Page 64 of Mardi Gras Murders & Midnight Masquerades
"And Lucas and Noah can take positions outside," Kota added. "They can monitor the entrances and be our backup if things go wrong."
"Sounds good to me. I have just the potion to help us," Phi said as she lifted a vial of bright pink liquid.
Kota’s eyes widened. “Is that my Veilmist?”
Phi nodded. “I thought we might need to be shielded from magical detection."
"Perfect. One drop under your tongue is all you need. Did everyone grab your daggers before leaving?" Kota asked. “We might need them.
Kota was the only one to bring hers. She conjured five other blades for us, and we piled into the cars and headed across town. Noah parked behind Lia near the Blackwell estate. We walked the last quarter mile to avoid drawing attention. We stopped behind a cluster of oak trees behind the mansion's elaborate gardens.
"This is where we split up," Dre said. "Noah, Lucas—find positions with clear sightlines to all exits."
"We'll message if we see anything suspicious," Noah assured us before pressing akiss to my lips.
"Ready, sestras?" I asked.
Each nodded in turn. Without another word, we joined hands. The familiar rush of power flowed between us as we whispered our cloaking spell in perfect unison. The air shimmered around our bodies. To outside eyes, we simply vanished.
"Stay close," Dre whispered. "The spell will weaken if we separate too far."
We moved silently across the manicured lawn toward the mansion. The Blackwell mansion loomed before us. Its Greek Revival architecture was imposing. Wrought-iron balconies and massive columns dominated the façade.
Society members scrambled up the front steps. Many were already wearing ornate masks. From our invisible vantage point, we could see caterers rushing through the side entrance, security personnel positioned at strategic points, and what appeared to be ritual preparations happening through the windows.
"Look," Phi whispered, pointing toward an upper window where a figure briefly appeared. "That could be Kenneth."
"Remember the plan," I reminded everyone as we approached the service entrance. "Find Evelyn first, then look for the locket. And no one separates from the group unless absolutely necessary."
We slipped inside the Blackwell mansion under our cloaking spell, invisible to the Society members who filled the opulent rooms. The masks they wore pulsed faintly with Delacroix's energy, confirming his influence over New Orleans' elite. We spotted Griselda, and Phi texted her. Once alone in an empty hallway, we revealed ourselves.
"The inner circle is meeting in the library," Griselda whispered when she saw us. "That's where they're keeping the girl."
"Why Evelyn?" I asked.
"She's a resonator—someone whose frequency amplifiesmagical energy. Delacroix needs her for the ritual circle." Angela led us to the kitchen and pointed to a door behind a refrigerator. "It’s down there. There’s one guard. He rotates in ten minutes."
"Why help us?" I asked as I watched Lia send a text message to Lucas. We needed to draw the Society away from the basement.
Angela’s fingers were trembling when she touched her mask. "My brother questioned Delacroix too, before they..." She couldn't finish. "Just stop him."
On cue, a crash echoed from across the mansion. It was followed by shouts and the sound of breaking glass. Lucas and Noah's distraction would draw the Society to them. Angela opened the door with shaking hands, revealing a steep staircase descending into darkness.
With a nod to her, we moved silently down the worn stone steps. We resumed our full cloaking spell on the way down. At the bottom, a sterile fluorescent light revealed a shocking contrast to the historic mansion above. The basement had been converted into what looked like a cross between a medical laboratory and a ritual chamber.
Clinical white walls were covered with arcane symbols drawn in what appeared to be dark red ink. Sophisticated monitoring equipment hummed along one wall. They displayed vital signs and strange waveform patterns I didn't recognize. Glass cases contained artifacts and specimens labeled in Delacroix's distinctive handwriting. In one corner, surgical tools were arranged with meticulous precision beside vials of colored liquids.
Kota was ahead of the rest of us and cast a sleep spell on the guard. His eyes closed, and then he slumped against the wall. His breathing was steady, but he wouldn't wake for hours.
“Nice work,” Dre told her as shemoved forward.
Evelyn lay on a hospital-style bed at the center of this disturbing space. She was surrounded by a circle of strange metallic devices that emitted a soft golden glow. IV tubes ran from her arms to bags containing swirling iridescent fluid. Electrodes attached to her temples connected to a machine that pulsed with energy that matched her heartbeat. Her face was drawn with pain even in unconsciousness.
"What have they done to her?" Dea whispered, horror evident in her voice.
"They're harvesting her resonance," Phi said, examining the equipment. "These machines are amplifying and storing her natural frequency."
We moved quickly to her side. I carefully removed the electrodes while Dea gently extracted the IV needles. Dre placed her hands over the puncture marks, sealing them with her healing powers.
