Page 4 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

“Well, that was unexpected,” Dani mumbled as she stared at the blank cell phone screen.

“Do you think she’s going to use this event to take us out?” I asked.

That got everyone’s attention. Adele was the first to speak up. “It’s something to consider. However, none of her family will be able to step foot on your property if they have ulterior motives. When you recast the wards after Kezia’s infiltration, we modified it, remember?”

Dre’s shoulders relaxed, and she smiled at our familiar. “I never thought I would be grateful for Kezia’s evil plan. That makes me feel better about doing this. If Marie has plans of using her family against us, they won’t be able to pull into the parking lot.”

Dani’s gaze snapped up and focused on Dre. “We should reach out to each descendant individually.” Her eyes were alight with planning. “It is going to be important to understand their needs and their grievances. From the sounds of it many have been ostracized. Ultimately, I see this reunion as about more than celebration. It's about healing old wounds.”

“Given the Leveau family’s history in our city, we should embrace the spirit of New Orleans with this one. Jazz music, Cajun food, and the paranormal community. We might not like her legacy, but we will create an event worthy of it.”

Dre nodded in agreement, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. “We can’t forget to add a touch of voodoo. It should be subtle but not enough to give them power over our wards. Honoring that will be significant. We don’t want to be known as event planners that ignore culture.”

As we brainstormed ideas and divided tasks, the lace curtains billowed softly in the breeze. With each plan and proposal, the anticipation for the Leveau family reunion grew. I wanted it to be a manifestation of a beacon of hope amidst the tumultuous relationship we’ve had with the Queen of Voodoo. A history like the one we shared was impossible to ignore, so it remained a glimmer.

Regardless, we were taking on the ambitious endeavor and determined to unite the descendants of Marie Leveau. It wasn’t going to be easy to navigate their intricate histories and create a memorable event that would honor our shared legacy and heal old wounds. But we would try.

CHAPTER 2

DEANDRA

We were running around trying to solve a murder while Noah and Lucas took the body to the paranormal police office. Terrance had a bare bones staff there. Maybe this would be the push he needed to hire a medical examiner like Phi had told Terrance and the council. We needed to find a supernatural coroner who could investigate murders like this. Our life was truly surreal. Beads of sweat poured down my face bringing me back to our mission.

The sweltering humidity wrapped around me like a wet blanket as we trudged deeper into the murky depths of the swamp. “We’d better get this investigation done before I melt,” I blurted and then glared at Kota. She was taking her sweet time to investigate every leaf on the bushes we passed. As if they held the answers we were looking for. I had to swallow my irritation before I snapped at one of my sisters.

Every step squelched underfoot. The mud clung to ourboots with stubborn persistence. The heavy air was filled with the chorus of distant croaks and the occasional splash of unseen creatures darting into the shelter of the dark waters.

Dani led the way, using a simple illumination spell to cut through the creeping fog that hovered just above the water's surface. “We aren't going to melt. Just keep your eyes peeled and your senses sharp,” she replied, her tone steady despite the oppressive atmosphere.

Lia nodded in agreement. “We're not just looking for physical traces. We should tune into the swamp's energy.”

I adjusted the strap of the crossbody bag slung over my shoulder. I wished for a moment that it was some kind of spectral analyzer with a screen that would flicker with erratic spikes as we neared our target. The ability to see ghosts had always been with me, but there were times I hated having that responsibility. “This place feels alive,” I commented as my spiritual powers kicked in. My voice was low and almost swallowed by the swamp's ambient noises. “It's like walking through a living dream, or maybe a nightmare.”

Lia pointed towards a particularly dense thicket. “Something’s over there. Something is definitely off."

Kota’s expression morphed to her RBF as she scanned the tree line. She had some of the best resting bitch face of anyone alive. It would put anyone in line. Her hand never strayed far from the hilt of the machete she’d conjured. “This isn't just any swamp. It’s a breeding ground for dark magic and even darker creatures," she remarked. Her gaze never wavered from the dense underbrush.

The air suddenly grew thicker, and a surge of supernatural energy followed. I halted, signaling the others to gather around. I opened my senses more trying to figure out what Iwas feeling. “I think we're right on top of a major energy node. It’s hard to tell for sure.”

Lia cocked her head to the side. “I think you’re right. And I bet the gator shifters use this spot frequently. That could be how the victim was targeted.”

Phi pulled out a set of enchanted crystals from her bag and started to place them in a circle around the node. “These will help us trace the flow of energy. Maybe we can map their movement patterns,” she suggested. As a scientist, she researched different things all the time. And that had led her to buying different things to try. She’d just begun experimenting and we’d learned a lot so far.

Lia bent to help, placing the crystals as Phi directed. My blood ran cold when the earlier sounds of wildlife abruptly ceased, leaving a suffocating silence in their wake. Dre, who had been quietly observing the perimeter turned to face us. “We're not alone. I can feel eyes on us, watching from the shadows.”

I followed her gaze, peering into the tangled vines and twisted trees. For a moment, the shadows appeared to shift. They coalesced into darker, more sinister forms. Dani threw her hands out and shouted an illumination spell. Whatever creatures were stalking us, instantly shrank back.

“We need to find that trail quickly," Dani barked at Phi and Lia. “Dre, keep track of our exit route. Kota, stay on guard. You two get back to work while Dea and I gather samples. We might not get another chance if they decide we're intruders.”

Dani and I hurriedly collected soil samples and water from the nearby stagnant pool while Phi and Lia continued their thing. Each sample vial I sealed seemed to pulse with the swamp's latent energy. I’d known there were powerful forces out here, but they were even more than I thought.

Kota suddenly stiffened and her pale pink witch fireflared to life. “Something’s coming,” she warned in a voice barely above a whisper.

Without needing further prompting, we quickly gathered our equipment. By the time I stood, the others were ready for whatever the swamp decided to throw our way. The brief calm was shattered as the rustling of the underbrush heralded the approach of something large. It wasn’t something natural, either.

Dre stepped forward and conjured her witch fire. She threw some flames at the advancing noise making sure it didn’t burn the plants. “Whatever you are, show yourself. We're not here to invade. We're here to understand what happened,” she called into the darkness.

The shadows at the edge of our light trembled, and for a moment, it seemed as if the swamp itself was considering her offer. The tension was a tangible thing that wrapped around us. It was as thick and suffocating as the fog that started to blanket the ground.

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