New Plans

It was settled, Raiden was changing her plans. No dive motel, she would stay at Jack's place. Not that he was going to explain the full spectrum of Jack's place right now. Raiden just knew when he was not there to protect Sophia, their would be multiple people their that would. Jack's place was special, not that the normal person would know it was special, it just looked like an old building that was a boarding house. It had a big court yard, there were room, well more private suites with a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom. There were open sitting rooms, a big kitchen and dining room. Though what really set it apart was that it was part of the Crossroads homes. A network of safe havens for the super nateral. It was neutral ground, everyone was welcome, the rules were simple, do no harm. So it was one of the few places you would see a vampire and a werewolf having coffee together or a vampire and witch having lunch together, and then in all the mix you had just normal humans; all cohabiting. She would be safe, and until he could figure out who wanted to do her harm, and how to eliminate that danger, he was going to stack the deck in his and Sophia's favor.

Sophia was worried about cost, and such but he told her he would register her under his name and make sure she received the friends and family discount. Truth be told, it cost nothing to stay there. Every Crossroads house was fully funded by vampires like Raiden. The homes were owned by human families; thus taking care of unwanted vampires, but it's primarily purpose was a safe haven, and no one should be left out because of cost. So anyone that stayed, paid what they could. Many times the occupants that stayed there were new, newly turned vampires, newly turned werewolves, wondering witches, and the ones that had no family to call their own. They were all welcomed, all cared for. The homes were a place where the old taught the new, and the new taught the old. Thus Sophia would fit right in, as she was an old soul in a new body. She had the soul of a witch, a very good and kind witch, that had her life taken away from her long ago.

They finished their meal, and headed to the gate, Raiden didn't say anything when they headed toward the terminal, Sophia placed a dark baseball cap on her head, and grabbed her black tactical looking backpack. She was such a contradiction, yet she made it blend so well. Once at the gate, Raiden went up to the counter, talked to one of the staff, he then came back and sat next to Sophia. A half hour later as they were making an announcement that they would be boarding soon. Sophia was called up to the counter. She came back with a small grin, with a new ticket in her hand.

"I have a feeling you may have had something to do with this."

Raiden shrugged his shoulders and smiled back at her. "I one has to sit next to someone on a flying tin can, than one should have the best company possible. " Thus stacking the deck in his and her favor. Raiden thought to himself.

Right before they loaded onto the plane, Sophia took the back off her phone, she pulled out the sim card, and replaced it with a new one. when she said she wanted to stay under the radar, she was not kidding, he looked at her wrist, the tan line did not match the watch, she was removing her digital footprint.

Their flight finally took off at 11:30pm, thus getting them into New Orleans around one. Raiden then found out she was literally travelling with just the pack on her back. Traveling light was an understatement.

Raiden could see she was tired, so they took a cab to Jack's place. He got her checked in and to her suite, told her he would pick her up around ten the next day and would take her for some great gumbo. Once she closed the her door, and he heard the lock click, he went back down to talk to Jack. Jack was down in the courtyard with a few other people, Jack was human, Zack and Keith were vampires, Ben was a werewolf. All but Jack had been keenly aware that something was not right, but they had played it cool, when Raiden had introduced them to Sophia. Jack had realized something wasn't right, as he could read his friends well. Jack had gone and grabbed an extra glass for Raiden, and had already poured him a drink, by the time he came down to the court yard.

"So my friend, what is going on? It is not like you to just show up and drop off a human." Keith looked at his friend; they had known each other for over 200 years.

Raiden took a drink that was offered to him. "My light has returned, and she is in danger."

That got Keith's attention, he knew of the loss Raiden had survived, yet almost didn't survive. To know that she had come back was wonderful news, that she was in danger, Raiden would not be alone in protecting her, he and the others would be everything in their power to keep her safe. Soul mates were almost a sacred in the supernatural world, as many could live for hundreds or even thousands of years, finding the one that made you whole, was priceless. It made living worth while. For many to lose a soul mate ment death, for life was not worth living anymore.

Raiden didn't stay long, he knew everyone would keep an eye out for Sophia, that made it a little easier to leave her, not that he wanted to, he would of been perfectly happy sitting in a chair outside her door. But he needed to check in and go see his family.

As being a vampire, werewolf and such, everyone had territory, to travel to new areas ment going into someone's territorial home. In New Orleans for people like him, it me t a stop at Maude's. Yet a second safe haven in the city, it was where you introduced yourself and gave your intentions, visiting, looking for someone, wanting to settle down, or just passing through; everyone checked in and thus little trouble was had. It wasn't as wild and crazy as it once was, the world was getting smaller, deaths were easily tracked, if someone was to careless with their killing, they were given a warning, if not heeded, they were killed. Not everyone needed to know that vampires, werewolves and others existed.