Page 25 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

The bayou felt even more ominous as we made our way back to the spot where Melanie had been murdered. The air was thick with humidity as the sun beat down on us. The sound of cicadas created a familiar symphony that reminded me that mother nature was far more formidable than that evil asshole.

“Stay close,” Dre instructed in a voice barely above a whisper. We nodded and kept our gazes focused on the world around us. Using my heightened spiritual senses, I began to attune myself to the energies around us. The swamp had a life of its own. It was a pulsating heartbeat that I could feel deep within my core. I closed my eyes, letting the sensations wash over me. Next, I searched for any lingering spirits or traces of magic that might offer new clues.

“Focus on the areas where the energy feels distorted. There's a disturbance here that doesn't belong,” Adèle advised us telepathically.

We moved cautiously, our senses on high alert. The closer we got to the site, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. I could feel the darkness pressing in. It was thickand heavy like a physical force but there was nothing near us. That was more terrifying than facing Garrick.

“There,” Adèle said. “The energy is strongest in that cluster of twisted cypress trees.”

We turned toward the trees as a group. A few feet away, I noticed symbols carved into the bark. They were faint but unmistakable. They radiated a dark, malevolent energy that made my skin crawl.

“What do you make of these?” Dre asked, running her fingers over the symbols.

“Clearly, they’re not just any symbols,” I replied.

Phi cocked her head and said, “They look like wards of binding and control. I bet anything Garrick used his dark magic here. We already know he’s powerful enough to manipulate the natural energies of the bayou.”

Kota scanned the surrounding area with narrowed eyes. “This doesn’t feel like the same magic we teased out earlier. Is there more than just Garrick out here trying to bend the swamp’s magic to their will?”

Dani crouched and took a closer look at the ground. “We need to find out if there was a ritual performed here. If there was, we can use the remnants to get a better feel for the magic.”

Kota nodded in agreement. “I’ve never wished for candle wax or burnt offerings more in my life.”

As we scoured the area, I felt a sudden chill. A whisper of a presence brushed against my consciousness. It was faint but insistent. It reminded me of a spirit. I focused and reached out with my mind.

“Melanie?” I called softly, hoping to connect with her spirit. I hoped to talk to her and find out who killed her. We all assumed it was Garrick, but we could be wrong about that. The air grew colder before a sense of sadness and fear overcame me. It had to be her. When I tried to reach her,something held her back. Like it was preventing her from fully manifesting.

“There’s something here,” I said. “Melanie’s trying to communicate, but something’s blocking her. At least, I think it’s her.”

The others surrounded me as my hands wove intricate patterns in the air. I cast a spell to clear the spiritual blockage. My energy was bolstered by my sisters’ silent support. “Let’s see if we can help her break through,” I said.

Slowly, the air began to shimmer. Melanie’s ghost appeared before us. She looked distressed. Her eyes were wide with fear. “Help… me…” she whispered. Her voice was barely audible.

“We’re here, Melanie,” I said gently. “What happened to you? Who did this?”

She pointed towards the symbols on the trees. “Dark magic… they control… everything…”

Her form flickered, and I could feel her energy waning. “We need to find out who’s behind this,” I said urgently. “Was it the one who calls himself Garrick?”

Melanie opened her mouth but said nothing. “The symbols are from someone with deep knowledge of dark rituals," Adèle said “We need to cross-reference these with any known practitioners in the area.”

Dani’s wide eyes shot to me. “Could that apply to the Montclairs, the Dubois, or the Rousseaus? You read about them.”

I lifted a shoulder. “They certainly have the history and the motive to be involved in something like this. However, nothing I read suggests that they would lash out against anyone outside the Leveau family. It’s something to consider, though.”

Melanie’s spirit faded and we left the site ready to find the culprit of the dark magic that had claimed Melanie’s life.The swamp was eerily quiet as we moved through the dense undergrowth. At least each step was muffled by the thick, wet ground beneath our boots.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Lia murmured. The rest of us shared her unease but didn’t say anything. I was too busy wondering if the swamp had a way of amplifying our fears. Not the land itself, but the oily magic that was growing in the area.

Suddenly, Adèle’s voice echoed in our minds. “Something’s not right. Be on high alert. There’s a disturbance up ahead.”

We nodded and our pace quickened as we moved toward the source of the disturbance. The swamp seemed to grow darker and the shadows lengthened as if trying to swallow us whole. “There!” Dre pointed ahead to a small clearing. The sight that met our eyes sent a chill down my spine.

Another body lay crumpled on the ground. We hurried forward and I noted the unmistakable signs of magical assault marring the man’s lifeless form. It was a gruesome sight. His skin was marked with burns and strange symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light. The symbols were similar to those we had found on Melanie. This murder was linked to the same dark force.

“Oh no,” I whispered, my heart sinking. We weren't working fast enough.

Lia knelt beside the body with a grim expression. “This is just like Melanie. The same dark magic, the same brutality. Garrick’s behind this, I’m sure of it.”

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