Page 31 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

Dani took a bite of the sandwich she’d made and chewed. “So, the Rousseaus’ role changed from guardians to competitors. This historical context is crucial as that message said. It shows us that these conflicts aren’t new. They’re the continuation of old grievances.”

“That helps. But we need to understand their current leaders,” Dea interjected around a mouthful. “If we can find out who’s pulling the strings now, we might get a better sense of their motives. And if we’re lucky, what they have planned.”

I got up and made a sandwich and we ate while we continued to sift through the records. The motivations of the Montclairs, Dubois, and Rousseaus were deeply rooted in a complex web of alliances, betrayals, and shifting power dynamics. The challenge now was to use this knowledge to anticipate their next moves so we could protect the reunion from becoming another battleground in their ancient war.

“We've learned a lot about the families and their history, but we need to translate that knowledge into actionable steps,” Dre pointed out as we were cleaning up.

I poked my head out of the pantry where I was putting away food and said, “Exactly. We can't just collect information. We have to use it strategically. And we can’t forget about the evil in the bayou. I still wonder if it’s related to this mess.”

Dea leaned forward. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.We know the symbols we've found suggest a deep-rooted connection to old magic. That could be these families. Or it could be someone else entirely.”

Dre crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “But why now? What triggered all of this?”

“We have identified some key locations. Do we know if these families have historically exerted power in any of those locations? That could tell us if they’re connected,” Dani pointed out.

Phi traced a finger over the map where I’d marked encounters with dots. “These are our hotspots and places where there were attacks. We need to look through the books with this in mind and I will start a graph as we go.”

Dre stood and pointed to me. “Lia and I will go into the attic. I want to check Mary Alice’s family journals to see if there was anything in them.” We had books from those that came before her and the ones that followed.

“They’ve been in the area for a long time,” Phi acknowledged. It’s worth a shot. I wish Cami were here so we could ask her.”

I waved it off. “We are not calling her for this. This is the first time Cami is out without us. I want her and Xinar to have a good time.”

“They make a cute couple,” Dea gushed. As an empath, she was probably picking up how each of us thought the same thing. “She can help when she gets back.”

The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of the main plantation house as Dre and I climbed to the attic. Thanks to the new air conditioning unit Lucas installed, it was no longer a sweltering hot box up there. We waded through the sea of old family antiques and moved to the chest containing the personal journals

“Let’s start with that box over there?” I suggested, gesturing to a dusty wooden crate in the corner.

Dre nodded, wiping her hands on her jeans before hefting the box onto an old end table. “Let’s see what secrets this one holds.”

As we pried open the crate, a cloud of dust rose into the air, making us both cough. Inside, nestled among layers of old newspapers and yellowed cloth, was a stack of leather-bound journals. The covers were cracked with age and the pages were brittle and faded.

“Wow,” Dre breathed, carefully lifting one of the journals. “These are really old. Look at the craftsmanship on the bindings.”

I nodded, feeling a thrill of anticipation. “There might be some valuable information in here.”

We began to sift through the journals, each entry revealing snippets of the past. Mary Alice’s family’s daily life, spells, and rituals were all meticulously recorded. As we reached the bottom of the crate, Dre pulled out a particularly thick journal. The cover was embossed with intricate symbols.

“This one looks different,” she said, her brow furrowing as she studied the cover. “It feels like it’s been enchanted.”

My heart skipped a beat as I took the journal from her, the weight of it solid and reassuring in my hands. The magic was a buzz against my fingertips. “Let's open it.”

We settled on the floor, the journal between us. Adèle prowled inside and sat on her haunches. Her eyes glowed in the dim light, and her presence filled my mind with a steady, calming influence.

“Be cautious,” Adèle advised, her telepathic voice a soothing whisper in our minds. “There is indeed a protective spell on the journal. You’ll need to bypass it carefully to avoid damaging the contents.”

I nodded, feeling the magic pulse under my fingers. “How do we do that?”

“Start by tracing the cover’s symbols with your finger, slowly and deliberately. Focus on channeling your energy into the lines,” Adèle instructed.

We did as she said, feeling the intricate carvings warm under our touch. The symbols began to glow faintly, responding to our magic. “I feel it reacting,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.

“Good. Now, gently push your magic into the book’s binding. Imagine it as a key unlocking the enchantment,” Adèle continued.

We closed our eyes, concentrating on the flow of our magic. It took a moment, but I felt the protective spell give way, unraveling like a knot being loosened. The journal’s cover clicked softly and there was a rustle of pages.

“Wow,” Dre breathed, leaning in closer. “I can’t believe that worked so smoothly.”

---