Page 34 of Mardi Gras Murders & Midnight Masquerades
"Soon," the shadow-faced mage whispered. His voice resonated with power that felt ancient and corrupted. His energy felt depleted and dangerous. He had clearly stopped using and charging his lodestone.
Men weren't like women when it came to having magical powers. While women could generate and channel magic naturally from within, drawing power through our innate connection to the earth, male practitioners couldn't generate magic internally. They needed to refuel themselves at ley line junctions. Or with the use of lodestones that were charged at those locations. It was simply how the balance of magical energy worked. Women were natural conduits, where men required external sources.
This warlock or mage had abandoned the fundamental rules that governed male practitioners. Instead of respectingthe natural cycle of drawing and replenishing power, he was stealing it, consuming it from others. The dark hollowness of his aura revealed how far he had strayed from the proper path. It turned him into something parasitic and hungry that threatened the magical equilibrium of New Orleans.
"For centuries, I have waited, gathering strength and testing vessels," he continued. “This cycle brings the final alignment. The stars, the city, and the vessels of power will be united at last."
It felt as if his gaze found me across the veil of time. "The Six who think themselves clever will fail. They hunt me even as I draw them into my web. They will be my final vessels. Their combined power is the key to breaking the last seal."
The vision shifted, showing New Orleans during carnival. Crowds of revelers danced through the Quarter. They were all unaware of the dark magic building beneath their feet. Turning my head, I gaped at what stood in the center of Jackson Square. There were six ornate masks floating in a circle, waiting for their wearers. Waiting for my sisters and me. That was not going to happen.
The vision released me, leaving me gasping in Lucas's arms. My sisters crowded around, faces etched with concern. Dani's fingers were cool against my forehead, while Dre's steady presence anchored me back to reality.
"He's not after the masquerade or the Society," I managed, voice hoarse as I fought to catch my breath. "It's never been about either. That is all misdirection." I gripped Dre's arm. "He's been planning this for centuries. He didn’t know it until now, but he has been waiting for us specifically. Six sisters, six vessels."
"What do you mean?" Dre demanded.
"There's something else," I explained. "He’s an ancient mage. He’s been using the Society as a front for centuries. I think he’s been drawing power from theirrituals to keep himself alive. They believe they serve a greater purpose, but they’re nothing more than pawns."
"And the murders?" Payne asked.
"Tests," I said grimly. "He's been searching for vessels for his final ritual. The victims were his failures."
"Vessels for what?" Lucas growled.
"He didn’t announce his end goal, but if I’d bet money, he’s after immortality. And the Six Twisted Sisters are the final vessels he needs."
"That's why his actions have changed," Dani realized. "He’s been feeling us out through our investigation. Now, he will try drawing us into his web. He will want to ensure we will be present for his plan's culmination."
"I think it's time you saw those journals," Payne said. "If what you're saying is true, we don't have much time."
We left the tunnels beneath Jackson Square and drove to the police station. The precinct was a hub of activity even at this early hour. Payne navigated us through the chaos to a secluded corner office where he spread several journals and folders across his desk. The pages were filled with meticulous handwriting and detailed sketches.
"Detective Michael Sullivan," Payne explained. "Investigated ritual murders in 1973. There were six victims, all found near major landmarks in the Quarter."
"What happened to Sullivan?" I asked.
"He disappeared during his investigation. We never even found his badge," Payne replied.
Dre placed the tarnished badge we'd found on his desk. "Until now."
Payne stared at it for a long moment. "Where did you find this?"
"In the chamber beneath Jackson Square. It was near the altar," Dre explained.
"I wish I could give this to his son. It would mean a lot tohim." Detective Payne shook his head and ran a finger over the tarnished metal. "Anyway, according to Sullivan's notes, he believed the murders were conducted by a cult leader who discovered immortality through ritual sacrifice."
"Not magic. He discovered immortality," Dani corrected. "Or rather, longevity. I agree with Lia that his ultimate goal is immortality."
"If he is after immortality, I don’t see him running around murdering people and putting himself at risk. What if he is using the magic to move his soul while preserving his body?" Dea suggested. "He could have been moving from host to host across generations. He would accumulate magical knowledge and strength with each vessel. It would explain how he was able to use secret knowledge to combine different powers like he has. And it could be how he created the hollow creatures Kota and Jeff faced."
"That is entirely possible. He would leave behind empty husks when he moved on," Dre added. “Assuming all of that, what would his next steps be? He has to ensure the six most powerful witches in New Orleans are present for his ritual. That would be easiest at the masquerade.”
"You keep saying 'witches’," Payne said as he looked around at us. "You're actually...?"
"Yes," I confirmed simply. "We are witches. And so are many others in this city. There are also vampires, shifters, and various other types of supernatural beings."
Payne didn't flinch or laugh. He merely nodded, as if confirming a long-held suspicion. "That explains a lot about this city." His gaze drifted to the window where dawn was just beginning to lighten the horizon. "You know, in twenty years on the force, I've seen impossible things. Bodies drained of blood without wounds. People who survived injuries no human should. Crime scenes thatdefied explanation. I learned to file those cases away without asking certain questions."
