a peck on her cheek.

"Do you like it, mon amour?" Louis asked.

She nodded. "It's different, but I can get used to it. This place is bigger than our home in France though."

"I've moved up, Giselle. This is proof of it."

She smiled at him. "Can we go in now, the sun's bothering me."

"Of course."

They went up the grand marble staircase and into their new home. Inside was already lavishly decorated and furnished. It already seemed like a home.

"Already done? Whatever will I do?" Giselle joked.

"You can be in charge of hiring staff. We need a chef and some cleaning people. And perhaps a butler."

"Alright, but when do you-" she was cut off by the sound of him shutting the door into his office. "Want me to do that?" She sighed.

I'll put out an ad for those positions tomorrow, she thought. Today, I just want to relax.

For the rest of the day, she went around and explored the house. When she was done with that, she went to the kitchen and grabbed a healthy snack and a goblet of blood. Then Giselle headed towards her own private solar room and lounged on her reclining chaise, eating from a bowl of grapes and sipping her drink.

Then she thought, Oh, I'll have to apply for a position at a hospital here. That way, I can smuggled bags of blood home. I didn't become a doctor because I wanted to help people.

There was a faint ringing sound and she knew it was the doorbell.

"Giselle, mon amor, will you get that?" Louis roared.

She groaned and got up. Giselle glided towards the main staircase and descended down to the main level. She went over to the front door and pulled it open. Standing there, was a couple she didn't recognise.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, we're your neighbours. We just wanted to welcome you to the neighbourhood," the man said.

The lady looked her over. "Where is the mistress of the house?"

Giselle's eyes narrowed and she said in a cold voice, "You're talking to her."

The lady chuckled nervously. The man looked away quickly.

"Giselle Marchant," she said as she held out her hand.

They shook hands with her and introduced themselves. The couple noticed Giselle's cold hands, but were too polite to say anything.

"Aaron LeBrie."

"Maisy LeBrie."

"A pleasure," Giselle said in a monotone.

"Yes, well," Maisy said. "We were wondering if you and your... umm, partner would like to come over for dinner. Just a little get-together, nothing huge."

"Louis and I would be delighted. What time?"

"Seven o'clock sound fine?"

Giselle nodded. "We'll be over then."

Then she stepped backwards and shut the door.

"Dinner?" Louis asked.

"Well, we can't alienate our neighbours, now can we? We didn't in Paris."

"This isn't Paris," Louis growled. "We're not going."

"But Louis, I already said-"

He grabbed her wrist in a death-like grip. "I don't care. Go over and tell them no."

"Ow, Louis. You're hurting me. Sometimes, I don't think you remember your own strength."

His face was inches from hers. "Yes, I do." His voice was low and threatening.

Giselle shivered involuntarily out of a sudden sense of fear. Then she nodded. He let go of her and she went out to go do what he asked.