Page 34 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

Dea chanted a spell, summoning spirits. She directed them to surround Garrick. That would mess with his focus. The air crackled with spiritual energy as they swirled around us and moved toward him. I would never get used to the ghosts. They creeped me out.

I was next to Lia and followed her lead. We conjured a shimmering protection barrier while Dre and Phi used their combined magic to create blinding bursts of light. Garrick snarled and kept unleashing barrage after barrage of dark magic. The ground trembled, and I struggled to maintain my footing.

“Hold the line!” I yelled, pouring my energy into reinforcing the barrier.

“There’s a hidden path to your left. Follow it!” Adèle advised.

We moved as one, retreating down the hidden path Adèle had revealed. Garrick’s attacks intensified, but we managed to stay one step ahead and avoid serious injury. This far awayour combined magic protected us from the worst of his assault.

The path didn’t remain hidden for long. Garrick followed us and kept throwing spells our way. Kota conjured throwing stars, and we kept enchanting them and hurling them his way. Our aim sucked, and most ended up in the trees. A few hit their mark though, and that was highly satisfying.

We were all getting tired and I could hear the ground sizzling where Garrick’s blood hit it. Garrick threw more at us than he had before making me rethink the energy he still had. Shadows coalesced into tendrils, reaching out to ensnare us. Lia’s barrier flickered and nearly failed, but Dea’s spirits intervened. They grouped together and severed the dark tendrils, weakening him and making him flee.

Dre shook her head. “I don’t think he’s coming back. We cut him up pretty good. He’ll need time to heal.”

“Agreed. Do we go home? Or keep going?” Kota asked as we looked around.

“We keep going. I want to find that old Voodoo temple. I want to know if he’s already taken it and that’s why he’s so powerful,” Lia replied.

“I have a map on my phone. We can use it to get there faster,” Phi said and pulled up the directions. Phi had spent hours scouring ancient texts and piecing together information to locate this hidden place. We gathered around her and followed the directions through the swamp. We were all on edge and scouting our surroundings for Garrick’s return.

Our trek through the bayou was arduous. The air was thick with humidity, and the ground squelched under our boots with every step. Mosquitoes buzzed around us, and the distant croak of frogs provided a familiar soundtrack to our journey. Spanish moss hung from the trees like ghostly curtains, and the dense underbrush made it difficult to seemore than a few feet ahead. We had to go slow and keep looking for more of Garrick’s attacks.

The ancient magic of the bayou was palpable, a living, breathing presence that seemed to watch our every move. Adèle kept her senses sharp and guided us telepathically through the treacherous terrain. Finally, we reached the clearing where the old Voodoo Temple stood.

The structure was ancient, its stone walls covered in moss and vines. Carvings of protective symbols and runes adorned the entrance. There was a sense of history about the place. I shot a smile at Lia when I felt the power radiating from it.

“This is it,” Phi said, her voice tinged with awe. “The temple.”

The temple's architecture was both imposing and mesmerizing. Its grand entrance was flanked by two massive stone columns intricately carved with scenes depicting rituals and ceremonies of the past. Vines had claimed much of the structure. They wove through the carvings and added a layer of natural beauty to the ancient stone. They made it look like it belonged in the bayou.

As we approached the entrance, a shadowy figure darted out from behind the temple and took off into the trees. “Did you see that?” I asked, squinting into the dim light. “Someone’s here.”

Lia's eyes were wide as she said, “It looked like a feral child. But... it can’t be, right?”

Dre shook her head, skeptical. “A feral child in the middle of the bayou? Lia, you must be seeing things.”

Dea lifted her hands and held them out. “Regardless, we should inform the gator shifters. If there’s a child out here, they need to know.”

I nodded in agreement. “Let’s make sure they’re aware. For now, let’s focus on the temple. We need to find out what secrets it holds.”

We stepped into the temple, the air inside was cooler and still. The walls were lined with shelves. To my surprise, they were filled with old tomes and artifacts. The swamp was trying to reclaim the structure but it couldn’t erase the scent of ancient incense that lingered in the air. At the center of the room was an altar, covered in offerings and surrounded by candles that had long since burned out.

“This place is incredible,” Phi whispered, running her fingers over the carved symbols on the walls. “It’s a snapshot of history.”

The temple’s interior was a labyrinth of rooms and corridors. Each one was filled with relics from the past. Dusty tapestries hung from the walls, depicting scenes of rituals and gatherings. Ornate wooden chests, now brittle with age, held an array of ritualistic tools and artifacts.

Kota coated her hands in her witch fire to illuminate the dark corners of the room. “It doesn’t feel like he’s been able to steal the power of this place.”

“We can't let Garrick or anyone else misuse this temple,” I said, my voice firm. “We need to protect it.”

With Adèle’s guidance, we began casting a powerful protection spell. We formed a circle around the main altar. We joined hands and our voices united in a melodic chant. Right away the air around us began to shimmer with energy as we tapped into the magic of the structure. The ancient symbols on the walls glowed in response.

“Focus your magic,” Adèle urged us telepathically. “Connect it with that imbued in the temple. It will keep the spell going after you are gone. You have to create a barrier strong enough to keep Garrick and his cohorts out.”

We wove the containment spell, forming a shimmering barrier that began to close in on the temple. The two streams of power touched and braided together. We kept the energy flowing and added more layers of protection. When wechanted the words of the final spell, a brilliant light enveloped the structure, sealing it with a powerful ward. It crackled all around us.

“Thank the gods,” I said, exhausted and satisfied. “The temple is protected.”

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