Page 23 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

We stuck close as we headed up the path. Marie steppedback, and we moved into her house. She gestured to a living room off to the side of the entryway. The room was filled with old tomes and mystical artifacts. The place smelled like incense, mingled with the earthy aroma of aged paper and leather-bound books.

Marie greeted us with a nod. "Thank you for coming," she said. "I wanted to provide Dea with more information before she summons my ancestors. I have been made aware of certain threats and do not want any harm to come to you or your family for helping me."

Dea stepped forward, her expression a mix of curiosity and resolve. "What do you need us to know, Marie?"

Marie gestured for us to sit. We gathered around a large, intricately carved wooden table. “The families of the Montclairs, the Dubois, and the Rousseaus have long had connections to Voodoo practitioners,” she began. “Centuries ago, they were guardians of sacred sites in the bayou and had alliances with early Voodoo queens."

Dani leaned forward, her eyes narrowing in concentration. “So, these families were once allies? What happened to change that?”

Marie sighed and her gaze went distant as she recalled the past. “Power and ambition. Over time, the balance of power shifted. Old alliances were forgotten or betrayed. The families that once were protectors of our sacred sites began to seek control for themselves. Now, rumors suggest they aim to eliminate my spiritual ancestors at the reunion to claim my family’s power.”

Dea absorbed the information, her brow furrowing in thought. "Is there a way to prevent this? To restore the balance?"

Marie nodded, reaching for a dusty, leather-bound manuscript on a nearby shelf. "There is a forgotten truce ritual that might be reinstated to quell the current unrest.This manuscript details the ritual, but it requires great care and respect to enact properly."

Dea took the manuscript, her fingers brushing over the aged parchment. "I'll study this carefully. If there's a chance to resolve this peacefully, we have to take it."

Marie’s gaze sharpened, and she leaned closer. Her voice was a low, urgent whisper. “Be wary of dealing with these families. They crave power and may not honor the truce willingly. Balance between power and respect is crucial. Do not underestimate them and always be prepared for treachery.”

"If they’ve betrayed alliances before what's to stop them from doing it again?" Dre asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Marie’s eyes darkened. "Nothing, except for the strength and unity of those who stand against them. That is why you must be vigilant and unwavering."

"We’ll be ready," Kota promised. “We know what's at stake. And we aren’t fools who will be conned byanyone.”

We left Marie's house a few minutes later with Dea’s bag filled with valuable books. I didn’t trust Marie at all. But I didn’t trust these families either. We would make sure neither was able to manipulate things to gain more power. The road back to Willowberry Plantation seemed longer with the issues on our plate. We were experts at multitasking and planning events while also solving supernatural problems. This time our event presented as another case. One as complex as any we’ve handled thus far.

CHAPTER 8

DEANDRA

The morning sounds of the plantation were a comforting background to my swirling thoughts as I sat outside eating breakfast with my sisters. But my mind was far from at ease. The image of Garrick was etched into my memory. The way he was shrouded in darkness with eyes that gleamed with malevolent power. Every detail of that intense confrontation played over and over in my head. It was how I learned to do things better next time. His movements were swift, almost otherworldly. Did that mean he was some kind of demon or Dark Fae? Off the top of my head, I couldn’t think of more supernaturals from other realms. His magic was unlike anything we had encountered before. The sheer force of his attacks and the way he manipulated the swamp to his advantage was terrifying.

We almost had him, and it took every ounce of our combined magical prowess to do it. And he’d broken through and vanished. I could still feel the residual energy from thebattle and the raw power that had crackled in the air as we fought. The way he had slipped away left us with more questions than answers.

Melanie's murder weighed heavily on all of us. The more we learned about her, the more I was certain she had been a bright spirit, full of life and passion. She fought for the good of everyone living in the bayou and now she was gone. The thought of her lifeless body sent a shiver down my spine. Why had Garrick eliminated her? Was it because she refused to back down? I couldn't quite piece his motives together.

The supernatural disturbances in the bayou were escalating, and I feared we were only scratching the surface of a much larger, more sinister plot. Adèle's voice echoed in my mind, her telepathic link provided a comforting presence. “Dea, you need to focus on the unique magical residues left behind. They might hold the key to understanding Garrick's true nature and his connection to the murders.”

Adèle was right. The magical residues we had found at the crime scenes were unlike anything I had seen before. They were dark, almost oily in texture. And they pulsed with a malevolent energy. If we could analyze these residues, perhaps we could trace them back to their source.

“We need to focus on the magical residues left behind at the crime scenes,” I said, breaking the silence. “Adèle believes they might hold the key to understanding Garrick's true nature and finding him.”

Dani nodded as she tapped the side of her tumbler. “It's worth a shot. If we can analyze those residues, we might be able to trace them back to their source.”

Lia looked thoughtful. “We'll need to use every resource we have. This isn't just about finding Garrick anymore. We need to understand the bigger picture because something else is going on here.”

Dre crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Agreed.Let's gather all the samples we have and start analyzing them for anything. There might be something there we're missing.”

Phi started pulling out the few items we had collected from the swamp during our visits. Lia sorted them into piles based on the different sites where they were found. The air was thick with anticipation as we prepared to delve into the magical residues left behind on each object.

Adèle's telepathic voice resonated in our minds as she instructed us saying, "Focus on the magical residues. Each trace will have distinct characteristics. Use your senses to pull apart the different layers of magic."

We nodded in unison. Each of us was ready to tackle the task so we could get some answers. Or at least closer to an answer because then we could devise a solution. I reached for the first item. It was a piece of bark etched with runes. I let my magic flow through it, feeling for the different magical signatures.

"Let's start with this one," I said, holding the bark out. I thought I knew what part of the magic was but wasn’t sure. “I can sense multiple layers of magic here. Adèle, what should we do first?”

"Begin by isolating the dominant residue," Adèle instructed. "That will likely belong to the shifters." Using that advice, we concentrated and wove our magic to separate the layers. A dark, murky energy emerged first. It was tinged with a primal strength.

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