Page 21 of Mardi Gras Murders & Midnight Masquerades
“Knowing this changes things.” Noah examined a decorative medallion in the sidewalk. "This is part of the 'historic preservation' project. But the metalwork is more than decorative, isn’t it?"
"Yes," Dani confirmed. "They're power anchors disguised as typical New Orleans ironwork. It’s part of a larger spell matrix."
A sickly-sweet scent hit me as I approached the lamppost to read the permit notice. It was like incense mixed with burnt sugar and something metallic. My vision splintered before I could even process the smell.
Ornate chambers replaced the French Quarter street. Vaulted ceilings that were painted with astronomical signs and ancient sigils stretched overhead. Robed figures stood in a perfect circle. Their faces were hidden behind ornate masks that gleamed gold and silver in the wavering torchlight.
Five initiates knelt in the center of the circle with their heads bowed and bodies trembling. Their fear perfumed the air and mingled with the metallic scent of prepared blood magic. One by one, the masked figures approached them, carrying branding irons that glowed with unnatural green fire.
"The worthy shall bear our mark and thrive," intoned a woman's voice. She sounded familiar, though I couldn't place who she was. "The unworthy shall fuel our ascension."
The air crackled with dark power as they pressed the burning sigils into flesh. Ancient words echoed off stone walls. The initiates' screams rose in perfect, terrible harmony, practically drowning out the words. The marks left behind pulsed with sickly green light that was spreading like poison through their veins. I watched in horror as three of the initiates fell to the floor and began convulsing. Their life force visibly drained into the sigils. It was feeding someone monstrous that lurked just beyond my perception because none of it was going to the members around them.
The two survivors rose shakily. Their eyes were now hollow and gleaming with that same green light. They had been judged worthy. But the others... their bodies lay crumpled like empty husks as the last of their power was extracted. It swirled into containers held by attending acolytes.
"The harvest proceeds as planned," the familiar voice said with satisfaction. "Soon we will have enough to break the final seal?—"
The vision released me as suddenly as it had grabbed hold. I staggered backward as my legs buckled. Lucas caught me before I hit the ground. His warm hands were steadying as reality snapped back into focus.
"Lia?" Dre's concerned voice cut through the lingering echoes of screams in my head.
"That one was nauseating," I managed to gasp out as my sisters formed a protective circle around me. The taste of ash and burnt blood coated my tongue, making me gag. "Those they are recruiting either become full-fledged members or they harvest them. They use an enchanted brand to mark people," I continued. "Some come through unscathed while others are rejected. Those initiates become fuel for whoever is killing our victims. Oh, and I discovered there is a seal they need to break."
"You said 'whoever is killing' – are we sure it's actually the Society?" Phi asked, ever the analytical one. "I thought our investigation was pointing to this group being behind the murders."
Dre frowned. "The magical signatures we've been tracking all have the same base structure. If there were multiple involved, we'd see variations."
"Not necessarily," Kota countered. "One member could be responsible. Not everyone holdsthe same rank.”
"Who is at the top of the hierarchy within the Society?" Lucas asked. "They’d be the most likely perpetrator."
Dani's expression darkened. "The rest aren’t innocent. We know they're systematically testing people. The question is, what are they looking for in their recruits? If we know that, we can set a trap for them."
"That would be highly satisfying," I agreed.
We spent the next hour tracking magical signatures through the Quarter. We found traces everywhere. It was on decorative ironwork, stone facades, and even vintage street lamps. How had they modified so many to serve as energy collection points?
"They’ve made a giant circuit," Kota observed. "Using the city's architecture to hide their magic in plain sight."
"Whatever their endgame is," Dre added grimly, "it is going to be big. End-of-New-Orleans big."
The trail of corrupted magic led us directly to the supernatural council building. We paused at the ornate entrance, exchanging determined looks.
"We need to get in there," I said, straightening my shoulders. "If the Society has somehow found a way to leech the council..."
"Then we're in even deeper trouble than we thought," Kota finished. "Making accusations without proof would be suicide."
Dani nodded. "We go in under the guise of checking in with the emergency phone system and look for evidence of the Society’s tinkering."
Lucas's hand settled protectively at the small of my back. "I don't like this. If Alexis is involved and notices us snooping..."
"She's probably not even here," I assured him, though I wasn't entirely convinced myself. "We'll be subtle."
With our plan set, we moved as a unit through thebuilding and into the council chamber. There was one person standing at the opposite end of the long wooden table in the meeting room. It wasn’t surprising to see Alexis there after sensing the Society magic. We’d known she was somehow involved. What was her role, though? She didn’t wear the same ring as everyone else
"That pendant," I whispered to my sisters. "She's carrying trapped souls like batteries."
Alexis's head snapped up at our entrance, her eyes narrowing as she registered our presence. A slow, calculating smile spread across her perfect features as she touched the pendant lightly with manicured fingers. "The Six Twisted Sisters," she purred, rising gracefully. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure? Come to confess about destroying those historical tunnels?"
