Page 48 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

We left and headed out. The Montclairs were playing a dangerous game, and we were stepping right into the lion’s den. Not a comforting thought. Especially in the middle of the night. Thankfully, I had my sisters at my side. We weren’t exactly graceful, but we were effective.

The drive wasn’t far to the Montclair’s estate. Like many of the rich in the city, they had a home in the Garden District where there were grand old houses lining the streets. The air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine and the distant hum of city life. I parked down the road and we moved quietly through the shadows. Our footsteps were barely audible on the cobblestone walkways. My heart hammered in my chest as we got closer.

“There’s major magical protection around the property," Adèle advised us. “You will be able to cross the wards, but be cautious.”

“I can feel it,” Kota said, pointing to a sprawling mansion with ivy-covered walls and wrought iron gates. The house was a testament to old New Orleans elegance, its façade both imposing and beautiful.

Phi scanned the perimeter. “It would be better to find away in without triggering the alarms. I’d like to take them by surprise.”

“There’s a weak spot in the wards near the side gate,” Adèle said after a few seconds as we tried to come up with a solution. “Use one of your unique layered invisibility spells then move quickly and quietly.” She was referring to how we used Fae rune magic and added it to our witchcraft. Fiona, Violet, and Aislinn first introduced us to the idea of combining the power. We’d been experimenting with it ever since.

After casting the spell, we approached the side gate. We stuck to the shadows, making me feel like a cat burglar. I held my breath as I felt the buzz of the wards. “Here,” I said softly, pointing to a spot where the shimmer was faintest. “We enter here.”

With careful precision, we slipped through the gap. The wards were a cold breeze when they brushed against us. Once inside, we stuck close to the house, moving silently along the walls. The mansion loomed above us. The windows were dark and foreboding.

“Let’s find a way inside,” Dre murmured, her eyes scanning the building for an entry point.

I wanted to ask why we were sneaking inside instead of calling them to the carpet, but kept my mouth shut. They might very well attack us if we walked up to the door. We circled around to the back of the house, where a set of French doors led to a dimly lit parlor. The doors were locked, but a quick spell from Dea took care of that. The lock clicked open, and we slipped inside. Dre closed the panel silently behind us.

The parlor was filled with antique furniture and heavy drapes that muffled the outside sounds. It smelled heavily of old books and polished wood. I cast a silencing spell so our footsteps wouldn’t be heard. We moved through the house with our senses alert for any signs of the family stirring.

“There,” Adèle told us. “Behind the bookshelf.” Her voice seemed loud in my head given how we’d been whispering.

We approached the massive piece of furniture. It looked like it hadn’t been moved in decades. With a nod to Dre, we cast another spell to mask the noise and then pushed it aside. Given the old house, I wasn’t surprised to see a narrow, hidden passageway. The air inside was cooler and carried the faint scent of damp earth and old magic.

“This looks promising,” Dani whispered, stepping into the passage. “Let’s see where it leads.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Phi hissed. “We broke into the house of some evil assholes that killed a family member.”

Dre sighed. “We have to look. We’ve come this far.”

Nodding in agreement, we followed the winding corridor silently. The walls were lined with symbols that glowed faintly. They also made my skin prickle and turned my stomach. “Look at these symbols,” Dre observed in a quiet voice. “They’re protective wards, but they’re also meant to obscure. Whoever set this up didn’t want anyone finding their secrets.”

“Thankfully, you have me,” Adèle replied. “You need to push against the latter without allowing your magic to touch it. That will alert the Montclairs.”

We did as Adèle instructed until the passage opened up into a hidden chamber. The room was filled with ancient artifacts, bookshelves lined with dusty tomes, and a large, ornate chest in the center. “Jackpot,” Dani said, her eyes lighting up. “Let’s see what we’ve got.”

“Look inside that chest," Adèle advised. “Check for traps first.”

“Do we disarm them?” I clarified.

“Find the holes and go around them. You won’t set them off if you do that,” Adèle explained.

Dre nodded and knelt by the chest, her hands movingover the surface as she muttered an incantation. She worked for several seconds until a soft click echoed in the room. She stood up, smiling. “All clear.”

We opened the chest to find a collection of scrolls and ritual objects, each pulsing with dark energy. The scrolls detailed various spells and rituals, many of which were specific to the Montclairs' dark practices.

“Look at this,” Phi said, holding up one of the scrolls. “This sure seems damning. Not exactly the proof we need but not great for them, either.”

“Take it. We need to get out of here,” I hissed in a low voice. Just as we were about to leave, we heard a faint rustling from the entrance of the passageway. My heart raced as I turned to see a shadow dart across the corridor. “Did you see that?” I whispered.

Dani nodded, her eyes narrowing. “We can’t stick around any longer.”

My heart tried to pound its way out of my chest as we made our way back through the passage. The house grew darker and the air was thicker with a sense of impending danger when we exited into the parlor. “Stay close together,” Adèle warned. “There’s something else here.”

We moved swiftly through the house, clutching our findings. Just as we reached the side door, a chill ran down my spine. I turned to see a figure standing in the shadows. It was difficult to make out any details, but the malevolent energy radiating from it was unmistakable. It was different from Garrick, but no less threatening.

“Go!” I urged my sisters. “I’ll hold him off.”

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